New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-09

PROTECTION OF THE HARBOR.

PROTECTION OF THE HARBOk.
ANNUAL REPORT or THE PILOT COMMISSIONERS TO
THE GOVERNOR - LEGISLATION ASKED FOR III"
| PREVENTION OF ENCROACHMrNTs
The annual report of the Board OF CsminiS-
soners of Pilots has lust completed aud forwarded
to Gov. Dix The report for the year lust ehdou ~
especial Importance calls the attention OF '"o
Executive to the recent extensive encroachmchIs upo"
the waters OF the harbor and recommends suon
amendment OF existing laws as VIII proDdop
remove this danger which now 80 seriously 'i'o"'o"'
navigation in this port Mr. Blunt the secretary VI '"o
Board declared TO TRIBUNE reporter 'hN IL WIS ny All
unaocounfabe bunder his part That tho services oil
the United States Coast Survey in tho discovery or inc
dancerous rock off Nnoteenthst East River, wero not
properly recognized and compmented IN the prepara-
tion Of the annual report. Tho report Itself ia as
follows:
To His Erce1iency JOHN A. DIX Gorernor Of The Sae Of
Tne Board Of Commissioners of Pilots in the city OF
Ncw-Yor, respectfully report: Tnat during the year
have continued TO discharge the duties doyOyed upon
them by tho several acts OF the Legislature. relative 10
pilots and potaeo for Inc port otNew-Y0rk by thr way
of SANDY Hook. and by tho laws relative 10 The
harOor Of NcwYor s,r a. tho ara still III force
heretofore tho Board renew tie expression Of their
belief that the existing system wise aId beneficial III
respect 10 al the interest affected by ~ adnniSron
The discipline the service is well manaiued AL well
grounded complaints against the pilots receive the
thorough scrutiny OF tho Board. and every case OI No
latiOu Of duty Is promptly punished Such cases arc
rare and the general conduct OF tho entire BODY OF pilots
licensed by the Board is most cOnMendablo.
~ decsion of the Court OF Appeals rendered N May
S 81 G 6a Paine Nail Steamship copahy to
recover n penalty for refusing to employ q plot
aee law are held to apply cOastwise steamers sail
ing under register and TO he unaectei by any act OF
appeal has been taken by tue deiendas 70 the ohpoe
of the United States but there good prospect
that 1t viii be voluntarily abandoned 10y the appeltS
and the State law fully aoquiesoed IN.
Under the of April ~ 1860 TO prevent encroach-
have been raised notice from the Board or 10y con
tract with the Board. Bushwick Creek which was
impossible by floating timber, was cleared ~
order of the Board III September last The Board mas
also caused the of slips at the foot Of AmtYSt,
grain which had become detrimental 10 business
and health An unknown wreck =nder the waters
the steamer Easily struck was alter great dMcu'N
found and properly Duoyed, the expense pens oorae
by the Marine Underwriters application OF the Board
funds being in hand to pay IT. The BoaId III
April last caused the removal OF shadpoles nterehg
with the channeway. Other cases of violation of t1e
law against depOsiting drcdginGs street drt anu sh,
so have been the subject OF complaint TO tne Eoatd'
and suits have been begun and are now pending 10 IN
ct penalties upon the parties engaged III such V9h-
tons Under Section of the act of 1851, IA amended.
penalties havo been collected from AZ steam-tugS for
throwing ashes into the waters OF the port Experience
has proved that this provision Of the law cannot be
properlv enforced while steamers allowed o. have
their pipes openings leading from the englDer0om
or other concealed place through the bottom Of the
vessel INTO the water II is recommended that the law
be 80 amended as to impose penalty OF so per DAY
after notice from the Commissioners 10 remove the
same Seventeen permits 10 deposit S5Oj CuDic ylfds
Of drcdgngs III place selected by Prof Henry Mitchell
of the L. g. Coast Survey the least OblcctiOnaDe
place for the purpose have been granted TO parties
apDlyng for them. This does not. however, ~ All
represent amount O dredging periOrnod As
OWING expense necessarily incurred an towing %
the appointed place, and the fact that there
is no restriction just above Spuyten Duyvi Creek,
both private and public dcdgers have preferred dcppS
ting there 10 great injury OF the harbor Is the mud
is Immediately washed down again by the descending
current The Board earnestly recommend as essential
10 the proper preservation OF the harDDr. That the
operation of the existing provisions of law against
abuses and encroachmeuts be extended on bOth the
North and Rivers to the extreme limits embraced
IN tie CITY and County of ScwlOrk enlarged by the
recent annexation of part OF Wes'chcstor County.
pnoy deem this Of the utmost Importance. ana
ask that the Legislature may be requested OY
tins indispensable object. Unless the law InterpOSes 10
prevent the constantly increasing misuse OF the great
natural advantages possessed u harDOr, H. VIII be
injured beyond recovery and 10 the permanent damage
OF all our commercial interests as q state. The Board
also urge the Importance Of maintaining their uteS
rity the bulkheads and per lines now established
No structures encrOachmens should be permitted IN
or over the the harbOr beyond the existing
exterior lines unless demanded by actual
and pressing public necessity after com
plee ami impartial exainlati0n by experts
TO the existence of such necessity and the elect Of
the proposed structure or encr0iclment The amount
heretofore appropriated by the Legislature Tor the
necessary expenses OF the Board, si5)j, has been
ely inadequate to the purpose, and s usefulness has
been seriously impaired thereby. The Board respect
fully that Appropriation OF fD)) FOR their eX-
penses made. and also that suitable provision may
be made by law for the compensation OF the members
o! the Board. All OF which Is respectfully submitted by
order Of the Board AMBROSE SNOW, PI3eiIeut.
GEORGE W. BLUM Secretary.