The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-13
Fears Entertained That the Action
of a Drainage Company Will
Destroy Navigation.
TOUCH NOT THE ANCIENT CREEK
Indignation Meetings Held and Inunc-
items Applied For,
THE BAY MUST NOT be DRAINED.
What the People Say and What the Marsh
Land Company Says.

The village Of Pushing, on "Long Islands sea.
grit shOre,' has long maintained the reputation OF
being one OF the most beautiful OF the many snug
retreats which border upon the waters of the
sound Its situation is o peculiarly attractive one
Lying at the mouth OF natural bay, 1t has water
'front.' several miles In extent, while In the rear
rlch and fertile country supplies 1t with all the ne
cessartes Of life On beautiful summers day
nothing can be more charming than the river from
the hin north OF the village. In ront can be seen
the pretty little town Of Newtown its cottages half
hidden by the dense foliage OF the surrounding
trees To the east stretches the waters of the bay
opening into the Sound, On which can be seen
THE WHITE SAILS
OF nnumerable sloOps, looking In the distance like
HOOKS OF sea birds on pleasure trip. In the same
direction College Point and Whitestone are visible
near which some dozen schooners are always an
chOred, while the rows Of white villas on the hill
tops look down like sentines Of the deep. At in
tervals the bay is dotted with islands, which are
thickly covered with trees and so dense il the
growth OF the underwood that Il Is almost impos.
slDle to penetrate rom one side to the other The
prospect west OF Flushing is not attractive the
lana peing DOGGY and marshy condition which 1t
Is supposed to have adhered to since the days Of
the deluge, when "earth was young"
The village has population of about five thou.
sand and the township OF twelve thousand, the in
habtants being both
PROSPEROUS AND THRIFTY.
The residences 1t contains are comfortable and
neat, and number OF very good stores can be seen
IN the principal streets great many business
men OF this city reside In Flushing. which they can
easily do, as trains run each way every half hour.
The streets are clean and well paved, and the
whole appearance OF the village reminds you that
you are In the immediate proximity Of large and
pOpulous city,
From time immemorial peace has held possession
OF this Long Island paradise, and nothing has
occurred up to the present to disturb the tranquil
lity Of the population divert them from the even
tenor OF their ways. From generation to generation
the Flushingtes have married and been given in
marriage, have come into the world with rejoicing
and gone out with mourning, their lives common
place and happy, unruthed save by the ordinary
Ills to Which all mankind Is heir But alas for me
been rudeiy disturbed: a serpent IN the shape of
A DRAiSAdE COMPANY
claim the waste land, has caused CONSERVATION
ami comm0tion where all had been previously har-
m9ny and c2ptentme4t
greatest glory Is her creek-a narrow stream about
eight feet in DEPTH navigabe for canal boats, col
might be- seen STRANGERS from Mane V Sabar,ans
nom sag Harnor and picturesque savages from
ing lumber, coal and brick. the staple commodities
which constitute the commerce OF the port. At
low water mark the vessels would be left high and
dry, and even at high water navigation was diff
cult; but tell II not in GATH, the proposal Of the
"Marsh Land Company would lower the water In
the creek several feet, prevent any more vessels
from entering, render the docks useless and place
Flushing In the situation of an inland town. At the
first action OF the company the
WONDERING LONG ISLANDERS
could not think that such ndgnity was possible in
q civilized age or land but when the dyke for
struction, when the workmen arrived on the ground,
they said "it is enough; our beloved creek is IN
Flushing by the memory OF your sires and the
great Things they did for the creek, arise to the
rescue!
they arose; but before narrating what steps they
| took 1t may be well to state what the Marsh
| Land Company, which has caused all the excite
ment, really is and what it proposed to do 1t
was created in 1858 by special act Of the Legisa-
ture, which has since been several times amended,
for the ,s OF IN e saaa and
Long Island-part OF the land reclaimed to become
the property OF the company, and the owners Of
other parts which would be improved to be taxed
for the expenses of the work. The company COM
prises such men as A. Packer, Henry Ciews, $. b.
sents very large capital. BY an amendment to
the act the company
from interfering with the navigation Of any port,
| and If the water near u port be iessened In depth
they to dig the channel so as to restore 1t to Its
| For some reason or other WORK has been delayed,
and 1t was not until a few weeks ago that active
| operations were commenced. The first Job under.
| taken was the construction Of q dyke from point
! In NewtOwn to point In Flushing, which would
aye e y en n wo or rcv Cross te
| to the famous creek. ON memorable day the
| workmen arrived on the ground No intimati0n
vino. the first logs were driven before the In
| habitants received Intimation; and when the en-
| gineer who had charge OF the works was asked by
what authority he was proceeding he answered by
the authority OF the people OF the state OF New
| Flushing became profoundly agitated; there was
''GALLOPING IN HOT HAsTEo
from village to village, councils Of war were hur-
richly called, and the Marsh Land Company occu-
| pied undivided attention, to the utter exclusion
| or Grant and Greeley. Threats and messages were
sent to the workmen to desist, and dire vengeance
was threatened against them should they continue,
| but all to no purpose. The number OF workmen in
creased. the logs were more swiftly driven,
nush Of excitement it was thought both villages
would be completely ruined; but the more sensible
portion Of the people, when they came to examine
the aiair closely, came to the conclusion that
| AFFAIRS were not so serious as at first supposed,
and that there was chance for the creek alter all,
provided the company made good Its promises.
These promises were that the creek which was four
miles in length, the company would deepen
and fully indemnify the owners Of property which
This proposition pr was looked upon with favor by
some but others held that fair words butter no
| parsnips" and that 1t would never do to leave
THE COMMERCE OF FLUSHING
the tender mercy Of q sy nSte
patriotic action, and all good citizens were en-
Joined to be up and doing Tor the good cause. Ac-
cOYdingly Joint meeting Of the inhabitants OF the
two villages was held, and 1t was resolved to en-
poy counsel and apply for an injunction. This was
done 6ut mere anVer arpse pene us
| private citizens.
Matters remained IN this unsatisfactory state for
| few days, during which the company continued
| TO delve and dig. But these Entertainments could
! not last much longer without determined opposi-
ton and saturday evening the long pent-up in.
| dgnation OF Flushing found expression in public
meeting, which was held In the Town Hall, and at
which the wealth, the respectabity and the intel