New-York tribune., 1921-12-18

utent OF the Fort OF New York shows
many advantages in the former over
the city's proposals. The criticism of
the city officials Of the Port Authority
plan would appear to be founded ON
an unjustified conception of the old
home rule theory, carried to the ex-
trerne to the disadvantage of the
proper development of the whole port.
The magnitude of the problem. as
pointed out by the members of the
Port Authority, goes beyond the con-
lines of the greater city and cannot be
limited to local territory without con-
sideration of the entire port district.
which extends into large areas of New
Jersey and Westchester and other ad-
jacent communities. 1t is only by the
coordinate effort of these various
communities that the heart of the port
development, lying essentially on or
near the New York waterfront, can
receive proper treatment and full
benefit, according to the Port Author,
ity.
The fear Of the local authorities
that the Port Authority plan seeks
to develop the New Jersey port area
to the neglect of New York is
thoroughly discredited by study Of
the bi-statc plan. The New York City
plan can be said to be only part, al
though a most important part, of the
larger plan, which is more comprehen-
sive and affords more complete
remedy for relieving the present
enormous freight congestion in the
port. Provision is made in the Port
Authority plan to include the city's
proposals, despite the fact that the
city authorities are not inclined to CO.
operate in working out the general
scheme.
The New York members Of the Port
Authority H. Outerbridge,
chairman: former Governor Alfred E..
Smith and Lewis H. Pounds, former
Borough President of Brooklyn-have
repeatedly invited the members of the
Board of Estimate to sit in with them
and discuss all phases of the proposed
plan. So far the city authorities have
turned deaf ear to thase overtufes
There are indications, however, that
further study and development of the
plan may draw the two factions to-
gether In working out the best ultimate
results for the benefit of the entire
port. The city engineers already have
recognized the impossibility of keeping
the project entirely within 8 city inn
provement, and in the plan recon-
mended by the special committee of
the Board of Estimate they have great
ly extended its original scope and in
dorsed many Of the basic features of
the Port Authority plan.
Chairman Uuterbridge of the Port
Authority, referring to the contro-
versial aspect of the two plans, de-
clared that the members of the BIZ
state body had no intended differences
with the municipal authorities. He
said they were Just as keenly interests
ed in protecting and facilitating the
improvement of the city's property and
Interests as were the municipal author
titles. He pointed out that. the BIZ
state compact, creating the Port lAu-
thority, distinctly specifies that they
shall have no power over any municipal
project or property of any municipality
within the port district except with it's
consent.
Fort OF New York and City
Not Same, Says Outerbridge
1t appears that the municipal au-
thorlties do not realize that the Port
of New York and the City of New
York are not exactly the same thing"
said Chairman Outerbridge. "Our duty
does not stop with city lines. We can
not regard the City of New YORK as
the Port of New York; we must treat
the port district as whole and ar
range its development so that all of
Its parts may benefit. It follows that
however the city administration may
regard New Jersey, we cannot treat
the northern part of New JERSEY as
though it were merely a reservoir of
railroads. to be tapped for New York
City's benefit alone. We must con-
slider the legitimate rights Of all the
municipalities within the port district,
otherwise there can be brought about
no real cooperation between the two
states"
Even . casual study of the city's
plan shows that the special committee
appointed By the Board of Estimate,
consisting of Arthur S. Tuttle, chief
engineer of the board; Murray HUI
bert, Dock Commissioner; Grover A.
Whalen, Commissioner of Plant and
Structures. and Theodore S. Oxholm.
engineer Of the Borough Of Richmond,
appointed in the FIRST instance to de-
velop the plans for the proposed
Brooklyn-Richmond freight and pas
senger tunnel, went far beyond that
local project and esrIy realized that
any adequate port development must
include 10 New Jcrsey area in which
tho great trunk line railroad terminals
are located.
In it's report to the Board Of Esti-
mate tho committee said:
4u1.~