The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-21
NEW YORK'S DANGER.
Dredgings and Garbage Rapidly
Filling Up the Bay.
OFFICIALS DENYING THE LAW
The Police and Dock Departments
the Chief Offenders.
EVIDENCE OF THEIR GUILT OBTAINED.
Herald Reporters Observing the Acts
of the LawbreakerS.
THE SHORE INSPECTORS DUTY.
Urgent Need Of Protecting the Harbor
from Further Obstruction
EVIDENCE OF THEIR GUILT OBTAINED.
Herald Reporters Observing the Acts
of the LawbreakerS.
THE SHORE INSPECTORS DUTY.
Urgent Need of Protecting the Harbor
from Further Obstruction.


and prosperity is the fact that she possesses the
finest harbors in the world. It's splendid natural
advantages some of the famous European ports
have been commented upon with enthusiasm by
those best calculated to judge Of their relative
merits. The foreigner. after traversing the magnf-
cent bay. views the green, wooded shores OF Long
Island side and the picturesque hills of
Staten Island the other. and when the Empire
City bursts suddenly into full sight the impression
formed is invariably that OF admiration. But OF
late years the natural beauties of the harbor have
been niarred and its waters polluted by system
perperated by the very authorities whose duty it is
to suppress and punish all transgressors OF the
sanitary and health laws. There is not
shore in the vicinity Of New York which
is not Uttered with vile and fostering heaps
of carrion and decaying vegetable matter inter-
mingled with the refuse which is daily carried from
the streets OF New York to the bay. and there oated
back to the pleasure resorts OF the same multtudes
who fly from the city to escape its presence for few
hours. This is the result of wilful violation Of
the laws OF the State OF New York by the New York
Board of Police Commissioners through its agents
aud employees. Another body of officials has also
been guilty Of gross misdemeanoc in precisely the
same manner. This is the Board of Dock Commits
sioners. which annually spends hundreds of thou
sands OF dollars in dredging the North and East
rivers. only to IMPAIR if in the future to render
tmpassabe the regular channels of the harbor Were
this matter that some excuse might be
framed for the orignators Of these nuisances; but
when 1t has been a subject of yearly discussion.
and when special legislation has been called into
play to abate It, the preparation OF these abuses is
fragrant violation Of law. and the instigators or
parties responsible become criminals under the law
aud liable to arrest. imprisonment and fine.
ORIGIN OF TROUBLES.
oal and carbon had called forth considerable COM
plant from those residing or engaged in business
near the wateis OF the bay. but in the summer of
that year the abuse became such q serious matter
that preparations made to legislate during the
vantsr thvrvby- remedy It. The cities of New
York aud Brooklyn at that timo had standing con-
tracts with certain parties to from the city
precincts all dead animals, carrion and ofal. and
these contractors the principal offenders
against whom tho proposed laws were to operate.
Instead Kidding tho cities OF this offensive matter
they made it q common practice to carry it down to
the lower. and sometimes the upper bay. and
there dump it. The legislators were backed by tho
moral support Of the entire community.
and in the general excitement law was
passed on April &C. 1871, despite all
efforts OF interested parties. to suppress the nuis-
ance It known the Shore Inspector act,
and passed under the following title:-''An act
to prevent the deposit of carron. oa or dead AMI
mails in the North and East rivers. in the bay Of
New York. or Raritan Bay within the Jurisdiction
OF the State OF New York" The intent and provi-
sions Of the to make the dumping OF ofa or
animal matter in New York Bay or its adjacent
waters misdcmeanor punishable by fine and i'm
pr.sonment. To better secure the observance of
the law the act provided for the appointment Of
State shore Inspector by the existing Governor. for
n tar Of vi
with discretionary powers to set tho limits beyond
which the odal was to be unoadcd. The powers of
the officer extended TAR beyond tho State boun-
daries to secure beyond any doubt complete
prevention OF the refuse floating back on
rehux tide. Governor Hoffman appointed
A. A. Lake inspector. The effect of the
passage Of this law and the appointment
OF the shore Inspector the subsequent erection
OF works Barren Island to utilize the dead ami
mails for manufacturing commercial fertilizers.
This changed the aspect OF affairs considerably. and
the nuisance was abate1 in u large degree. At the
expiration Of Mr.. Lakes term of Office General Dix
had succeeded Mr.. Hoffman Governor of the S.ate
and a republican candidate. william J. Cropsy.
about to be appointed To prevent this appoint
ment by their political opponents the democrats
pcaled the act; and. in doing. abolished the
office or shore inspector. The Importance of the
Office had been modified bv the utilizing of the oiai
by the contractors. but left the shores OF the bay
wholly unprotected against individual offenders.
who were numerous. or against any subsequent
tractors who might mud 1t to their interests to dis
pose Of It in the old way.
In the year 1875, the state government having
again become democratic, the law re-enactod
with amendments. one OF which tho insertion
OF other putrid offensive matter" among tho
specified articles OF prohibition. Governor Tilden
appointed M shore inspector W. q. Ferguson. Tho
following are extracts from tho laws which espe-
ciay pertinent
ruE HARDoR GARBAGE LAWS.
Session IN. page stS chap.er oli--
sscrios tut for To- throw
aay dead animals carrion dial or other pu,rd or
River adjo,sius tho counties Of Sew York kags wss,,
Is ~ S ar Of this IN
ws.crs OF Jamaica Ba. ,,,
navigate. siu IN sailing, or to DO cn-
aS s 1 10 amy 10
9. upon ,he waters Of that part ct New York Bay kn;wn AS
on any para OF sd bay south OF said sarrows with
or an, portion thereof into the waters mentioned
~ this nc. wihon per ip writing from the inspector
granting such permits from tino TO Zine hc may think
section OF this act
prsonmen, for term OF not less than sS months aud TO
a%sor,ss Of csscr Of shs aforesaid cc%uties W ''
sac 4-lncdiatciy after tho passage of this act and
within ONE month rseeing tue hrs. day OF May IN each
tospectaye citizen OF tho said comhy of Kings Rich
one onehalf miles OF tho shore. tina, part Of tho
ssc III shall be the duty of the said Inspector dili
gently TO Investigate aud report without delay to tho
Mutation Of Of ihs provisions Of this
:" AID IL ali proper ways IN the sniopesnsn thereof and
lie sba have tho power W arrest ~ any OF the counties
a,ins the provisions q This aud take
before such magistrate court whose