New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-08-12

In come ciion with this report deem il my duty
to direct the attention OF your Honor TO a serious
aid Increasing evil, now prevalent along the doczs
Of the City, and Ia the waters OF the HaroOr al.
jaceDt thereto-an evil which has long been sub
ject Of solictudo with the department bat which,
with the present and distribution Of material
/ have not the power to abate or even remedy par
italy. / allude to large and augmenting aggre-
gate Of depreciation by the river thieves, who in
feat the ships aud harbor, and who By means OF the
bosts " hich they are provided are enabled almost
invariably 10 escape detection and AREA. few
statistics relative to the importance Of the great n
terests 90 much exposed to future operations, aud
facts elucdeting the method by which the mercan
tile community ID piundered daily aud nightly. aud
almost with IMMUNITY, will doubtless be sufficient
to convince your Honor Of the necessity OF some
more etfectus system whereby these demoralizing
and injurious practises may bs suppressed
The merchant marine tonnage OF the port Of
Nev.Ytfk is now far above that Of any other port
on tho Western Continent. and II the present sn-
nual increase shsll continue in the same ratio for
comparatively only few years longer, no seaport
in the world will be able ~ boat shipping list so
numerous or ocean aud river craft SO capaclous
and extensive. Our city ia peculiarly situated for
such result, having an unobstructed water front,
embracing two sides OF the long peninsula within
corporation limits, with facilities for forming the
third so soon as tie necessities OF business re-
qulre il.
During the year lSi9, the arrivals at the port OF
New Yors from bey old sea" were 3,2i7, consist
ing Of steamers ships, bnks, briggs and other large
craft, beside 5773 arrivals la tho cossswise trade
This shows a total OF 900, and does no. iGcllda
the vast lumber OF schoODeS, shops, &c engaged
in the river trade. Doubtless, the gcand t0tal OF
arrivals al our piers, from all points, would reach
1900 annu lily, or 900 vessels per month
During the frat five months Of the present year,
the imports OF NeR York were sjl yG6 273, while
the exports for the same period amounted 70
9 99C s29 and, 6lo wing the lApOrts aud exports
10 be Ia the same ratio during the reminder % me
wear, tie incoming merchandise wo0ld amount to
nearly SIZE, 00O, 900 while the exports would show
an rs gregste of Sfl 500 900 FOR the twelve months.
Here is total Of $4,000 600, or over 100000
per month aAoat IN our waters, best lie the in
neIse value Of the periShable aud movable pro-
perty belonging to the ordinary shipping, and steam
N srine, such ns cordsge chains, bolts, blocks
VASE, archrs, &c. liable TO pllsge, day AMI night,
aud "a vet suffered O. continue without any pro.
lection whatever.
This estimate however does not include the i'm.
merse amount OF poduce Brought to ar wbaryes
by the river craft on both sides OF the town, or the
ere at ard almost incalculsbe quantities OF goods
transmitted by steamers and sailing craft, for inte
ror consumption, which would unq1es ti0nsDly
swell the aggregate of merchandise exposed %
these pillerng operations along our docks, u the
sum Of between 100000 000 aud 100000 900 per
year-shoviug that, ~ lesst, sl,o0000J worth Of
goods in iraHS,tD constantly around aud upon the
piers and slips, within corporation limits -excu
sive. of course. of the value of the innum cradle
vessels, with their apputeDances which float upon
Cur Whtere