New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-27
A DEPOT FOR OCEAN PASSENGERS.
PERMANENT BUILDING AT THE BATTERY IN NEW
YORK PROPOSED
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUyE.l

fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, March &C. The following preamble
and resolutions introduced in the House to-
day by Mr.. Nicholas Muller, of New York, and re-
ferred to the Committee Public Buildings and
Grounds.
Whereas The already large and rapidly increasing pas
senger and freight traffic between the port of New-fork
and foreign has rendered necessary that some
better and modern system OF landing, protecting,
and facilitating the business OF passengers be adopted
whereas It has been repeatedly shown that the Gov
ernment owing TO the want OF proper accommodations
for officers who compelled 10 examine baggage,
compute the duty and collect the same In the hurry aud
confusion incident 10 the steamship wharf on landing
days, loses very considerable sums yearly;
Resored. That the Secretary Of the Treasury be- and
he hereby requested to have made and sent 10 this
House early possible plans specifications and es
Inmates Tor permanent pudine OF gdae o. h o, u,
tery Extension in New-York IIarbOr. Of sufficient ca
whose duty Is 10 examine the baggage ana ns-s ana
collect revenue on such merchandise as may
have, with ample accommodations Tor the landns and
comfort Of passengers generally.
Rcsored. also. That the Secretary OF the Treasury be
and lie is hereby instructed TO transmit to this loSe
copies of any correspondence he may nave recently Iai
with the state City authorities OF YORK or VITA
Collector of the PORT relative to the necessity Of ouch
building 10 meet the increasing demands OF commerce
also, statement as TO what, II any; action has been
taken by the Government To acquire the piece OF frontage
adjoining the Battery Extension, now owned py The Cly
OF state oi New-lork.
Accompanying these resolutions Mr.. Muller sub
mitted memorandum, of which the following is an
abstract: new barge office contemplated
many years ago. As early rs 1866. the Legislature
of NewYork gave permission to the city to transfer
to the United States portion of the lands under
water within the limits of what Is known as the
Battery Extension. for the purposes Of n
barge Office and the business connected
with it. In pursuance OF this legislation,
in 1867 the city granted TO the United
States for 900 about three and onehaf acres of
land under water at the eastery end Of the Battery
grounds. Since that time Congress has appropri-
ated T22J, 900 for the construction OF "a sea wall
and barge Office which has all been expended In the
building of the wall, III improving the revenue
basin and the exterior wall of the barge office site.
The city has, in the meantime completed the Battery
grounds mp 10 the land of the United States, and has
improved it, The difficulties Of examining baggage
on the steamship docks are very great, ana the
steamship companies DESTROYS of being relieved
of these Inconvenience. and have slgnihed their
Willingness, as soon the Government provides "A
proper place 10 anchor their vessels In the stream,
convenient 20 tho revenue dock and 10 provide a
suitable steamboat To convey passengers and thelr
baggage on the ship To such place.
The memorandum concludes "a follows The
Government. by the gift of the State and City of
New-York and by the appropriations of Congress, IL
the owner of the most valuable property IN the city
for these customs uses, and IL only needs the cree
ton of this contemplated barge office TO complete
the purpose for which 1t was bestowed