The New York herald., 1921-08-24
HARDING SIGNS BILL
TO DEVELOP HARBOR
Cooperation of Washington
With New York and New
Jersey Assured.
PORT FREE OF CUSTOMS
Plan Contemplates Improved
Pier, Rail, Water and Freight
Facilities.
Special Despatch to THr NEW York ErsArp.
New York Herald BureaJ,
Washington, ID. C., Aug 23. J

Special Despatch 70 THE Nrw YoEK EEgALp.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. C., Aug. 23 !
Cooperative effort between the Fed
eraI Government and the States Of New
York and New Jersey to insure proper
development of New York harbor, the
greatest natural port In the world. was
assured to-day when President Harding
affixed his signature to the Edge-An-
sorge bill for harbor development.
The act provides for uniform devel-
opment OF harbor facilities. for free
pert in the metropolitan territory OF
New York with population or S,cOO.-
GOO; for grain elevators and other ia
cilities, and for the creation of a great
free port In this territory where Amer
lean manufacturers will be freed OF GUS
toms penalties.
A delegation OF New York and New
Jersey Senators and Representatives and
members OF the Port Commission, ap-
pointed b yboth States, attended at the
simple signing ceremony at the White
House to-day The signing pen was pre-
sented to William Wilcox, chairman Of
the commission.
After the signing OF the bill Repre-
sentative Ansorge (New York; said:
1.-THE signing OF this Joint resolution
marks the elimination or the most far
reaching step ever taken for the intel
ligent development of the greatest natu-
raj port In the world. For a number OF
years the States OF New York and New
Jersey have been endeayoring to cooper
ate in the development OF the port. More
than three years ago the two States by
legislative enactment created joint
commission to investigate and agree up
on a report recommending policy TO
be pursued by the two States and the
Government Of the United States. by
treaty or otherwise. to the end that the
port of New York shoald be efficiently
and constructively organized and fur
nished with modern methods OF pier,
rail. water and freight facilities, and
adequ ltely protected in time of war.
"The tentative plans contemplate the
construction OF an automatic electric
system with joint terminal stations for
the expeditions distribution of food
stuffs and other merchandise. Other
improvements proposed include the es-
tablishment OF free ports, construction
or wider piers and more warehouse facil-
tiles at the congested points, the dredg-
ing OF channels to every part of the
ports water fronts. the development or
belt line railroad system around the
port, erection OF grain elevators, con-
struction Of additional terminals for the
New York barge canal and the con-
struction OF highway access to every
part of the ports water front.
by reason OF the congestion now at
tending the receipt and distribution OF
foodstuffs, It Is conservatively estimated
that IL costs three times as much to
move foodstuffs from the meadows OF
New Jersey 70 upper Manhattan es 1t
does 70 bring them all the way from the
middle West.
1 "The fulfilment OF the proposed plans
will relieve congestion and expedite end
cheaper the distribution Of foodstuffs
/ and materials il and through the entire
| port district and 10 points throughout
the country