The Washington herald., 1922-02-10

structed and when reconstructed. in
my Judgment. could not profitably
be used by sea-going vessels. In
the existing condition of our
finances the question of cost is
very serious matter.
The meaning Of these three OBJ
jections altogether is that the re-
lief which the eighteen States in
dorsing this project believe they
would get. is little more than an
iridescent dream. The money in
volved in the project would not.
however. be an immaterial thing.
Let me put it differently: II the
project did not involve grave for
eign complications and would clear
ly benefit the States most inter-
ested, New York would cut a poor
figure in opposing 1t although.
built at the expense of the entire
nation, New York would probably
pay from 80 to 40 per cent: but
there is nothing in the situation
which convinces us for a moment
that it is practicable or that the
expenditure is justifable.
Then. on the other hand. suppose
Won give a little consideration to
the natural reaction of New
Yorker. New York has spent first
and last on what is now known as
the Barge Canal close to s200.O0o.-
900. She is now preparing to spend
1895, 900. 900 more on the unifcation.
reorganization and readjustment of
the port of New York. when 1 say
New York is preparing to spend this
money / am not quite correct be-
cause in what is known as the port
district. which has now been ere
ated, is included a very consider
able section of the State of New
Jersey. You probably know the
State has never charged any tolls
over the Barge Canal on which. as
| have just said. expenditures up to
date. first and last have been about
$500. 100000. That canal has bene-
flied the Middle West quite as much
as IL has New York. 1t was put in
it's present condition at an unfor-
tunate time. Just when IL was
really finished the war came along.
the government took the canal over
and out of the confusion that fol-
lowed that the canal is only now
emerging towards the service which
1t is equipped to render. 1t is
wonderful waterway and can be
made even more wonderful at a
relatively small expense.
One reason why the usefulness of
the Barge Canal is slow in develop
ing is the present inefficiency Of the
Port of New York. That inefnciency
Is a natural product of the generosity
of nature itself. The port is so huge
that its very magnificence has been
a stumbling block. As you probably
know there is something like 800
miles Of waterfront in the district
which is now, known as the Port
District. Because of the lack of
comprehensive, Effective plan the port
should naturally come here. The
plan Of port development was in
tended to corTed that; II will correct
1t. That. however. involves a very
heavy burden Which the people Of
the port are preRred to assume with
out calling on he Federal govern
ment.
Many of US h@e in New York be-
lieve that with the Barge Canal
properly equippsi and the Port of
New York efficihtly organized, this
project by the way of the St. Law
renee could not hurt this port, even
though the projett were put through.
The natural prinecy of the Port OF
New York can of course be damaged.
but 1t cannot be taken away. and ii
can be damaged bnly by the lack of
courage on the part Of its own
people.
AS 1 have said the New Yorker
Is just as humat as anyone else. |
He believes this port belongs to
the nation. He believes the Fed |
eral government as a matter of
fact. has been vef niggardly in ap-
preparations for its development. |
He believes he hd done fairly well,