DOCK FACILITIES IN NEW YORK CITY. 53 
downtown. The New York Central to-day stands ready to build that railroad 
with its own money and take it over as a practical monopoly for the transportation 
of freight on West Street, free from competition, but Commissioner Tomkins is 
standing out to give the New Jersey Railroads an opportunity later, when condi- 
tions make it imperative, to come in on this Municipal Belt Railroad—this for the 
best interest of the City. 
In this connection, Mr. Miller presents a misconception of the operation of this 
elevated freight system held by many, namely, that establishing a point-of-entry 
carfloat installation above 23d Street would disturb the interchange of freight be- 
tween the railroad and various downtown wholesale and distributing houses. The 
very reason for the existence of this marginal elevated railroad is to permit freight 
landed at 23d street to be brought to a point as near to the consignee as possible 
before being removed from the freight car. 
As noted in the paper, it is part of the plan that the entire downtown section 
between West Street and Washington Street south of Gansevoort Street may be 
occupied by freight-receiving and distributing terminals where freight cars will be 
unloaded and loaded at points near to the downtown consignees and shippers. 
Mr. Miller also touched upon another much discussed point, the moving of the 
ships plying between New York and New England points to the East River. This 
subject, in itself would afford ample opportunities for prolonged discussion, but 
briefly, one of the objections is that much of this New England freight is brought 
to New York for trans-shipment to Transatlantic lines and coast lines going south 
and to railroads going West. Consequently they should be on the North River to 
avoid long truckage hauls across the City to the various piers of the Transatlantic 
and coast lines located on the North River. 
In connection with Mr. Forbes’ suggestion as to possibilities offered by New 
Jersey, it might be well to know that there has been appointed by the Governor of 
the State of New York and the Governor of the State of New Jersey, an Interstate 
Commission of six members, three from each State; one of those representing New 
York State being Commissioner Tomkins. 
The condition to which Mr. Forbes calls attention is one not unfamiliar in 
other ports where artificial differences of government prevent proper development 
of port facilities along the most natural lines, as, for example, in the Port of Antwerp 
where the development is practically confined to the Antwerp side owing to the river 
being the dividing line between the County of Antwerp and the County of Flanders. 
The appointment of the Commission above referred to, is probably one of the 
most important steps in recent years in the conservation of the commercial advan- 
tages and the development of port facilities of the harbor of New York as distin- 
guished from the port of the city of New York, and such Commission should have 
thorough co-operation and support of all business men along the broadest possible 
lines. 
Mr. DuBosque advances an argument which has probably done much to retard 
