Year: 1874




The question how to retain our export trade
the present lime. All the commercial exchaI
waking up to realization of the fact that something
mast be done 10 prevent other cities. botn
American and Canadian, from depryiDg Ii oi
It's greatest source OF wealth; and new
railroad enterprises, canal Improvements, anu
various other means OF sefprcservaton are freely dis
cussed. TIE Cheap Transportation Association by their
different committees, are examining every point OF
akuess and suggesting remedies They find that
Montreal has increased within period OF II years 23
per Ler exports of wheat and -FOUR and except
ing New-York, her steam ocean tonnage eiearances
exceed any other city on this continent Philadelphia
also exhibits increase OF l56 per cent lat
IN her receipts OF cereals; while Boston, Baltimore,
and Portland have each taken large share Of this com
merce from the Northwest. Baltimore has, within
short time quadruped her warehouse capacity and Is
building at the terminus OF the Baltimore and ONO
Railroad at Locust Point additional warehouses ani
elevators OF large capacity, where car and ocean
steamer alongside will exchange freight without
expense Of carriage. Philadelphia is also avallnS her
self OF the facility for the interchange OF pr aire
and ocean freghts while Boston is making efforts, by
the concentration of her roads Gncudng that via tue
Roosae Tunnel on the Mystic River. where transfers
may be made even more chcaply than now.


II the opinion of merchants OF large experience IL
shipping produce OF different kinds that tine
portant lack OF NewYOrk IL that OF adequate terminal
facilities The delay and extra cost resulting from
lgherace and carriage have Of themselves determined
many Western shippers Of grain TO send their goods TO
any other rather than to this port. The losses aud
annoyanccs from this source strkingy set forth In
the case Of Bangs shipment OF wheat from Mwa ukee
the points OF which have been printed in THE TRIBUNE
from the report Of the Committee on Terminal Facilities
made at the last meeting o. the Cheap TRANSPORTATION
Association While the present means OF transporting
grain and other produce from the various railway
termni to the places OF shipment or exchange are un
improved, il is thought that OF the greatest i'm
pediments TO cur commercial growth will remain In
the plans OF the Commissioners OF Docks for improving
the water front of the city, prominent merchants think
they see a means OF relief The outline of plan which
meets with general approval among merchants with
whom TRIBUNE reporter has talked on tins subject t.
given below


II is proposed by the Dock Commissioners to bull n,
piers around the city of solid masonry. and TO make
them of uniform length T1e street the East River
will be made 200 .eet wle and that the North River
$50 feet II these streets could be relieved from every
thing except local traffic H is claimed that co OF even 80
could be spared for the purpose OF building ee
waited double track frelght railway around he ciy IL
IL proposed that such road shall be bult, 10 be sup
ported arches o. solid masonry the spaces under the
arches except on the piers 70 be used Tor storage pur
poses they constituting perfectly lre-prOol warehouses.
On the piers warehouses TO he built by the eseeS
owners, with space between lheh ana he water SUM
ciently wide for mOOring-piles and TO permit men 10
walk around them in safety while making vessels
fast. IGe second stories or the warehouses
are be a level with the double track railway, from
which there 70 be switches enabling loaded cars to
run and through the whole length of the ware
houses, which are 20 be provided with elevators Tor ear
rying both car aud contents INTO every story OF the
building The road ~ 10 cross the Island AT some point
above Central Park, TO connect with all tue rail-
roads which enter at Harlem or spuyten Duyyl. Elc.
at the terminus OF each road VIII place loaded
cars on the elevated track and they will be into the
warehouse OF the cOnsgnee without breaking bulk and
thence the contents may be distributed through the city
or loaded directly into vessels for export Ihc Elle
Pennsylvania and other roads will DE compelled 10 send
their this side OF the Hudson by one OF the pro-
posed bridges or by floats from which they can be taken
on 70 the proposed road. The plan contempates the
erection of government bonded stores the Battery
into which, when completed, carloads OF silks from
Cana or Of coffee from Java be taken without un
loading and thence over the same road to the importers
warehouse, or to the railway station for reshipment
Into these government stores cargOes OF goods can DO
rive ana be taken thence therowners' consignees
stores, TO the railway lines, with 10 loss or damage
and with little expense OF handling.


Many difficulties against which merchants have now
contend would De Obvacd by the carrying out OF this
nJan The various Exchanges could have Warehouses
for the storing and interchange OF goods OF similar
nature and the plan under discussion by the BOard or
Msnacrs OF tbe Cotton Exchange aud referred TO the
Committee on Trade, as reported In The TRIBUNE OF
Thurday could he readily carried out The various rall-
road companies could erect depots OF their own for the
reception of goods to be distributed In small lots The
plan ne carSed out in it, entirety only fast as the
Commissioners OF Docks complete their work. but those
who propose say that the road should be built
possible that the system for the rapid delivery OF
goods in bulk may be introduce without yIS delay @ ane
the opinions OF eminent architects ana engineers have
lion 10 capitalists who undertake to build such road
as the contemplated. IL 10 believed that
anv responsible company taking hold OF the enterprise
would nave a right of way given them without charge,
because of the enhanced value which would be given TO
adjoining property I6e city would own the stores on on
each. and from the rental OF these t would derive an
ample revenue proposed that no exng dtSo ~ te
road but that shall be open TO the cars OF each Tor de-


livery and receipt OF goods on fair ana equitable terms
frge az
the company building the road Is TO have
control OF all the carrying from place TO place In the
city. Tnis plan, II fully executed, VIII relieve the
OF all earring OF goods except from the ware
houses retail sample stores IN the heart OF the city
All Iuterchanges OF goods in bulk will be made In the
the water fronts by rail- and none need
pass through the open street except Tor local use West
and trucks down 70 any warehouse and load or
unload without delay where now on steamer days as
high $l2 load sometimes paid for carriage,
because OF delay Along the east side OF the elevated
track proposed TO have ootpath protected by rail


ing that buyers and sellers from warehouse
10 warehouse without descending to the street level
Beside the profit to trade resulting from the prompt and
safe delivery Of goods other advantages TO the city
mentioned worthy Of attention. The above system Of
warehouses; when completed, will constitute q solid
wall OF masonry round the city, except at the battery
where the tracks will be supported by iron columns.
The archways will be closed night except those lead
ing to the ferry piers. aud the occupation OF river
thieves by whom merchants now suffer great loss, will
be at an end.


The merchants who have discussed tho above project
decline 10 enter into many minor details OF construction
management. They claim TO have interest Ia the


matter except Such as arises frOn their interest the
commercial prosperity of the city. They believe that
honest men can be found who will manage such "a road
greatly 10 tue adyantage oi commerce, aud vita
profit TO themselves that the city derive
handsome revenue directly from the road and
TO greater degree indirectly from increased
business and enhanced values; that the
merchants OF New York have only TO examine the sub
ec in order to be favorable 10 this scheme or o.
thing similar 10 It. ana that there ought 10 be diff
Guilty ODainiug the requisite legislation. The subject
Will be discussed by the Cheap Transportation AssOci
alton at an carty day. ana a plan will doubtless be
elaborated whcn viii meet the views OF a nearly
all, tic merchants vi the city.