Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-31
tcontinued FROM First Pager

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United States and the Governor OF Call
fornia appointed q commission known
Is the Hoover Young-San Francisco Bay
Bridge Commission, to study the propo-
sition from all angles. The commission
included among its members officers OF
the Engineer Corps and OF the Navy
and after giving full consideration TO
the rights of commercial navigation and
the needs of national defense. recon-
mended the approval of the bridge, spe-
cifying certain clearances. The inter-
est of national d:fense as well as mari
time and commercial interests, have
been safeguarded, and the construction
can now proceed as ben,fit to all
and q hindrance to none.
1 mention these bridge projects be-
cause the problems connected with them
have been settled during the last year
and their problems. such as clearances.
obstruction to navigation, and unNa-
sonable interference with other trans
portation facilities are typical of the
problems connected with the scores OF
similar. though SOMEWHAT smaller.
structures which require the War De-
partment's approval and supervision in
their construction.
Harbor Change Controversial.
Then there was the matt:r Of the
modification Of the established harbor
lines along the Hudson River at the
port Of New York. This was q most
controversial problem.
New York and New jersey wanted to
build thousand foot piers out into the
Hudson on opposite sides of the stream.
This would have been impracticable. as
1t would have CONSTRUCTED the channel.
1t was the War Departments RESPONSE
billy to keep q Suficient channel open.
Matters had been dsadlocked for rs
years. After personal inspection and
conference between the Secretary of
War and the of1icials of the cities Of
New York and Newark and Jersey City,
and the States interested, there were
evolved modificat ions of the separate pro-
posas OF those authorities which found
favor with all of them. The result was a
compromise that permits the building of
piers that will accommodate liners OF
the 1,000-foot class This Is accom-
pliShed by the so-called staggered
plan" That is, New Jersey will build
short piers opposite New York's long
piers, and New York will build short
piers opposite New Jerseys long piers.
This gives both the desired long piers,
and still maintains the usual and neces-
sary width Of channel The construc-
ton that this permits by New York and
New Jersey. by railroads and shipping
companies, and individuals amounts to
no less than $75.000.0 900. Much Of this
work has been commenced since the de-
cision.
Controversies that have accumulated
over q quarter of century involving
waterways. flood control projects
bridges and piers have been settled by
the War Department during the past
year. These settlements were made for
the purpose Of permitting construction
Of these great projects to proceed at
once as one of the aids to relieve I'M
dents internal improvement program
The decisions rendered by the War De-
partment have enabled States, munich
palitieS, corporations and individuals to
begin. when they are ready, the con-
struction Of projects involving the ex-
penditure OF hundreds Of millions Of
dollars.
In addition to the usual expenditures
for housing construction and for water
ways the department. at the direction
Of the President. requested and OBJ
tanned two emergency appropriations in
order to employ as many men as pos
sible during the depression. These two
emergency appropriations. one for $12.-
10000. another for $22,5OO, 900, en-
sbled the department to keep several
thousand additional men at work
The Bureau of Insular Affairs is
part of the War Department. The War
Department Is the contact between the
= United States Government and the 49,
00o, 900 inhabitants Of Porto Rico and
the Philippine Islands.
The War Department also governs
the Panama Canal Zone.
Insular Problems Perplex.
Our insular possessions have pre-
sented many perplexing problems dur
ing the last year. The problems of
Porto Rico have been largely economic.
growing out of the 1928 hurricane and
the effect Of the worldwide depression.
The Secretary Of War is chairman of
the Porto Rican Hurricane Relief Com
mission. Under the constructive leader
ship Of Governor Roosevelt. with the aid
50 literally given by the United States,
Porto Rico is making slow but steady
progress toward recovery.
The Philippine Islands have a popu-
1ation Of approximately $4,000, 600 peo-
pie. They are separated from us by
half the span Of the globe. The people
are intelligent and industrious and