The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-15
The Danger Threatening Our Com
mercial Greatness.
SHOALS AND ENCROACHMENTS.
Narrowing the Ship Channel and Reducing
the Depth Of Water on tho Bar.
REMEDIAL MEASURES ADOPTED.
legislative Aid Invoked to Ar
rest Further Damage.

Every man who has sailed IN distant seas and
visited the Ravens and marine cities OF other
lands knows that upon the face OF the globe there
Is no harbor which surpasses In beauty, In gran
neur ana convenience the magnificent bay Of New
York. Its great burst TO the sea, its deep and
rapid pass-the Narrows-between lofty heights
and formidable fortincations, the great cities the
arts and civilization which surround 1t on every
hand and crown it with triple diadem, Its mighty
river flowing from the rich Interior OF our great
State and Its deep salt water strait extending
northward and eastward to the Sound. fur.
ntsning another pass to the ocean, all
contribute to Its majesty and as
whole Ill the measure OF Its renown.
Instead OF preserving this great natural harbor
and watching over its vast interior space and
deep water with jealous eye there are reasons
to tear IL Is peing rapidly encroached upon, and
that in the next hall century, unless remedial
measures are adopted that large portion of our
magnificent bay will become impossible to vessels
OF large tonnage. No greater calamity could
beiall this great maritime ana mercantile city. To
destroy It's harbor would be to strike fatal bio
to its prosperity. Tue destruction OF our marble
palaces, the gold ana gems and rich fabrics OF the
city would be naugnt to such a parayzing vista
tion Deprived Of It's depth and capacity, wnere
great navy may now securely ride, would be to
rob New York OF much OF Its prominence and to
make the port one OF secondary commercial con-
sideration.
THE DANGER APPREHBNDED.
That there is danger Of such a realization those
who are well informed will not deny. Year alter
year individuals and corporations have so en-
croached upon the boundaries OF our rivers and
harDor by tho extension OF bulkheads and piers that
legislative action has been repeatedly called into
requisiton to check them. Committees have been
appointed to Investigate and report: but, like
many matters demanding pubic attention and
upon which hang vital interests, these commits.
sions have accomplished but comparatively little.
To investigate and report was Que thing, but 10
restrain the injurious encroachments was another
matter. 1t has never been DONE yet 1t must be, II
we wish our harbor In the future to be
equal 10 the full requirements OF its rapidly
growing commerce. All who have ever
considered the subject know full we'll to what ex.
tent sucn encroachments abound. On every side
they exist. They are manifest to the public. The
operation or these encroachments in reducing the
tidal volume OF our harpor sure in their inju-
rious effect Whether 1t Is piers or bulkheads, or
the dumping Of ashes, cinders or garbage, the de.
post Of dredgings and matter swept from the
sewers into its waters, the results are not dis
vimilar-they tend to one disastrous end. Yet OF
the two the latter is the greater evil. Against
the further ontnuance OF these deposits q legis-
lative blow must at once be struck If the per-
nicious results would cease. As far back
as in the year 1857 attention was called
to the subject. Later INVESTIGATIONS show
that the abuse has grown into greater
prominence, ana offers Tor consideration an ee-
ment in our commercial position secondary to
none others. Charles Il. Haswel, In the year
ABOVE mentioned called the attention Of the
Board oil Under writer's to this grave matter in
these words ITO the wash Of earth rom the
streets and sewers OF this city ana Brooklyn into
the slips bordering thereon, by which not only
this harbor was being lniurousy affected, but that
the width OF the channel lnside the bar at sandy
Hook had become seriously narrowed, and url.
mately the depth OF water on the bar must be.
come lessened." Mr. Haswen then
MADE MANY OBSERVATIONS
to ascertain the extent OF the deposit OF silt into
the rivers b0ruering the city, To do so he selected
vxteen locations best suited to furnish the ele.
ments desired, and being provided with an equal
number OF bottles OF like capacity Thirty cubic
Inches) he repeatedly filed them with water from
each OF these localities at hall tlde doth ebb and
now, both IN dry and wet weather, ana at diner.
ent seasons oil the year. Such water was then
filtered and the residuum weighed and noted in
grains, the average results OF which, deduCed from
the operations OF several years, furnished the iOl
ng:-WeiRht, IN grains OF deposits In thirty cubic
inches OF water:-