The New York herald., 1866-07-11


places, will now probably choose for them
selves. defying the set rules which heretofore
governed their actions at the expense Of Sheir
comfort-an innovation which Is very much to
be commended.
EFrEcr or THE EUROPEAN WAR ON Our MARI
Tine DEMONSTRATION foreign government
organs chuckied over the annihilation Of our
carrying trade during the late rebellion they
little thought how soon the tables were to be
turned upon them. Their encouragement OF
privateering, their one-sided constructions OF
maritime laws and their bad faith generally
wore indulged In in the belief that day OF
reckoning was distant. It has come sooner
than they expected. Before they reach the
second year Of the war on which they have
entered our shipping interests will not only
have entirely recovered from the injury in
flicted upon them but will have monopolized
the carrying trade Of the world. II will re-
quire but five years. duration Of the struggle
to give us'a commercial marine equal to that
Of all the European nations combined.
Every one knows the effect which the wars
Of Napoleon had upon the growth Of our COM
mercial navy. To them 1t unqnestionably owed
the extraordinary development which it as
sumed prior to 1912, and which so excited the
jealousy Of England as to lead to the orders
in Council. We are entering upon a similar
state OF offairs now, with this difference, that
our resources and opportunities Of profing by
it are enormously multiplied, and that we
bring to this fresh field of enterprise energies
sharpencd by sense of unfair trea ment.
The shipping interests Of this country have
never, in truth, had brighter prospects. If
Congress would only remove the foolish re-
etrictions which 1t imposed on the vessels be-
| longing to onr merchants which were trans
ferred TO the protection Of FOREIGN flags during
| the war they would be in a still better posi-
| ton. We sh Ill want all the vessels that we
can procure for some years to come. It takes
| time to bui'd new ones, and II facilities be
| afforded for the retransfer OF those that have
passed from our flag they will help to supply
| he demand In the interval. We trust, before
Congress separates, that some attention will be
given to this matter. 1t is in it's power to do
much for our commercial marine by few
| judicious measures Of encouragement, and the
sooner II is dunr tho better IL will be for the
interests Of the country generally.
-------- ---.
DANGEROUS CONDITION OF THE PmRs ON THE
RIvER.-The piers and whaTves, which ought to
be, under honest managem int, o source Of
princoly revenue to the city, have heretofore
proved rather an expense than medium Of
income. We have repeatedly drawn attention
to the fact that there were many sources
from which the Corporation could derive
large prols that have been applied to- sub
serve corrupt purposes; and foremost among
them are the piers and whsrves. We have
urged the necessity of constructing piers Of
stone or iron. which would be permanent and
would demand no continual outlay TO keep
them in decent repair. But the system of job
bing appears to have control of this part Of our
municipal affairs. The Legislature has it In its
power to fix a wharfage tariff which wonld en-
able the city government to keep the piers in
good repair, but 1t has persistently refused TO
do SO. The shipping merchants and shpowners
are cognlzant Of the value Of good piers, and
are. no doubt, willing to pay fair price for
the accommodation. That it Is their interest
to do 80, is proved by the disaster which occur
ed at pier No. III, on the North river, on Mon
day, when cargo of fifty tons of iron suddenly
disappeared, together with the pier, which was
so mis- 'rably constructed .hatis oaved In under
the weight, sinking to the bottom and carrying
one man down with II. II appears that this
pier was built upon crates filed with stones
as foundation. connected by girdes at
span of seventy feet---a structure which could
not have been expected to serve the purpose
for which it was intended. We have no doubt
that many Of our piers are in precisely the
same dangerous condition. Several Of the piers
on the East river were destroyed by ice
during the past few winters, and have never
been rebuilt In respect to wharfage accom-
mediation, New York is behind any maritime
city in the world. The Legislature Is to blame
for this. If would only bestow a email por-
ton Of tho industry which it dcvotes to oppres-
sive and Ineffective legislation for this city, in
the shape Of Excise laws and other stupid
measures, 10 the regulation OF our wharves and
piers the city would reap some benefit from It's
labors. Tn the selection Of members for the
next Legislature this point should not be lost
sight Of.
GRANGE IN FEDERAL OFFcE HorDERs.--Thcrc
appears to be considerable sqairmiDg among
the radical Congressman over the discovery
that the President intends TO remove the radi-