The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-15
Cites the deposits into the slips would be Iesened and
ths necessity dredging them would be rendered less

frequent
REMEDIAL MEASURES BEGUN
The elements thus submitted by Mr.. Haswe'l
mad the effect OF calling such attention 70 the
preservation OF the haroor as the Importance OF
the subject demanded. AT that time the State
Commissioners had completed or were ABOUT
tSen exst,ng TO prevent encroachments and
TO stop practice OF depositng dredgings In the
and were violated with an impunty that demon
strated how little the parties involved cared for
the enactments stlll the lew earnest men who
had the interest OF the city at heart and desired
that remedial measures should be intro iuced to
arrest the further spolianon OF me haroor zeal
ousy worried 10 mat end, and at last they were
rewarded 70 some extent Dy the action OF the
State authorities, VINO requested he Pilot Com
harbor at first the Commissioners. who knew
too well the vast injury then already done,
act ssn'o The state ausa srfH ins f and
leading merchants, coming to their rescue and
Joining In the request, the Pilot Commissioners
direction. Earnest and practical men. they were
familiar with the requirements OF the case and did
Important end IN view. They held, primarily, that
the transfer OF the materials dredged from the
with forbidden. TOE reasons for TINS determine.
ton were twofold. First II would prevent the
further
by the stones, bricks and other matter too heavy
to be moved by the detrital action OF the current;
and, second. the increased cost consequent upon
the removal o. Inc deposits to the main land was
quite incensiderabe compared with that OF Its re-
peated removal by being thrown In the channel
OF the rivers. This was :ne commencement
OF an earnest and glorious work, which has been
continued by the Commissioners until this day. so
lar as tIeir nampered hands have allowed them
10 act. For two years they were paid their prom
lsed salary, 81, 900 each, but since then The Iatth
u custodians OF the strong box OF the State have
vallantly repudIated the claim and refused to
SETTLE The meanness of tnis refusal is only in
Keeping with many similar acts OF State officers,
Yet he Pilot commissioners did not throw up
their once as Harbor Commissioners. but per-
formed their duty conscienslously, although it In
volved personal and pecuniary responsibility OF
the great bay Of New York into hands less scrupu.
lous than taeirs, and perhaps subject to the WI
owners OF steamboats, and steamtuas, a calamity
to be avoided, whatever else might happen.
OYSTER ISLAND THE DUMPING GROUN.
The Commissioners at this period earnestly be-
gan the work OF cnecklng existing evils. First,
they ordered mat ali dredeings dug out OF the
slips should be taken to n point south OF oyster
Island In the Bay where. under the sanction OF
the authority bestowed, all deposits were after
ward transferred by the parties Interested. For
several years this locality was used for the pur-
pose, the selection being deemed excellent. and
the feeling that no harm could arse tnerefrOm
receiving Official sanction. But a sudden awaken
ing was in store lor all concerned. The magnf-
went ashore near on Oyster Island at point
where plenty OF water was known 10 nave pre-,
viOusiy existed and was supposed to be found
there tnen but upon examination the
alarming result oil THESE deposits was tanned.
shoaling had occurred Tor a great distance about
the island. AT once the Commissioners very sem
siby refused TO give any more permits 60 deposit
dredglngs at tnat point, and being In quandary as
hat best to do they asked the United States
Coast Survey authorities co send proper person
to make tile necessary SURVEYS for the purpose OF
determining where the deposits OF the city could be
placed without further injury to the harDor. MIR.
Henry Mitchell. Chlef Of Ply seal HydrOgraphy, re-
sponded and devoted that time and laDor to the
matter wnicn its great Importance deserved. The
result OF his observations waseto recommend as
the place OF the future depository OF dredgings
that point in the bay one mile below Fort Iomp-
klns to one nle, ABOUT the Great Kills, on the west
side oil the channel between
WEST BANK AND STATEN ISLAND.
This was in july, 1872 and the Commissioners
afterward directed that all SUCH deposits should
be transferred to the above point. 1t was done
summer, When reports began to dow in that the
dredglngs Of the dumping ground were rapidly
g up tne sher snq
alive 10 the vast Importance OF the matter ana
not wishing 70 change me ground recommends con
ing them. petitoDed the superintendent OF the
Coast Survey TO make such inspections OF the
dumping place as would settle beyond peradven-
ture If such injury as had been complained
OF had been done. the response to the
last summer the examinations were made
and w. a short Time SINCE ICE. the he, authorities mo
tracted work the commissioners, wherein 1t
showed that there Ia need OF more stringent rules
assigned limits, and to cause the stun 10 be more
evenly distributed over the entire space, instead
has be the criminal practice Of reckless and un.
rejecting agents lor years. The report Is as fol-
lOWs:-
The comparison the survey Of 1872 with that of 1874
not he there
Slight EN- IN sc t9r N. Two years gener
not be que to material dumped on near the dumping
ground but must be due to other causes,
s s hat in s
limits OF the dumping ground.
character OF the changes that have been made by dump
The Bukhead to West Bank Channel has changed
Tie s eet. curve has been quite evenly advanced
about yards Tor the part Of
ing practically at other points
On be e snN ANY ~ o sc5 OF
that the dumping should not be permitted beyond the
This s matter, entirely under he control of the
cers OF the Coast survey engaaed the survey asi sum-
sew distance dSSns e at . mot
within the prescribed limits.
Immediately upon the receipt or this report the
Commissioners saw the necessity of drawing the
lines tighter winch govern all dredaers, aud TO
accordance with the above recommendations, re-
yoked at once all authority to make sucn deposhs
In the following resOIutlons:-
OFFICE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PILOTS
To DREDCERS-Ata meeting OF tile Board held to-day
the following was adopted-
Whereas this Board IS IN receipt of report and chart
the result OF survey made by the 'united states
Coast survey during the summer OF 1874 showing the
changes which have taken place in the depth OF water
the designated the deposit drcdgngs
the West Bank Bank Channels aud whereas the said
report aud chart indicate the OF change
the places oil deposit OF said drcdgings therefore
Resolved That the designation Ut place deposit
for dredgings and all permits heretofore given de-
post dredgings at any place within the
port New YORK, he ana the hereby revoked
ana withdrawn
Resolved, hereafter all parties receiving permits
from this Board deposit dredgings ut any place or
places within its jurs licuon will required 10 so de.
them strictly within designated I'm their
respective permits under penay of prosecution for vio-
lation of the law. By order OF the Board.
GEORGE W. BLUNT. Secretary.
New grounds for dumping may be selected by
the Commissioners. Snouid This be the case, or
whatever may be their final action regarding the
recommendation ABOVE alluded to, IL viii at once
receive the publicity demanded But no action
will be taken unless the way avoid all Juturc
racnrranca Oh Ike difficultx IL clnarIr aaau -