Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-09-07
FREE ZONE FOR RARITAN BAY

itan bay and river meet tonight In this city to
consider the development of the port of New
York, it is quite essential that something definite
is agreed upon in order that this section may
present a united front when its chosen repre-
sentatives appear before the Port Of New York
Authority to plead for local recognition.
1t must be recognized at the outset that the
shipping center of the port is Manhattan island.
Naturally, the waterfront there and the water
front Immediately adjacent thereto will receive
the greatest consideration in any port develop
ment plan that may be worked out.
There is one feature in the development of the
port, however. for which the Raritan section
seems to be particularly adapted. This feature
is the so-called free zone. The Evening News
suggests that the entire efforts of the Raritan
municipalities be directed toward securing a
free zone for Raritan bay.
A a meeting of the Society of Terminal En-
gineers held in the Engineering Societies Build
th5 III ANt" yin Oi NtN 49, Wv PNPN '
read by an eminent engineer, believed to be an
authority on terminal engineering, on the sub
ject of a Proposed Plan of the United Port Of
New York and New jersey
The paper was very ably presented. The port
as a whole was considered in four different di-
visions as follows: First, Manhattan island; Sec
ondly, Brooklyn and Queens; thirdly. Staten ISL
and, and lastly, New Jersey. 1t is the last divi-
sion that we are particularly interested in.
For New Jersey there were six points. The
first was the location of the main steamship
freight center for the entire port, which the
speaker would have on Newark bay. The Sec
ond was the main freight railroad terminal be-
cause of the direct connection with the trans
continental railroads. The third was the estab-
lishment of large manufactures and industrial
center because of the available land on the
Newark and Hackensack meadows and the
whole of the New Jersey shore. The fourth was
a residential section; fifth, recreation and play
ground, and sixth, free zone.
On the subject of a free zone, this engineer
had this to say:
"As a result of the introduction in congress
of the Sheppard Saunder bill, which calls for
the establishment, operation and maintenance of
free zones in American ports, the senate COM
mittee on commerce on January Is, 1919, pub
lished a special report from the United States
Tariff Commission urging the need of immediate
action by congress in favor of free zones In the
ports OF the United States.
This is a subject which has received but little
attention by New York ana New Jersey authorl-
ties UP to this time, principally, 1 believe, Tor
the reason that the free zone as an institution
and the advantages derived therefrom, ale I'M
known to the majority of people in this country.
I'm order to determine upon a proper location
of a free zone for the port of New York and
New Jersey, it would be well to investigate the
requirements of a free zone as far as water
frontage and land is concerned. These, in a
general way, are as follows:
First: To be located well within light
erage limits of the port of New York and
New Jersey.
"second: Should be isolated to facilitate
government control.
Third: Should be well protected from
"Fourth: Should possess ample dock
ing space.
Fifth: Should have ample space for
storage warehouses.
"Sixth: Large areas should be avail
able for those industries dependent on Tor
eign raw materials for their manufactured
products.
"Seyenth: Should have direct railroad
connection to the continent.
"Eighth: Should be within easy passen-
ger railroad reach of Manhattan, Brooklyn,
Staten Island and New Jersey.
"Ninth: Should be well within territor-
les adapted for residential section for the
workers therein.
ITO the best Of my Judgment the location as
signed to the proposed free zone, as shown on
cations. 1t would possess splendid docking ia
cilities when properly dredged and hlled IN
where required. It's location and the territories
in back thereof are we'll adapted for fencing for
the purpose of government control. 1t has d.
rect railroad connection to the continent ana
Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island can De
reached from the free zone by existing or pro-
posed passenger railroads and subways.
"As far as ocean protection is concerned, a
breakwater could readily be constructed as incl
Gated, projecting from Sandy Hook, while the
territories in back of the harbor afford plenty OF
space for storage warehouses, industrial plants
as we'll as residential sections.
1.-THE proposed location is furthermore direct
" in the path of the new proposed New jersey
ship canal and we'll within the path OF all the
other canals previously mentioned.
MY recommendation on the subject of a free
zone, therefore. is, firstly, that a free zone be
port development, and, secondly, that TINS 1ret
zone be located within Raritan bay, as indicated
on the accompanying map"
On the map to which the engineer refers II
" IL r.. $500 Se r,rrn On tho Snntf