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T the recent Rivers and Harbors Congress in

A Washington, it was exceedingly interesting to

listen to representative men from all parts of the country reporting on the vast improvements which had been made in their respective sections and who bared their hearts' desires as regards future great public measures calculated not only to advance the interests of their particular sections but to build up the vast empire of the great American Republic.

Staten Island came in for its share of discussion largely on account of the fact that Staten Island Sound is a link in the great chain of inland waterways which stretches from the coast of Maine down to the Keys of Florida, the only really missing link now being the connection between New York Bay and the Delaware River, a stretch of from thrity to forty miles between South Amboy and Bordentown or Trenton, New Jersey.

Money Spent on Staten Island Sound Incidentally the vast sums of money which had been spent in the improvement of the navigable waters around Staten Island or the building of bridges across these navigable streams was a subject of discussion. To the Staten Island representatives themselves, it was, among other things more or less of a revelation to hear the report of the Chief Engineer of the United States Army, that not less than $8,000,000 has been spent for improving the Staten Island Sound, a public measure, the benefits of which of course are bestowed with equal impartiality upon the Jersey shore facing this famous waterway as well as the Staten Island shore.

The tonnage which previous to a systematic effort to deepen these channels, was twelve million tons per annum, has grown to fifty-three million tons per annum, under the stimulating effect of a deeper channel and the total value in dollars and cents of the goods carried through the channel between Staten Island and New Jersey per annum, is two billion, three hundred and twenty-five million dollars.

Little did the committee of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce which started the movement for deepening the channel, realize in 1898 what an important measure they were advocating and how great a foundation for the future prosperity of this section they were building.

Most of the men who formed this original "Joint Waterways Committee" have crossed that well known waterway known as the "Styx" never to return, the only survivors of the original committee being D. C. Chase of South Amboy, New Jersey, and Cornelius G. Kolff of Staten Island.

Others however have taken their place and under the leadership of Secretary Stout of the Staten Island 'Sound Deep Waterways Association, appropriation after appropriation has been secured from the Government for making this one of the greatest waterways of the United States.

Twenty-five Cents a Copy

The effect on the whole surrounding country has made itself felt, and beginning with the point where the Kill van Kull empties into New York between New Brighton, Staten Island and Bayonne, New Jersey, a veritable chain of manufactures has been established both on the Jersey shore and on the Staten Island shore.

Owing to superior railroad facilities, the Jersey shore has enjoyed a quicker development, but now that the Baltimore Ohio railroad, under the able management of Mr. Roy B. White, is commencing to realize that Staten Island is really the main prop of its New York Harbor terminus, this snug little Island is beginning to feel the effects of a development which it has never known before and perhaps in the minds of its most sanguine advocates, has never expected. The Awakening Eight Years Ago

The awakening of that important asset in the development of communities, "civic pride", has done wonders. Under its stimulating effects pressure was brought to bear on Mayor John F. Hylan about eight years ago, and let it be said to the credit of Staten Island citizens, whether they be business men or politicians, that they succeeded in arousing the interest of the Hylan administration in the possibilities of the development of Staten Island as an integral part of the great City of New York and its Harbor.

With the aid of John A. Lynch, the Borough President, a vast program for the improvement of the Island in every direction was mapped out, had the approval of the Mayor and what is best, enthusiasm was coined into action and as the result public improvements of every kind and character were pushed forward in this borough which has now come into its

own.

Hundreds of miles of new roads were built, that most important public utlity, water mains were laid through almost every nook and corner of the Island, Catskill water was furnished to districts that had relied on wells only and sewers were built, many miles

of them.

The Smith Narrows Tunnel

The great master stroke however, was the securing, through the efforts of Senator C. Ernest Smith, of legislation which made it mandatory or compulsory on the part of the City of New York, to build a tunnel under the bay to Brooklyn that would give rapid and uninterrupted transit to Manhattan and the Bronx. Work was immediately started both on the Staten Island and the Brooklyn shore for the construction of the tunnel and a great trunk line which was to connect New Jersey and its network of railroad trunk lines through Staten Island with Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx.

It was to be a combined freight and passenger tunnel, but the influence of the Port Authority of which Governor Smith was at one time a member, and possibly the influence of some of the railroads who