New-York tribune., 1873-02-06
INTERVIEWS WITH SHp-owNERs.
rHu MERCHANTS INDEGNANT, AND CRYING FOR
REFORM.


REFORM
The South, Pearl and Beaver-st. merchants
bold one opinion regarding the cxtor;ions of Harbor
Masters reporter has spent several days In calling
upon Oldest and most oppressed Of the shipping mer-
chants AID few Of the statements win 5s found below
Gustavus A Brett the head of the old house or Breti
Sons d Co OF No. 43 SOuhs said IN substance have
opposed aud decd the arbor Masters e1tOrtons, and
although ! have suffered several occasions great
annoyance and loss. am determined 70 continue the
opposition. send out and ud vacaut berth at public
per then employ any tow-bOat see M, aud berth my
vessel az that pier then that my ships officers
are armed. then give instructions 90 them that m
case OF the attempt the part OF HarbOr Master 10
cut out ana set The adrift they shall hand
spike rOpes end, IL that is sufficient, bat if not after
due warning, TO shoot dead any man who trespasses
upon my private property as they would thief G
6shwayman. always pay the legal iees' ana am o.
course perfectly willing 10 do but viii not permit
The Hsrbor Master any other man TO eAtort money
CASE IN POINT.
The unor mcmher OF one Of the oldest houses in Han
over-~0uarc stated The delays and anuoyances TO
which We have been forced to submit are legion one
instance will suffice Our house chartered vessel TO
tse LOAD OF cotton TO Liverpool for Duncan Sherman
Co. The cotton was TO arrive from the South in three
the third on the 18th OF the month.
We had procured berth by paving hber3lly Tor ~
and the first cousg gnment delivered on the wharf
IL was tnan half In before there came an order
The HdrbUT Master tlst 'luc btitl was plOh>tu
10 another vessel" and that must leave. JIG was IN
vain that sent. and finally went myself 10 the HaTh0r
Master lie was ilexOrabc. The vessel must 90 or be
would set hcI adrilt. IL IN vain that asked TO be
permitted To take n the rPmandeI ot the cotton.
The vessel was tOwed out, for which were charged
an exorbtaut rate aud bcrhod away up the East River
near Grands The big came then, and the cotton
Was buried under II to be thoroughly wet ahd
damaged. We then mad TO send our own truckmen ana
that cotton al our expense, aDOut Al per bae,
10 vessel The loss entaied on us by tins operation
the extra carriage the rest of the cargo an1 the extra
hcrth ices eft with very small balance On the en-
tire CARGO at the end Of the voyage. On the cotton
actually lost money.
WHY MERCHANTS ARR SILENT
The head of another house South-st. said We have
paid out more than 500 for berths in the past three
months and here are my books to show for IT, We have
come to look upon this expense Of the necessary
outlays and charge il in the books, you will see
as berth fees" Tie law does not recognize
as legal the payment or any such zee to
The tOW-bOatiucn HarbOr Masters. but we are
literally forced to pay this sum or he prevented from
taking in dischdrgiug cargo If We were defeated IN
this We should be- liable FOR damages 20 the cOnsl- -ecs
II would be worth several Thousands OF dollars per year
for me 10 give yOu the of our vessels, Win The
dates as you ask They all accessible III these bOOks
but it Is hard lair Tor TIE TRIBUNE To expect NE to
pace Myself AT The mercy of the HdrJOr Masters.