New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-05-03
HARLEM RIVER IMPROVEMENTS


RIvER-THE REPEAL OF PRIVATE CHAR In
DEMANDED. r
At a special meeting of the Chamber ol
Commerce. held recently, to consider the question u
expendture of money for the improvement OF INC MAJ
lem River the committee that had the matter ID cnASo
reported: ,.-.o,
We have tried in vain to get copy of the b reicrTou
70 as pending in the legislature and therefore ny nat
he ~ VET 10 renort ON It's provisions We also fnd tna
full powers TO improve the Harlem lAyer nv hrIt
given TO the Commissioners OF Public PARKS; Inat
head lines have been agreed on ana otner d,iisra
steps taken. We further nd that during tno 1t ~
ton of the Ring private charter for the cor
the Harlem River was granted and that there Is dleu
that auy legislation expenditure without t heat
repeal OF that charter might accrue sP
Of the company In question: Under these and The
Of tho absence OF the proper nIVi at,y ex
amned before the Chamber act In the same, anu S tbe
the fact it too late in the present session VI n
leave TO ask that the Consideration Of the matter be post
pOned, that they have further time to report
on Thursday the same committee reported adversely
10 this bill and condemn ed the proposed WORK lno p
referred to in the report has been received at the oco
Of the Commissioner Of Public Parks, and is as ioo"S'
THE ACT.
Az ACT 70 mite the H1,on and Rivers by improving the na'R
Duyyil Creek and Harlem ayeE - S,cte
and AsseD,biy do enact as tot0WS: In , -
SECTION l. There shall be imposed for the iisca year
beinunr oct l. 1873 in addition to any other tax leNg'
fax of $50 GOO and for the fiscal year beginning
is7l in addition to any other tax levy tax OF sooOo
ID ~
to he assessed raised and collected upon ana Oy lile
annual assessments and collections OF taxes TOT eau w.
said fiscal years in the manner prescilOed " aM
naid NV the county treasurcr5 respectively into me
treasury of this state and to be there feceiVed %
paid for the objects and purposes pro'cIio'" J." ~ Nv
sTc The whole Of the tax levied and collected under
the preceding section shall be paid INTO tno ~.
he sat IN The credit of the Canal Fund, and Is hereby
appropriated and shall be applied 10 lne suINcs 'I j
structon OF the public WORK or Improvement nole u
after authorized and no part OF said appropriation s
be applied for any other object or purpose uh''' ' ~
public work shall be made ana c0nlp!eteu, 49,. -, -,
SIC g. To meet the appropriations made IN ths act Vi
the moneys to he collected by aud upon su "a a
little delay as practicable the Commissioners VI Ine
Canal Fund the Controller may ron u uis ~ %
invest in the said tax any surplus moneys oi luo
pal Of the sinking fund CAS- PROVIDED py ane. i 10
The Constitution, sums not exceeding lu az tuo
amount to be realized from said iaN heIeu1
and the moneys so invested sIlI 10 i11 ~ MOI
appropriations under TINS act; anu 80 nuoii Va ~ ,,
eys arising from the said tax as may ne NECESSARY TS
paid the treasury Is hereby ptogeu anu sn'ii o
applied in the first Instance 10 ltimpuIse tnc s' IN
ing funds the amount invested III sd tN anu oI te
interest the same at rate not e&teeuB ~
per from the time OF investment 10 'ho ia! VI
SIC T. on or before June l. 1873 as soon thereafter
practicable, II 81 al be the duty OF te stare
10 cause survey the Spuyten Duyvil Creek ana -nch
parts OF the Harlem River as require deepehhS 80 INA,
channel OF such depth tuat vessels d'tWiuk
feet Of water may az all times navigate the same, anu
follow the course OF the Harlem 10 the East RVcr
without making the detOur oil VI ihlatthh iaIilu .,
SEC D. so soon the Engineer has determined
upon said route. ne shan furnish plans, maps and est
mates 10 the Canal Board shOWln2 uc ihahneI III
which the sand communication can be opened ana upon
the approval of said Board, the Canal Commissioners
shall AZ once cause maps Oh the pfopO'ea npIoNel.'
