The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-12
THE HE'LL GATE DISTRACTIONS.
Public Meeting in Williamsburg.

Pubic Meeting Wu0aua SD0rGs
A number OF citizens OF Williamsburg interested
In the navigation OF the East river. assembled In
wlless's Opera House last evening BY invitation OF
the onlcers OF the East River Improvement Assoois-
zion.
Mr.. JAMES r. TAYLOR, President OF the associa-
uon, was called to the chair He said that the East
hivef Association was . voluntary association, and
any cltzen might become member OF It, The gen.
uemen composing the Executive Council have spent
Krea' zeal OF time In bringing the importance OF
the suDect OF the removal OF distractions from He'll
Gate 70 the attention OF the public. By
their efforts Congress voted eighty-hve thou
sand dollars for tho work, and this meeting
was called for the purpose OF menorializing
Congress for the purpose OF getting further aid 1t
VIII PROBABLY take $oooo,ooo 60 complete the great
work, but even that large sum Is insignificant in
comparison with the Importance OF the work.
General BARNUM, secretary OF the association s.ia
that he appearedsbefore the meeting simply an ctt,
zen having general interest In the prosperity OF tn
community. His desire to interest every person
present In the great lmpr0v ement The association
contempates the improvement OF the East river
generally as well He'll Gate The present object or
the association was to induce the general govern
ment to appropriate SUFFICIENT funds to carry ut tho
great work contemplated For this purpose they
propose to hold numerous meetings to agtate the sub
JeC BeSideS the removal OF the instructions at Hell
Gate the association hope at future day be able
to induce the building of improved docks piers and
warehouses on the line OF the river. The General
read report submitted to the Executive Council by
the chairman OF the Committee on the Removal or
distractions from Hell Gate. The report W as pre-
viously published He continued by abiding to the
large appropriation made by Congress for the Hud-
river, the Ohio and the Mississippi, and thought
it scarcely just that only the paltry Of $780, 900
was ever expended In removing the 0bstruc-
tons Of the East river. and that expenditure
was made eighteen years ago. He believed that the
attempt recently made to carry on the work by
General Newton on the $4,000 voted last session
would prove utterly futile. General Barnum con-
cuded his remarks by earnestly urging those present
to use their individual influence with such members
attention.
The CHAIRMAN stated that the Executive Council
OF the association consisted Of gentlemen from
Brooklyn and ten from new York
Mr.. DANIEL COGER and Alderman GEORGE II.
FISHER briefly addressed the meeting, urging
the importance OF the subject under dis-
cussion. Mr.. Fisher thought that at no dis
Dor OF New York would be closed from natural
causes, and he therefore hoped that the work of re-
moving the He'll Gate distractions would be speedily
ACCOMPLISHED
resolution moved by Alderman FISHER, asking
the members Of Congress from the Second and Third
districts to forward the movement, was unanimously
adopted
Captain SNOW spoke briefly in relation to the con.
nictng interests involved IN the construction OF
ton ana alluded to by General Barnum.
The CHAIRMAN announced that another meeting
would shortly be held, aud the proceedings termt-
mated.