New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
Miller Studies
New Port Plan !;
Approval Seen
Governor VIII Address the
Legislature ON Report of
New York-Jersey Board
ON Harbor improvements
Belt Line Railroad Urged
Would Connect All Sections
With the Trunk Systems;
De Selding Favors Scheme

Governor Miller is studying the re-
port submitted to him by the New York
and New Jersey Port and Harbor De-
velopment Commission and will address
a message to the Legislature dealing
with the problem of the development
of the Port Of New York 1t is under
stood he will recommend the approval
Of the proposals made in the report.
Governor Edwards Of New Jersey, to
whom copy Of the report also has
been submitted, will, It is believed,
likewise give the document his ap-
proval and will also submit it to the
New Jersey Legislature for favorable
action.
Among other things the report sub
mitted by the joint commission pro-
vides for the creation of tri-borough
railroad that will connect every part
of the Port of New York with the
trunk line railroads Of the country on
the Jersey shore and thus provide ade-
quate freight service for all parts of
the harbor. The plan provides for
marginal railroads around the shores
OF Staten Island, Jamaica Bay and the
Brooklyn waterfront. Connections with
the trunk line railroads of the South
and West will be made by means of
twin tunnels nnder the Narrows and
bridges across the Kill van Kull. The
last link in the plan is the marginal
railroad around Jamaica Bay
Port Development Central Idea
The two central ideas of the report
Of the joint commission are the de-
velopment Of the Port of New York and
the adjacent Jeyseys territory as parts
of one scheme and the p' cling of the
Port Of New York under one single
port authority.
Hermann de Selding, an expert on
port matters, yesterday gave his firm
Endorsement to the report and defended
it against what he, called political
criticism"
Mr.. de Selding said:
"The report offers o comprehensive
plan as a substitute for the costly and
antiquated methods now pursued in the
port Of New York. and il Endorsed and
put into realization by the Federal au-
thorities and the two states will for
ever insure the supremacy of the har-
hor and port Of New York as the re-
ceiving and shipping point for high
class freight Of the country.
GAS is Invariably the case. however,
where great reforms are advocated, we
see the small man, devoid of vision,
seeking to obstruct and delay. As
though the present needs of this port
were not great enough, the Federal
government, by the recent decision of
Secretary of War Baker, Cancelled the
permit, temporarily granted, by which
two piers in the Chelsea district were
heightened 100 feet, thus permitting
the docking of ships Of the Imperator,
Aquitahia and OLYMPIC class. The or
der to remove these extensions Of 100
feet at the two piers, mentioned is to
go into effect May /, 1921, unless Provi.
dence, in the guise of an authority bet
ter acquainted with the practical needs
Of New York Harbor, intervenes.
Favors sport; Authority"
"Another set Of politicians objects
to port authority as placing too much
power in the hands Of one man. If the
right kind Of man made port au-
thority under proper law creating
such Office, and means Of removal pro-
yided II the incumbent is found want
ing, is 1t not best to centralize au-
thority and place the responsibility and
obtain results without delay?
"As whole what do the several
partners to such q compact gain? New
York City obtains united modern
method of handling foodstuffs, mer-
chandise, ETC., by direct railroad and
steamship connection, thereby greatly
reducing the cost Of living, and de-
velopment of her water front along the
zones of trade routes, which will re-
duce her manufacturing costs. Il
Governor Miller seems to have put
the seal of his approval on the general
plan. predict the Governor Of New
Jersey will do likewise; he is practi-
cal business man and banker and knows
the needs Of his state. Together with
these two officials may be classed the
senior Senator from New York, William
M. Calder, and Senator'S Frelinghuysen
and Edge, Of New Jersey"
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