The New York herald., 1922-02-21
Acting Mayor Declares City
Will Spend Freely in
River Improvement.
HAMPERED BY DELAY
New York Delegation Appears
Before House Committee
Definite Plans Shown.
Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., Feb. 20.

Charging that the Federal Govern
ment, by lack of cooperation with the
New York city authorities. is holding
up tho development OF New York har-
hor. Acting Mayor Murray Hubert OF
New York, who appeared before the
House Committee on Rivers and Har-
hors to-day. demanded assurance from
Congress that Federal aid would be
extended for widening and deepening
the channel In Jamaica Bay.
Unless this Is done,' said Mr.. Hull
bert, New York authorities cannot
proceed with the improvement to the
harbor"
Accompanied by large delegation
from New York, the Acting Mayor
came to the committee prepared to lay
before Congress definite plans for the
harbor Improvement. Maps showing
the contemplated improvements to the
be built from Rockaway Inlet to a
point in the Borough of Queens and
that part OF the project which the city
has completed. were spread before the
committee.
City willing to Spend.
Taking the position that the Federal
Government should authorize an ex-
penditure necessary for the widening
and the deepening Of the Jamaica Bay
channel, Mr.. Hubert stated that the
city of New York was willing to expend
twenty times that amount in river i'm
provement to give adequate accommo-
daton to trade and commerce in and
out of New York Harbor.
New York Harbor." said Mr.. Hubert.
rs quite generally built UP in the North
River and along the East River. The
pters on Staten Island and this improve
ment was constructed without waiting
on any one and cost the taxpayers
s25,000,000. These piers are not ade-
quate for the harbor commerce and
necessarily will not meet the demands
OK the future. 1t therefore becomes man
datory that the water front be extended.
in cooperation with the Federal Govern
ment, and one of the quickest ways to do
this is by widening and deepening the
Jamaica Channel. But the Federal
Government must start this operation
and continue II until II is completed
before New York will bond itself to put
IN the improvements that are contem-
plated"
Mr.. Hubert declared that the New
York delegation had conferred with
Secretary Hoover and Senator Calder
IN. W for the purpose of having the
city authorities take over the lighthouse
property at Tompkinsville and the docks
at Staten Island.
Piers That Are Projected.
Questioned by members of the COM
mittee. Mr.. Hubert asserted that New
York plans to erect piers along the
Jamaica Chanpel larger than any now
available in the ha-bor. Five of the
piers would be 757 Fact wide and 1000
feet long and ore $50 wide and 1000
feet long The land and the funds for
these piers. he sad. are d hand.
"But IL would not be of the slightest
use." continued Mr.. Hubert "for the
city of New York to go ahead with its
plans unless the Federal Government on
It's part, begins at once the dredging OF
tho channel so that oceangoing vessels
may be accommodated at Jamaica Bay"
Representative Layton (Del). one Of
the Congressional party who made an
inspection trip 10 New York. interrupted
the witness to give his Endorsement to
the proposal.
'The Federal Government" said Rep
rcsentative Layton. Should spend
millions Of dollars 70 make the harbor of
New York adequate 20 accommodate the
country's commerce."
Mr.. Hubert then devoted his time to
an explanation of some of the maps
that had been hung on the wall show
A discussion onsued between Gen.
Taylor IT, S. A.. engineer assistant: Mr..
Hubert and Representative Dempsey
IN. W, chairman OF the committee,
whether il was the intention of the city
Of New York ITO go through" with the
contemplated Improvement and whether
the plan as suggested by Mr.. Hubert
had been agreed upon.
'You present your evidence TO the
committee as 60 what you propose to
do" said Representative Dempsey.
Hulbcrt's Response.
"Don't you suppose that the work
that has alreedy been done on this
project and the fact that the city OF
New York Ia about ready to condemn six
miles of water front property is proof
enough that we stand ready to do our
part II the Federal Government will only
make the necessary appropriations 10
carry out its responsibility
Mr.. Hubert indicated that five MEM
bers OF the Sinking Fund Committee,
members of tho Estimate and Apportion-
nient Board. and other city officials had
approved the project and that actual
work had been done on the Flushing
avenue extension. He was further ques-
toned by Chairman Dempsey as 10 the
proviso contained in correspondence
with tho War Department bearing on the
matter OF agreement by all particles in
NJ created. Gen. Taylor said that the
Azsttcr OF details was not involved in
the general discussion and that Il was
not intended that a veto power lay with
anybody All tho Government sought.
hc said. was that an agreed plan be sub
nitted.
This. Mr.. Hubert contended. had been
reached as was evidenced by the APP
proval Of the sinking fund members,
members OF the Board OF Estimate and
Apportionment and the work that has
been accomplished.