The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-06
New Tork's shipping Interests.

Excessive and unjust port charges have had
quite as much to do with the marked diver
sion OF trade from New York to competing
scabOard ports, as railroad determinations
and the want of terminal facilities. Those not
directly Interested In maritime commerce
have no idea OF the magnitude and endless
variety Of these port charges, imposed by
virtue Of Federal. State, and municipal laws.
The United States tax ON gross receipts
from passengers and ON profits has been re-
moved, but yet the remaining taxation is,
we are Informed, ten times as largo rs at
Liverpool. Every vessel entering this port
is prcycd upon bya swarm of officials from
the moment she rounds Sandy Hook till she
escapes from their jurisdiction.
II costs for making fast to any pier or
wharf two cents II ton for every vessel under
two hundred tons, and half cent ton for
any excess over that, for every day or part of
n day. One of tho most ingenious of petty
swindlcs is the charge Of s. for the mere
privilege OF transferring II vessel from one
river 10 another. What with wharfage.
harbor dues, and the various legitimate and
ilcgitimate exactons upon vessels, the
wheels of New York maritime commerce
are cloggcd in most extraordinary manner
Among the moro prominent assessments
levied on shipping OF every description on
tering our port are these: United States
tonnage dues. 80 cents per ton, payable an
nually; quarantine dues, $3.50. payable by
every vessel, without regard to size, pass
ing Sandy Hook Harbor Masters dues, SO
to S2i. according 10 size OF vessel; Scaman's
Hospital dues for every vessel from
foreign port, for the master $50, for each
mate 81, and for each sailor so cents pilot
age dues, from April to November from
s46s7 all the way up TO $2O3l2 according to
measurement, and from November to April
81 extra pilotagc from quarantine. one
fourth Of the inward pilotage, exclusive OF
of shore; hauling tn or from wharf. 81 per
day; detention, 81 per day: entry fee on
vessel Mt quarantine $3.50; Port Warden's
charges, 50 for each survey, 81 for certln-
cate. and 81 for Advertising; clearance
charges and customs, SIS to $50; rates for
loading, -four cents per barrel, naval stores
10 cents. petroleum oil 10 cents, compressed
cotton s. cents per bale, cotton by hand 81.
cents, grain 50 to sl2 per 1000, &c
All these tributes come under the general
head of harbor dues and port charges.
The merchants of New York, as repre-
sentedby various commercial bodies, shoald
take the matter vigorously in hand ami
thoroughly ventilate and expose "A system
which, under one pretcSt or another, inn
poses on our commercial marine port
charges fully twcnty-nvc per cent in excess
~ those of any otAey ci'r ia the t'nilu Vow
York harbor should at lca7; be- II. ir'"' a.
those OF Boston, Philadelphia, and Balt-
more. Only recently the Allan limo of
steamers were prevented from making New
York their United States terminus be-
cause OF these enormous port charges. They
went to Philadelphia.
The equipoisc OF trade is now exceedingly
delicate. While other ports are making
every effort to capture New York trade, our
merchants cannot afford TO sit still and look
on with indifference. very small draw
back in price, or in cost Of transportation
or handling, or slight detention or annoy
ance. will not only turn trade from the door
| Of the merchant, but from the harbor Of u
city. An earnest effort should be made to
| tighten the excessive tax now imposed on
our commercial marine.