The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-14
HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.

WORK TO BIZ stopped IN THE CHASNEL-A
BOARD OF ENGINEERS TO TAKE TaE MATTER
IN HAND.
The Board OF Engineers appointed by Congress
to investigate General Newlon's plan for lmprov.
ing the channel between staten Island ana New
Jersey nave as yet taken no definite action te
yond organizing formally. me Presldent 81 tue
Board is Colonel q. B. Tower and tle Recorder
captain William II. Hener, o. tho Corps OF En-
gneers; the other members being General New
ton, Lieutenant Colonel H. G. Wright ana Lieu
tenant Colonel J. D. Kurtz It l. expected that
TINS Board VIII either Indorse General Newton's
plas or devise a new one whcn viii not be open
TO any objection.
Dunng tue present session OF the Legislature
residents on staten Island petltioned that the
work OF Improvement according 10 G eneral New
TONS plan should be stopped, on the ground that
IL was OF serious embarrassment and injury 20 4
number OF persons engaged In the oyster trade 10
the vicinity. Joint resolution was passed recon-
mending that Congress make no fJrther appro.
priation for the present toward the Improvement
OF the channel Congress, however made no sp-
preparation last year FOR the purpose and ava its
the report Of me Board Of "a own appOintm ent
before discussing any more money. IL Is SAID hy
the friends OF the improvement, as carried
out according 20 General New'0n's ideas,
that the petitioners nd not seriously
consider what they we're doing ana mat the pea
az tnterference win the oyster trade vas mora
imaginary than real as there are no oyster Deds
10 the neigEborhood, aud the only trade carried
ON Is what ~ known as "iTesHeniNg,N wnlch n not
of consequence compared VITA the great advau-
tages II au improvement 10 the channel.
The plan originated by General Newton, aud
which has been Ia great part carried out. was TO
relieve vessels nom inconvenience by means of
dikes 80 Gonstructea a. 70 Keep tne caannel clear
81 seulmeht ana ahold boats clear
course through the XII Won Kun, and some
1000 feet o. me dixie, running from howland
Hook VIII be completed TINS week, and On com
pletIOn Of this part the work wiz Oe uisconunued,
not 20 ne resumed until after the rcport Of the
Board OF Engineers rus dixie was 10 run out 20
a point near shooters Island where Ii would
meet another dixie connecting at right angles
with trird, when would start from the saore
near the railroad at Enzahethp0rt. and run par.
ailel with the one ron Howland HOOK. the ulse
from Rowland Hook would be sixteen and nalf
feet In depth-the lowest depth OF the channel
around Xii Won Rutland would form the main
passage. the two other dikes being accessories 70
the OBJECT IN uew-vil., 20 project the vessels
from the two bars az this point, one o. which Is
TO the west ofthe Lower stake and the other itte
below shooters Island. surrounding the Corner
STAKE ls nat aud a. times as mary as twenty
boats have Deen seen here agi ound. OEet around
20 XII Won XVII y l. necessary 70 head aoove tie
bar az the Corner STAKE, aud then 20 come down
aud so around the bar below Shooters Island, the
width between toe two bars being over two hun-
dred YARDS The dixie from hOWiand's HOOK
would run IN straight line between tne Corner
Stake and Shooters Island IN a depth ~ sixteen
and hall feet OF water, right out into tie chan
mel and on to XIII Won Kun. AZ tie
present time the nat Is constantly the re-
ceptacle or sediment lodged there on the
o. the Passaic and Iaekensack rivers. Alongside
the diSes. sucn as General Newton proposed 20
form them, there were sure to be currents which
would sweep away these settings on the chan
mel bed ana - arrange the separation Of the tues
At shooters Island that no obstacles ~ the move
ments VI the boats cOnld arise.
the opposition OF some Ol the staten ISLANDERS
however mas succeeded in stopping the work tor
the present, out ~ " SAID that many vi the petit
TONERS alleady regret the part taeY took j n
pedinn the Improvement Of the channel At al
events, several months must now elapse before
tne Board Of Engineers can maze a report. aud
then further delay Will cnsue before congress can
grant an appropriation. some idea may he
formed oil The Importance u au Improvement IN
the channel at the points above named wnen ~
~ remembered that boats rom all parts ~ the
southern coast, canal boats ana steam prOpelierq
pass through tins troublesome circuit wiIhln
which these bars and hats are clrcumscribed.
Prom up the KarItan River, from Southern ports
over 100000 tons Of produce nave been bOated
through this point IN year and over 5000 0O0
more have passed from other ports. The crave
Importance therefore, OF an Improvement In the
channel a. shooters Island and It's vicinity would
seem TO claim acKnowiedRment II Is SAID that
the men engaged ~ the "IresBeningn Of oysters
~ the place 40 not number many more than naif
Ia