New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-19
MARINE AFFAIRS.
THE QUARANTINE COMMISSIONERS.

THE QUARANTINE COMMISSIONERS.
Much msapprehenson prevails in regard to the do
ings of these gentlemen. In selecting a site for tenn
porary Quarantine, they were obliged to contend
against opposition and prejudice on every hand.
Wherever they went their footsteps were logged by
spies deputed by interested parties in the several To-
calities supposed to be eligible for their purpose
Hence It was necessary to observe the utmost secrecy
in their movements until the bargain was consum-
mated. While everybody was talking about Sc
guines Point for which the owner asked 500 600,
person was deputed to purchase portion of the
Wolfe Farm, ostensiby for Brooklyn gentleman, for
$23 900 Even the proprietor of the property was g-
norant at the time of the intentions of the purchaser
and believed that it bought for country scat.
ad the been known, it is probable that the oys
termen would have bought it, even at double that
sum. rather than have had the Quarantine removed
hher Il has been charged that the selection OF this
site was from interested motives, and that the Com
ui.sioners could have pitched upon some less objec
,opsble SPOT We are assured by them that for
teupornry Quarantine there 10 locality next to
Sandy Hook 80 we'll adapted this To place it
at Coney Island mpracticable for two reasons;
fr.t. because the buildings would be only about two
miles from the towns of Gravesend and New Utrecht,
which were ravaged by yellow fever last year; and
",
the right to gather sea-weed, NOW hay and pasture
cattle on the island and fish in the waters around it.
Before any portion of Coney Island therefore, could
be appropriated to quarantine purposes, special act
Of the Legislature repeating the grant to the town
woulS be required. Besides, it would be highly
impolitic to locate a Lazaretto on Coney Island,
whence infectious diseases could readily and rapidly
.nread along the shore to Brooklyn and New-York.
The proposition to appropriate of the shoals in the
lower bay for site also mpracticable, from the
fact that sufficient were not appropriated
therefor. and also for the reason that the work OF
erecting a foundation on qucksand would be one re-
curing years to accomplish and very doubtful of sue
cess Against floating hospitals is urged that snch
structures would tend to spread rather than confne
infection. And thus driven to their wits end, the
Commissioners did what they believed was best for
the interests of the city and of the State and secured
portion of the Wolfe farm. To the charge that they
bsvs maid AN e.orbitant price for the land they ask If
s23 GOO was too much for ffytwo acres in one OF the
most beautiful and healthy spots Staten Island,
with buildings upon it worth at least sl6,oOo aud III
sxred for Sl2 900 On the contrary, they assert that
the property would now bring much larger sum put
into the market As soon as this injunction removed,
the Commissioners will set about their work in good
earnest and have the necessary buildings put up.
We understand that the people in the immediate VI
cinv are in favor Of the Quarantine, the bulk OF the
opposition coming from few oyster capitalists who
| live axov off in Port Richmond and New-Jersey, and
are rapidly acquiring fortunes by planting oysters III
Prince Bay The Commissioners thihk tha' 'nH oP
| positou To State authority comes with very o"u
| grace from tho.e Who for years have appropriated
to their avn exclusive use the waters OF the state,
xi,bou, leave or license, These wealthy oystermen,
| MN herring NOT over dozen persons have long mo-
popoized the oyster business in this locality to the
,,;va x.,r.;on Of their less wealthy neigh
| bors. Were poor man on the lsenu' OF
nnn who owns water frUnt plant oysters IN those
waters, they would plant others upon theu' 'aAe 'nen
ALI nm aud uresk summary vengeance upon the lawful
owner should he venture to assert his nights. M
W ole tells case in point. Soon alter ne went 70
reside on his farm he bought one hundred oushels Oh
small ovs,er. and planted them. Having some Visitors
o,a d. h. ,hought feast of bvalves would be ac-
csn,sbie and sept his man to gather some Although
IT. srs PLANTED on his own shosl, these Port Rich
nlond and Jersey oysternen thresleneu - 'uH u0 -"
boat ii he gathered any of them, and be was ophged
TO give up the attempt. 1t Il against THIS uespelate
| class TN the Commissioners have TO contend. we
are assured that they will steadily pursue their course
respecting the rights Of every one, but resoulsy oe
,erined 10 discharge the trust connded 10 them oy
| the State.
In a few DAYS the anchorage ground viii be marked
on, nv brovs II will be in the lower channel nearly
three mies nv one in extent. The anchorage station
"a u.,lea On The charts blue mud" and would ap-
near I. he r.trste holding ground. The only danger