New-York tribune., 1921-01-30
Belt Line for
Harbor Freight
Strongly Urged
Brooklyn and Queens Trade
Boards and Staten Island
Citizens Body 1ndorse
Proposed Marginal Road
Would Join Trunk Lines
Congestion on Bridges and
at Ship Terminals Would
: Be Relieved by the Plan

The proposal for tri-borouGh rail
road that will link up every section of
the Port of New York with the trunk
line railroads of the country and give
ADEQUATE freight service to every part
Of the harbor has been unanimously
adopted by the Brooklyn Chamber of
Commerce, the Queenshorough Cham
Der of Commerce and the Staten Island
Citizens Committee.
The railroad if built will at enc
stroke eliminate the present growing
congestion on the waterfront and East
River bridges, according to it's pro
ponents. The plan for the railroad was
announced yesterday by the Brooklyn
Chamber of Commerce, and it is con-
tanned in the preliminary report of
Major John T. Sullivan, consulting
engineer. formerly connected with the
Board of Estimate.
1t is the result of a years investiga-
tion following the formation of joint
committee of the three civic organiza-
tions This committee is now engaged
in drafting suitable legislation. which
as soon as completed will be submitted
to other civic bodies for consideration
and approval
The plan in its major scope provides
for marginal railroads around the
shores OF Staten Island, around Jamaica
Bay, and along the Brooklyn water
front. These marginal railroads in
turn will be directly connected TO the
existing lines of the New York Con-
Meeting Railroad which will give
freight access to the railroads of the
north over the He'll Gate Bridge Con-
nection with the trunk line railroads
of the south and west will be obtained
by means of twin tunnels under the
Narrows. and bridges across the Kill
Won kull.
Jamaica Branch Last Link
The marginal railroad around ia
maica Bay is designed to meet the
future development of the bay as
part of New York harbor, and will be
the last link in the new chain of con-
Meeting railroads.
The advantages of the plan are enu-
merated as follows
/. This railroad connection would
give the boroughs of the Bronx, Queens.
Brooklyn and Richmond through rail
connections with the trunk lines of the
mainland.
2. It would place the four borouchs
on the main trunk line from New Eng
land to the South and West.
3. The marginal railroad would give
the industries along the water front
direct delivery of freight to their doors
and direct connections with the mar
kets of the country.
4. The railroad connections would
relieve congestion in the harbor and
avoid the waste made necessary by the
shipment of empty cars back and forth
to the jersey shore.
The report further recommends the
development of industrial zones in sec
tions yet undeveloped and along the
water front. which will he limited to
zones limited to residential purposes.
Would Use Narrows Tunnel
The tunnel under the Narrows also
will be used for time under the plan
to supply rapid transit to and from
Staten Island
IN announcing the plan and report ot
Major Sullivan tho Brooklyn Chambe
of Commerce issued the following state
ment, signed by James Sherlock Davis
presidents, and Mayo Fesler. secretary
along the Brooklyn water from
moro than one-half OF the cnorm ou!
freight commerce of the Port Of New
York IS handled at its docks. and NOR,
than forty steamship lines. with a com
bned fleet Of over seven hundred
steamships, sail from its piers to thu
ports of the world Brooklyn nov
ranks fourth and Queens Borough
twelfth III the country as industria
centers.
yet with all this vast inflow of raw
material and outgo of manufacture,
products. and with the continuous de
mand for daily supplies by a popula
ton of more than 100000, Brookly,
and Queens have no direct rail connec
ticns with the main trunk line rail
roads to the West and South. There i