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ton, A channel 23 feet deep and 175 feet wide is available from the en- trance to Dorchester avenue bridge, a distance of nearly *% mile, above which there is a depth of 12 feet to the head of South bay. A 30-foot channel 3800 feet wide from President roads through Dor- chester bay has been recommended by the war department. This will open up a tremendous area for in- dustrial sites and new development. Advantages of Boston Harbor Boston has strong natural ad- vantages. In the first place, it is nearer Huropean ports than its prin- cipal rivals. For example, the ocean mileage from Boston to Liverpool is 110 miles less than from Montreal, 194 miles less than from New York, 337 miles less than from Phila- delphia, and 493 miles less than from Baltimore, Although not gen- erally known, the distance from Bos- ton to Buenos Aires is 319 miles less than the distance from New Orleans to Buenos Aires. The combined through rail and ocean mileage from interior points to foreign destinations is less through Boston than any of the other ports in the North Atlantic group. For instance, the through rail and ocean distance from Buffalo to Liverpool via Boston is 150 miles less than via New York, 326 miles less than via Philadelphia, and 472 miles less than via Baltimore. Boston’s harbor is close to the open sea. Boston Light is only an hour from the steamship piers, This compares with two hours from the New York piers to Sandy Hook. Bos- ton’s advantage is far more striking compared with Philadelphia, 90 miles up the Delaware river; Balti- more, a day’s sail up Chesapeake bay; and Montreal, 1000 miles up the St. Lawrence, This element of nearness to the sea offers the steam- ship companies greater safety and expedition in their voyages. In spite of being almost on the open sea, all of Boston harbor is perfectly pro- tected by the islands of the lower bay so disposed as to form natural breakwaters, One of the chief advantages of the port of Boston is the direct rail con- nections with the principal overseas and other piers. The tracks of either the Boston & Maine, New York, New Haven & Hartford, and Boston and Albany, the three rail- roads serving the port, reach prac- tically all of the piers, No expensive floatage or lighterage system is necessary. Cargo is transferred be- tween vessels and cars with economy and dispatch. Many of the piers are equipped with the most modern transfer facilities for this purpose. Excellent Rail Facilities A short distance inland from the modern terminals served by the New Haven railroad at South Boston, the Overseas piers of the Boston & Maine at Charlestown, and of the Boston & Albany at East Boston, are extensive so-called ‘‘break-up’’ or classification and storage yards, Full train loads are brought directly to or taken from these yards, which connect directly with the piers, The total car capacity of the New Haven freight terminal at South Boston, including the commonwealth tracks and United States government tracks, exceed 5600 cars, The service performed by the New Haven on fresh fish from the modern State Fish pier at South Boston is equal to any in the coun- try. Carloads of fresh fish are for- warded regularly each day in through trains to New York and key points in the interior, affording de- liveries the morning after the cars leave the pier. It is a most valuable contribution to the country’s food supply, and has helped to maintain fishing as one of the leading in- dustries of the section, The new classification yards of the Boston. & Maine railroad at Somer- ville are the acme of modern railroad efficiency. They are equipped with every conceivable device for expedit- ing and facilitating the classification and handling of freight cars, and cost more than $5,000,000. The modern ‘“‘hump’’ method of switching is employed, The yards have a total capacity of 3000 cars, and by use of the “hump,” it is possible to break up and classify a train of 30 cars in 15 minutes. One of the interesting features of these yards is the instal- lation of ‘‘retarders’’ and mechanical brakes set in the tracks and con- trolled from a remote tower, These yards are in close proximity to the waterfront, and designed and laid out largely for the purpose of facili- tating the transfer of cargo between railroad and steamer, Transfer from Rail to Ship The Boston & Albany freight yard adjoining the overseas piers in East Boston has a capacity of about 500 cars, and the reserve yard within one-half mile of the terminal has trackage for more than 800 ears. Both are connected with the main line of the Boston & Albany by the Grand Junction branch running di- rectly to the piers, Powerful loco- motives of the Boston & Albany rail- road handle solid train loads of 60 Commonwealth pier and New York and New Haven railroad yard at Boston 18 MARINE REVIEwW—May, 1934