New-York tribune., 1878-03-29
THE PROPOSED BATThRY DEPOT.

STEAMSHIP COMPANIES STRONGLY OpPOsED-WHAT
FRIENDS OF TnR MEASURE CLAIM.
The resolutions offered in Congress on Tues
day by Nicholas Muller of New York. In relation 20 the
landing Of passengers has called forth much com
ment rom the steamship companies. The bill provides
for the OF barge office at the Battery for the
landing OF passengers and baggage II also requires all
steamers anchor the stream and transfer passengers
and their baggage to some small boat which would land
them at the barge Office
r. j. Cortis agent OF the White star Line said ycscr
day that he thought II unnecessary expense Ia
erect such building Ii could de very little good 10 the
Government and would De the source Of great annoy
ancc Inconvenience and expense 10 the steamship com
panles. IL not new idea, for the construction Of
such building had been under discussion for "a number
years. Many years ago building was provided for
this purpose Castle Garden but II was hnBlly aban
d0ned desirable structure erected solely for the pur-
poses OF barge oihcc would obvate many ol Inc neon
yenences which then existed. Any legislation compel
ing the Largo ocean steamers To anchor IN thc slieh
would certainly meet with comDlmed ana yis
orOus protest from the companies. The anch0rlng
OF large ste.mer vas ATTENDED WIN 100 haeh
thority would obligc them to do 1t. The Commits
soners of Emigration tried IL some time ago In order To
land the cmgrants AT Castle Garden, but the plan met
with a strong opposition. steamer generally came
into port with food tide. II IL anchored until the
passengers and freight were unloaded the vessel would
gradually swing round with the tide. After everything
had been dscharged 1t would be necessary TO turn ne
vessel and This operation In majority OF eases was
attended with great danger of accident Ia any small
steamers vicinity. Inc passengers ana
freight could he transferred without anchOrlug. The
transfer would bring additional expense 10 the passen-
gers and occasion uch delay OWING to the second hand
Ing Of the baggage.
MIR C;uon OF the nrm OF Williams II Guion, thought
the plan far from being feasible that IL NEEDED
very little discussion. There possible benefit
that could accrue TO the Government, and certainly
none to the steamship companies or the passengers.
The only possible person then that could derive any
benefit would be the contractor VINO should build the
structure. II certainly looked Ike scheme to benefit
the contractor and his associates.
A member Of the firm OF Peter Wright q Sons OF the
American Line declared that he could sec no good In
such scheme. "Admitine." said he. for the sake Of
alignment that the Government could save some money
careful examination OF the goods ut the barge
Office II certainly could not save sufficient sum 10
nav per cent interest yearly the cost OF the build
ing say about S2jO,OOO." He considered that
HE greatest confusion would also exist III two large
stcafners arrived the time carrying about 200
or 800 Passengers each. II would require AN immense
structure TO accommodate them aud their baggage Ihe
steaiushp companies could never detect any smuggling
under such circumstances, and lie considered IL was
their interest suppress that unlawful business lie
agreed with other that II such pubic inst
tuition was erected 1t would be simply "big JOB for the
contractor" -, d,
Louis DE Beban agent OF the French line, regarded
the plan as npractcdDlc and injudciOus lie Thought
IL anchor and land passengers and freight
during the Winter when there was lee III the harbOr
Mr. schwab, Ot the North German Loyds. thought the
contractor would receive the greatest benefit Another
agent took occasion to deny Mr. ulers assertion That
the companies desIrOus Of being relieved OF the in-
convenience OF examining baggage ON the docks