The New York herald., 1922-11-29
Port Authority Plans.
Terminal Relief the Great Need of
the Trunk Lines.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD: Governor
Smith and his colleague members of the
Port Authority, Messrs Outerbridge and
Van Buskirk. are continuing to scold
the trunk line railroads. 1t is well that
your correspondent "H. B. D." calls at
tention to the port plans that are being
developed as 'nebulous and indefinite"
Mr.. Van Buskirk in his speech before
the Kiwanis Club OF Jersey City pleads
that the railroads were not asked to
agree to an immediate extension Of the
proposed automatic electric system to
Serve Manhattan as Part Of the com
prehensive development of the port, at
cost Of upward Of s200.o00,o0o. The
Port Authority speaks out Justify as hav-
ing had the approval Of the Governors
and the Legislatures Of both New York
and New Jersey and of the Federal
electric system. as q program. is to be
held in allegiance, the Port Authority
still expects immediate backing for it's
plan for present relief. We have the
word of the members for 1t.
I excerpt these words from page sy
of the report Of December 81, 1921, to the
respective Governors as to that present
relief:
This plan calls for tho establishment
of motor truck service between tho
railroads OF the Port District and the
Island of Manhattan. Thiy service in
order to avoid delays. which make for
the high trucking COSTS may properly
be service which utilizes the principle
OF the container and may either be per-
formed by motor trucks with detachable
bodies serving as containers or by motor
trucks whose bodies carry containers.
Such service should useN as far .
es possible the existing ferries.
In an intelligent discussion there
ought to be given with some degree Of
accuracy a showing OF how this truck
system is to work scientifically. There
are but two operating container meth
DDS and they are only being tentatively
.ried. The efforts have shown no prog
fess with railroads or othess than tho
promoters; in fact, tho operations are
broadly protested by transport opera
tors of both railways and trucks as
lacking in handling economics over the
broadly practiced and standard means
in use.
Scientific transport must come through
an elimination of terminal handling,
that is. transfer platforms. transfer. con-
trolling steam or electric hoists. or the
winch. that are to-day being utilized
under the tryout methods that the Port
Authority evidently has in mind they
have not told US Of any more definite
plans. The utility OF dual tunnels. as
such, Is conceded. IL thereby is elimin-
ated the rehandling of freight between
the cars and the Manhattan warehouses.
That obviously Is the suggestion Of the
executive--otherwise nothing.
The railroads long have sought some
practical terminal relief. Has the Port
Authority found a means? II so, why
deal in "nebulous and indefinite ex-
preston and be misjudged perhaps
through seemingly supporting what is
already found deficient by the railroads
md by other transport agencies. Such
pronouncement would be ray Of prom
Ise for definite accomplishment out of
tho warrant lodged with the commits
sion. 1t would find sympathetic accord
with the trunk line railroads.
NJ. II. GALE.
NEW York, November 2s