The New York herald., 1922-09-15
PORT AUTHORITIES
FAVOR COOPERATION
Convention in Toronto Dis
cusses Means Of Better
Freight Handling.
STANDARDIZATION URGED
E. IT. Outerbridge Explains
Plans to Improve New
YOrk's Facilities.

Special Dispatch to TIE New YORK HERALD.
TORONTO, Ont. Sept. 14.-At the first
day of the convention OF port author-
ties a discussion of ways and means of
improving freight handling facilities fol-
lowed the reading Of a paper by B. +.
Cresson chief engineer Of the Port of
New York, who made strong plea for
the Standardization of port equipment.
J. Spencer Smith. vice-president of the
Port of New York Authority, who read
the address of Eugenius II. Outerbridge,
its chairman, later in an interview ex-
pressed the hope that the deepening OF
the st. Lawrence canals would be dealt
with in all its bearings.
Mr. Cresson intimated that he
would introduce a resolution that the
association appoint a committee with
full power to communicate with authori-
ties Of European ports In an effort to
initiate concerted action to improve con-
ditions under which freight Is handled
on both sides Of the Atlantic.
Mr. Outerbridge, who Is chairman Of
the Port OF New York Authority. after
pointing out that the Port OF New York
area comprises approximately 500 miles
of shore front :; contains population of
S,000,000, and produces manufactures
exceeding in value 10 per cent. OF all the
manufactured products of the entire
United States, said.
1--WE have q comprehensive plan that
has been adopted by the States OF New
York and New Jersey and approved by
Congress and the President Itwas first
approved by all the commercial and
most of the municipal bodies In the port
district.
This plan, In brief outline. contem-
plates a circular belt line railway cross
ing and connecting all trunk lines at
points about half way between the
center and the outer boundaries OF the
port district. As part Of this belt line
there is to be a tunnel under the upper
bay from Greenville on the New Jersey
shore to Bay Ridge on the Long Island
shore, thus connecting the nine trunk
lines on the western side OF the port
with the three on the eastern side.
water front belt lines are also planned
wherever industrial and shipping termi-
nal sites promise tonnage sufficient to
support them. Classification yards and
consolidation points at suitable locations
for lighterage stations are planned to
save the great waste now incurred
through duplication of effort and in
efficient use OF equipment by twelve
systems operating individually.
ultimately direct transfer from rail-
road car to ship and vice versa on all
bulk cargoes Is expected to be brought
about, and when suitable terminals have
been constructed much general cargo
originating at or destined to interior
points may be 50 handled at minimum
expense"
In discussing the need of securing
general support of such program
Mr.. Outerbridge said Even the Fed
eral Government thought the port OF
New York so well found in channels
and deep water approach that until
a few years ago. though nearly % per
cent. of the Federal revenues were col
lected at this port. not more than z
per cent. of the total Federal appro-
priations for rivers and harbors had
been expended here"
Mr.. Cresson in discussing the powers
of the new Port Authority and its pros
pective service to business said:
"As a result of my experience in the
New York Dock Department and as
engineer of the bi-State commissions
studying the problem. / am convinced
that the creation of a Port Authority
In New York is the greatest forward
step in the commercial history of the
world. because New York is not a local
State or national port. but an inter-
national port, and the unification and
development of its facilities mean so
much to the trade of the world. This
development. however, has to be along
the lines OF evolution. No confiscatory
methods will, of course, ever be con-
templated"
Mr. Cresson's remarks were made in
answer to questions by M. p. Fennell,
general manager of the Port OF Mon
treal, New York's greatest competitor.