New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-13
EAST RIVER IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION

The East River Improvement Association Is
al organization II citizens and property owners chiefly
holders Of real the east side Of tho city, organ
tied for the purpose OF eudeayong to procure by united
aud voluntary action the commercial and industrial III
tcrests OF the East RIVER and the sections bordering
thereon. 10 TINS end. they propose to endeavo1 to
awaken the attention OF Congress TO the ne
cessty OF removing all distractions to naviga-
ton 40 Hell Gate. and other points In tho
East River make the eastern entrance 10 our
harDor practicable as that by sandy HOOK 10 urge
upon state municipal authorities the advantages
~ better sysem of construction OF wharves, psIs,
docks. and basins aud the necessity % mpro'lnf 'lr
condition ~ the avenues aud streets on the east he Oh
the city The natural advantages oi thos' lorts o. o
island bordering upon the last kvtI; ia Hlo''I ii
trade aud commerce equal 10 those ~ the pO
tons bordering the Sorth River yet their development
has been mntu lHs I"plu anu Co,ple',, u .no - ,hts
OF that section eudcayorng, by means OF thls
Association buug up the interests OF property owners
here to the position thtY should hbuid} o,Vug ~
Association held meeting last evening IN hoOin 10 10
Cooper Institute tho President James H. Taylor ESD
IN the chair The Secretary ot me Association zen T. u
Haruu read the minutes VI the last Two mcotlhk- ItA
live 10 tho appointment OF Committees on Statistics
Wharves and Piers. Streets aud Sewers, Finance etc
Mr. Baruum remarked ~ explanation oI tue nlhata
that the nr-named COMMITTEES would devote itsei To the
collection Of Information relative to the numbcr capacy
and value Of the vessels annually passing through t
fees OF vessels. the time Loot by waiting Tor
the favorable conditions OF VIM aii tile; L"
~ u III ,r,,.stv ,ricb has happened here In years
past with ths mass of Information tie Executive Com
nitico Of the Association intend To apply to Congress Tor
such appropriation a. VIII be ADEQUATE 20 te con-
Uce removal az the distractions that now cucumber inc
channel The Committee on Streets, Sewers. etc' WIZ
ascertain tho condition OF the principal streets on r
east eide 81 the system ~ sewerage, ETC., ana VIII
| recommend what alterations Should De ntlo W
the arrangement 81 the streets To ahord adequato
accr. 10 front. aud communication WIN "tuer
portions ~ the city. Also what Improvements ~ inc
system Of sewers are essential the welfare of that see
ION The COMMITTEE on Finance Will solicit funds for
the prosecution Of these yariou, olccts the fcsdoh
MIR Taylor remarked that the objects o me society az
though n the first Instance local really Identical with
the Interests ~ the whole country Tor so long a. new
York tobe the chief entrepot OF the whole c9nn
try every additional uuu unnecessary expense attending
oIport import ~ goods az t- port must oe nhay
paid by the consumer OF the so"uH Nhe'esoI nu ,S
" would Doe q curious fact to ascertain how mnch al
/ ditoual cot outacd on the consumer or goods
landed bv foreign steamers IN Nrw,Icr,ey and thence
traushuppd 10 New-lOrk. aud then cated, otru long
dd c 70 condition p2 the wharvcs on the
| North River side Of our city. Why should all our
long and circuitous route by way OF sandy HOOK ,o.
by opening the channel othe East RIVER nearly one day
time and miles ofdsance could be saved oey"y yes
sci plying between this port aud Europe Observations
have shown that the channel al Sandy Hook has been
gradually shoang for the last hundred years as the bars
aud Island. above water have been increasing 10 SIZE
and growing northwnrd toward Coney Island. Already
the principal 10 the chief port Of or country
IA impossible 90 the largest class 0i vessels except III
certain conditions Of the tide. The Great East
ern cannot enter our her stock Of cOn IN al
most entirely exhausted, and when she Il about 10 leave
with full stock Of fuel she must awnit the most hyora
ble condition of the tide and proceed with extreme caution
in order To got out NJ all In the Elsyer. on the other
hand the tide washes the sand 80 clean from the rocks
that show themselves at low water. we hnd CO. 3D.
and leo feet 81 depth. How was II that Con-
Of Thousands Of dollars to improve the Of some
inland rivers In Maine aud the North West, INTO where
the entire value Of all tho tunnage that ever nOaed
would not equal that which passes through tle LAT
RIVER every month"; and only $4,000 had ever Uceh eH'
| ncuded In removing obstacles at HrU Cater III "aH
Simply because no organized effort OF those most hlcr
estrd had made impress upon Congress me
great importance Of this work. MI Bar
because the AT Hell Gate for which the last
Congress had appropriated $500 were not already Ia
progress The newspapers had been constantly hhrpng
upon the subject " these Improvements ever since tue
bin for that purpose had passed Congress II the elLens
OF had been cOntented 10 wall ntty years WIN
ont an appropriation for that purpose, tty Houd pe
willing TO wait patiently ATTY days after the con
tract was made before demanding any important
\ results He wished II remembered thht Oui ol
81 400 600 appropriated for the Improvement or the u-
son River S5O6OO expended In experiments when
produccd no result barely MY days since tue
bids for the work had been opened and u was un W
expect ANY definite results ~ yet Mr shttnnre tne
contractor for the removal Of two rocks NJ Hell pho
under the last appropriation OF Congress SAID lhat az
tbou IN WAS nearly days since the bids were opened
:hs contract for the work was higntd riD, ~
dnys ago The work presented special diiculilts
niust he done but the preparations for tho TASK were
already so far completed that he expected the WORK
would be begun early next month There were u" *
uerimcnts 10 be tried here The work was all pain Dc
/ tnre Them and thry knew what they were to do
Mr. Iaruum offered resolution looking To the nssoclh
tion Of local clubs OF property holders and business ho
for the urherance Of this obj e. lt was also stau tht
roll hook. woud left al certain places ~ the ciS' ~
which nersons desirons OF Joining the Association coh
enter their names The Association adjourned 10 meet
! ON next Thursday evening at the same place