The New York herald., 1921-01-30
Queens, Brooklyn ana Richmond


Queens, Brooklyn and Richmond
through rail connections with the trunk
lines on the mainland. and that it would
place the four boroughs on the main
trunk line from New England TO the
South and West. The marginal rail-
road. Major Sullivan points out. would
give the industries along the water
front direct delivery OF freight TO their
doors and direct connections with the
markets of the country. The railroad
connections also would be expected to
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 at present undeveloped. and, along
the waterfront. The zones would be
limited to factory purposes. JUST as
there are now residential zones from
which manufacturing is barred.
Major Sullivan's work resulted from
the action taken by the Brooklyn Cham
ber of Commerce year ago In organiz-
ing a triborough committee to make
study of freight facilities. The COM
nittee was made up OF representatives
of the Queens Borough Chamber OF Com
merce, the Staten Island Citizens Com
mittee and the Brooklyn Chamber OF
Commerce, and 1t employed Major Sui
Ivan TO investigate the situation ana
report.
In his report Major Sullivan points out
that SO far as railroad facilities are
concerned, Brooklyn and Queens are
practically isolated, and are without
connections with main trunk lines to the
West and South. The two boroughs, ne
saws, are inadequately supplied with
freight facilities. and merchants and
manufacturers are compelled to go TO
great expense to handle goods by means
of trucks.
Waste in Empty Freight Cars.
Major Sullivan finds that the present
method of handling freight cars on car
floats is too expensive and results In TOO
much delay. The float bridge system OF
handling cars requires the railroads TO
shin empties back to New Jersey and
then reship them to other points along
the waterfront where empty cars are
needed. About 1900 empty freight cars
are shipped back to the New Jersey
shore annually as a result OF the system,
Major Sullivan says,
The points of difference between Major
Sullivans plan and the report OF the
New York-New Jersey Port and Harpor
Development Commission are that,
whereas the former recommends mar
ginal railroad along the entire Brook
lyn and Queens waterfront, the latter
recommends merely the extension OF
spurs leading back both ways from the
existing freight bridges.
While Major Sullivan provides for a
tunnel under the Narrows and rail-
road across Staten Island. the New
York-New Jersey report recommends a
five mile tunnel across lower New York
Bay from Bay Ridge to the Jersey main
land. Major Sullivan contemplates the
use of the freight tunnel. for time at
least. TO supply rapid transit to Staten
Island The New York-New Jersey re-
port makes no reference to the needs
of passenger service on Staten Island.
The directors Of the Brooklyn Cham
Der of Commerce, In statement which
accompanies Major Sullvan's report.
point out that on the western end OF
Long Island and the eastern shore OF
New York Bay, within the limits OF
Brooklyn and Queens, there are more.
than 100000 persons, more than 60o.-
600 homes and over 10000 factories,
EMPLOYING approximately 100000 work
ers These factories are turning out
manufactured products for the worlds
markets of an estimated value OF from
$1,000, 100000 to 1,500,000,000 an
nually.
The metal and machinery industry
alone is represented by 1926 factories,
employing approximately $4,000; the
clothing industry by more than 2,350
plants employing $4,000. and the shoe
industry by 81 plants. employing over
1900.
"AlI Of the raw material transformed
in these factories into finished products
IA shipped in and then shipped out by
the present inadequate freight terminal
and railroad facilities" says the state
ment.
THE concrete suggestions contained
in the engineers recommendations are,
we believe, entirely practicable and can
be carried out economically. They will,
we believe, dovetall into any plan which
may be later adopted for the entire met
ropolltan district of New York The
directors of the Brooklyn Chamber of
Commerce indorse the plan as recon-
mended by the engineer will lay 1t be-
fore the proper public authorities for
consideration and Will cooperate with
other civic and commercial bodies on
any plan which promises similar relief
for the commerce and industries Of the
port OF New York.
The legislation by which such a. plan
for improving the freight and passenger
facilities Of the three boroughs is now
being prepared by the Brooklyn cham
Der and will when completed be submit
ted to the other chambers of commerce.
for consideration and approval"