New-York daily tribune., 1859-01-27
rYcROACHmENTS ON fHE HiRB0R OF
NEW-Y ORK.
o.. nun carresposder


establish reeuatj ons for the Port of New.York,
ua.sed in 1877, and amended in 1858, presented
report, through the Goveraor, 10 the Senate to-
day. In ;.neir report they say that they have doae
all they could TO carry out the wishes Of he Legs
lstOIe IN passing the act under which i,e Com
mission was sppoii ted, VIZ, 10 protect tle Har-
Dor OF Ne&-YOrk irom encroec5ments.
The Commissioners give assurance that they
have succeeded in absfiDg many Of inc more sSir-
me abuses to which the hsrbor has been
heretofore subject, such as preyenting IN toe
main the appropriation Of the pubic piers 10
private use and the dumping OF the accuinulated
filth of the great City of hew-l0rA ia the shPs.
To be more particular, they have suppressed Inc
throainp Of afhes into the hatb0r from tue steam
boats &c the dumping Of night soil and rubbish
into the slips. the deposit OF mud and SAND exca-
yated from clips into the waters Of the port, the
IMPROPER and reckless landing Of coal ballast, DC.
H. most cases say the Commissioners, a respect
ful notice TO the parties Interested us TO what they
are expected TO do and refrain from dong has been
all that was necessary To the enforcement OF tue
law: but a considerable number have been less
mindful Of their duties and obligations. The Com
Nnis,ioners have commenced in all sxty-elght snlts
apainst off, ndipg parties, from whom they have
collected 81 ,57c 50 in fines, and ten suits are st
pending
The public piers, say the Commissioners, are IN
a condition which renders them disgrace 10 the
port. The power of the Commissioners under the
present law il limited TO requiring the lessces OF
the piers and bulkheads TO keep them III proper re-
pair. under penalty of S2J for every day they
shall neglect such repairs after due notice shau nave
been served by the Commissioners. Butths power
is of little or 10 practical utility, owing 10 the con-
troll which the municipal authorities exercise over
the snbect-a control which they all to make ellec-
five by causing the piers to be kep;in repair. The
Commissioners have thus far delayed entering suit
against delinouent parties in this respect IN the
hone of obtaining the cooperation OF the city au-
th0rities in the mstter. They still hope for, but,
Judging by past experience, hardly expect such CO.
operation. They call the particular attention of
the Legislature to the subject, and suggest that
ample power be vested either with the ComIns-
sioners or elsewhere TO protect the public piers
The piers and wbaryes of the city are hardly
sufficient to accommodate It's immense commerce,
the HarbOr Masters frequently finding 1t difficult
10 obtain ber.hs for ships; and yet their capaclty
IL lessened by Instructions and membranes IN
the shape of shanties, booths aad other buildings
erected partly on the piers and partly on the water
and leased To dealers in fish, vegetables &c, to
the very great detriment of the shipping The
Commissioners ask for power to remove these Oh
structons. They have now only limited power to
fine parties for erecting them. They have COM
menced a number of suits for the collection OF
such fines some of which are now pending Most
of the defendants plead that the piers are private
property, and exempt, under section ~, from the
operation of the act. This construction, say the
Commissioners, virtually licenses the abuses com
planned Of
sioners during the past year OF the various slips, 1t
appears that in some few cases, by the effect OF the
tides the water is deeper than in lS56, but all the
slips together average two feet less depth 0f water
than appears from the llarbOr Survey OF leo6
showing the necessity of almost constant dredging
tO preserve sufficient depth Oi water 10 dccOnuio-
date the shipping OF the port
The Report suggests a number OF amendments
to the law under which the Commissioners act,
not so much they say, to increase their poNer as
to add to their facilities for executing promptly and
effectively the authority bestowed upon them by
the law as il now stands. Many Cf the violations
are by lighters, barges and other transient vessels
which escape with impunity, owing to the neces-
sary delay in serving process under the existing
regulation.
The law as amended at the last session fixed the
compensation of the Commissioners, but the Leg
islature made Appropriation tor the purpose.
So the Commissioners have been obliged 10 advance
all funds necessary to carry out the law, relying on
the Justice of future legislators to reimburse them.
and they respectfully ask for such Appropriation by
this Legislature.
The Report of the Commissioners was accom-
panied by proposed bill containing such amend
ments to the existing laws as their experience dc
tates as necessary to make the Commission effective
and useful. They first propose all amendment
more efectualy to prevent Goals, cinders or other
loose matter from falling into the docks III dscharg-
inc cargo or ballast. Another proposed amend
ment makes il the duty of every owner OF lighter
which is engaged exclusively IN the business Ol
hghterng in the port of NeW-lOrk, to cause the
name and place of business of such owner To be
painted in large letters on the side OF his lighter
under penalty of s. and a forfeiture of $40 per
week during which he shall fail 10 comply, after
having received due notice from the Commission
ers such fines TO constitute a lien oon the Olend-
mg vessel till paid. All fines and penalties are
made recoverable by and in the name ol the Com
missiOners of Pilots.
In all cases where fines and penalties are made
hens. they shall be enforced by attachment issued
by the Court where the suit for the recovery of
such fines shall be pending and attachments shall
be enforced in like manner as III suits and attach
mcnts sgainst nonresident debtors, and no security
shall be required OF the Commissioners upon the
issuing of attachments. The Commissioners are
to have discretionary power of RENTING fines.
For all the purposes of this act all piers and bulk
heads shall be deemed and taken as extending into
the adjoining streets in the rear thereof distance
Of ten feet. The act iorbids any person from
building any pier or bulkheSd extending beyond or
in any way obstructing the exterior water lines
marked and recommended by the Harbor Commis
siOners; and should such structures be erected,
the Pilot Commissioners are authorized TO remove
them at the expense of the builders.
Chapter 226 Session Laws of lS5S, is amended
by striking out the 10Th section and striking out
the word public" wherever it occurs in said
chapter.
Ehhu Burritt's Compensation Emancipation