10 be hed IN tue Offices designated Dy the Revised stat
utes. the proper places for maps TO he hed Wlth
view to acquiring title TO lands Tor canal purposes anu
when the Commissioners have performed all the aCs now
required by law 10 be done where canals are To he con
Sructcd the sad Commissioners shall az once proceed
10 construct aud make the said canal and iuprN
IN accordance with the plans adopted by the Board and
the said Commissioners are hereby clothed WIN inc
powers and rendered subject 10 tho provisions already
vested in and applicable TO said Commissioners ,by
OF Part Chapter Title OF the Revised Statutes
of TINS state, ana the iClo tltltol'
SIC Al vessels shall navigate the sdd waters free
OF toll or charge ana SUBJECT Oy 10 tue a"s I"lea anu
regulations or hereafter TO be prescribed by tue
Legislature Of this state the Canal Board Tue Board o
HarbOr Masters. the Department OF DOCKS ana liers
Of the CITY OF NewYork. their successors OF any Oh
either OF them.
such rules aud regulations In regard 70 The waters here
above mentioned as to them may seem necessary ana
except the said waters from the operation OF Sucn
laws by their local nature aud relation 10 inland
rather than oodstwlae navigation may be inconsistent
Win ana repughdht 10 the sp'ft au meaning OF thi,
act; aud the sad rules and regulations snail accord ana
correspond with the laws aud regulations now governing
HarDOr- Masters.
TRIBUNE reporter was'tOld at the Office OF the Com
mssioners of Public Parks. that official information
had been received in relation To the bill and that no
steps had been taken carrying out provisions,
owing the uncertainty which felt IN relation to
the rights OF the corpOrators under old charter,
which gave to private persons the same powers con
ferreI by the above bill upon the Commissioners Of Pub
nc Parks.
A PRIVATE CHARTER STILL IN FORCE.
On May p 1868 bill passed the j. sslatIrc by a two
thirds Incorporating the Hudson and Harlem River
Canal Company, OF which the following were named as
the Board of Directors:
Matthew T. Brennau Daniel Devn. Adon Smith.
James A. Henderson. stephen &. Walker. Egbert y.
Fairchild, Jonathan W. Alien william j. Peck, James
G. Wei, James II. Cromwell. james e. N0ian, Henry
smith. Milton COurtWrlghi, "lndm H. stewart, JOhh
L. Cummings, George n. Van Mort, Henry W. Genet,
ana Charles A. Lamont.
Powers are conferred upon the company 20 make and
-ons 10 De determined by the directors, but not less
than co feet water surface width less than seven
feet in depth OF water low water for the passage OF
vessels boats and floats OF all descriptions. whether
propelled by sails steam, or other power and also for
the use convenience, maintenance, and protection Of
the said canal the vessels navigating the
the business connected Herewith, 10 construct and
maintain suitable cmbankments basins. walls, docks
wharves. piers, offices, and tollnou-es, and other
necessary and convenient works, buildings, and
grounds connected herewith, and 10 establish ana
collect such OF toll ana charges the directors
may from time to time deem proper and as shall be ap-
proved by the Canal Board, subject 10 revision by the
Legislature, upon all ships steamers. sOOps boats.
other vessels craft any KIND description entering
using said canal or basins. and upon al articles OF
produce, manufacture, trade. or merchandise. whcu
Snail enter be conveyed transported III, upon. or
through the aald.cadl on basins uh also 10 establish
charges a. the directors may from time to tine deem
proper from all vessels persons occupying using
any Of the basins, docks, wnaycs slips, piers, or
other works grounds OF the said Company.
The act gave the COMPANY five years In
which complete the canal to admit OF the regular
passage OF vessels through ils entire length Tne capital
stock OF the company under n, Original cHartcr was
limited 30 SjOOOJo. Int IN April laGl amendment WIS
passed by the Legislature authorizing the company 10
extend their canal from Harlem River tO such points Ou
Long Island Sound they might deem proper, aud In
creasug the capital OF the company 10 Al 800 600 Ia
April bill passed adding three TO the
time provided for the completion OF Tie work by
company.
The Secretary Of the Produce Exchange Told The re-
sdcratiOn future meeting ana that III rt would
prOpaby be- made 10 have tLe old charter repealed Ia
order 10 give full effect - the new bill.
CuINEsE LABOR In 81 InIIa