Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-05-28
HsRBoR DEVELOPMENT.

the development OA thS
this vicinity, 1t is interesting to note
what other ports along the Atlantic
coast are doing to attract commerce
In It's effort to arouse the city OF
New York to n realization of danger
of losing much of the foreign trade
that has made New York the metrop-
oils that It Is, the New York Evening
world has sent a correspondent TO the
various ports to see what they are do
ing in the way of harbor Development
He has found "a great object lesson
in Philadelphia. New Workers usuai
ly ridicule the idea that they can learn
ANYTHING from Philadelphia. but tns
Evening World seems to think the
can-at least as far as harbor develop
ment is concerned.
"There IS the difference between the
reputedly backward Philadelphia n
the reputedly up to date New YORK
the Evening Worlds correspondent
says. I'm Philadelphia the port facil-
tiles nave DceH utN clopSN ~
of the growth of trade. In New YORK
the port development has dragged tar
behind the requirements of commerce
and the result IS that shippers are
seeking a new outlet for their wares
Here. too, Is n lesson for Perth Am
boy. Some people seem to think thai
go M GRANT TnrRlRn
coming 10 this port 1t Is use
less 10 dig deeper channels and erect
large wharves for the accommodation
of such shipping. The fact Is, how
ever, that once these facilities are
offered shipping comes readily enough
to take advantage of them as is shown
NV the results in Philadelphia and
Baltimore.
In 1916 the city OF Philadelphia
appropriated $4,000, 600 for pier inn
provements. That sum has beeh
almost all used up. Two large piers
on the Delaware river were recently
completed and work is progressing on
two more piers even larger thar the
two already built. The city Is pledged
to spend $4,000, 600 more on water
front improvement.
"Phlladelphia's greatest advantage
over New York in the matter OF
freight handling" the Evening World
article shows, lies in the close asso-
citation between the steamship piers
and the railroad terminals. Railroad
tracks are part of the equipment OF all
the principal piers and when the har-
Dor improvement is completed every
pier in the city will have a rail con-
nection."
This advantage that Philadelphia
enjoys oyer New York is no greater
than the advantage that Perth Amboy
could offer. But his port has the big
advantage over Philadelphia In being
much nearer the open sea. 1t is about
100 miles from Philadelphia down the
Delaware river TO the ocean. Balti-
more is likewise situated over loo
miles up the Chesapeake bay. Here,
however. we have less h twenty
miles 10 Sandy Hook and a broad
straight fairway at that.
Philadelphia now owns ten piers OF
the Delaware waterfront each o
which is a city block in width anC
from $40 to Clio feet long. Peril
Amboy could build at least two sucl
piers on the Gregory and WONDERLAND
Beach tracts which the city now W
on the river front. To these pier
there could be ready access from tn
Central the Lehigh Valley and tn,
Pennsylvania railroads. All that i
needed is a realization of the city
possibilities. Where Philadelphia
spending ISL, 900. 900 Perth Ambo,
could at least spend $1,000, 900 and tn
money thus invested would be return
cd a thousand fold.
Baltimore has spent s50,000.000 O
new piers and 100000 more 70
dredging her own harbor. Perth Am
boy could put it all over Baltimore fo
harbor facilities If the city woul
wake up to Its possibilities.
In discussing this port compariso
editorially. the Evening World says:
''rhere ought TO be in existence an
active at the present m a power
full board made up OF the most Pre-
gressiye. xpert and far-sighted me
the great city of New York could sun
mon. That board should be develoI
ing the port of New York with all I'll
authority and money this municipalit
could supply"
1t IS intended that the Raritan TIE
minal and Waterway Association sha
be Just such a powerful board f.
this section as the Evening Wor
advocates for New York. 1t is UP
us 10 get behind the movement, the
and do what We can to further Il
development OF the Raritan waite
ways. The least we can 10 is to he
EJECT a board Of directors for the o