The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-04
RAGING CANAL MEN.


AN ORDER FROM THE HARBoR MASTER WHICH
HAS BEEN BOTH PRAISED AND coNDEMNED-
ENFORCING A NECESSARY LAW.
That part of the city water front between piers No.
! and No. inclusive the East River side was set
apart by Legislative enactment especially for the use
of canal boats and barges. The law was passed
eighteen years ago. and while at that time this dis
trict had sufficient accommodations for all needs the
internal commerce of the State has increased that
it is now unable to meet present requirements. In
several winters there has been trouble in accommo-
dating all the boats that seek shelter here after the
closing of the Erie and minor canals but this season
the trouble has begun earlier and in an aggravated
FORM for there now more canal boats and barges
in port than have ever been known before.
On Tuesday afternoon the attention of General H.
A. Barnum. the Harbor Master in charge of this dis
trict. called to the situation Of affairs. Tows Of
canal boats constantly arriving. and as they
could not get into the already crowded slip they
were compelled to tie up outside in the stream.
Their captains loudly complained of the great dan
ger of their positions. in the event of strong
tide blow their boats would be injured, and in
any event they continual risk of being into
and sunk by the craft going up and down the river.
Furthermore General Barnum saw that unless
something was done the channel of the East River
might become blockaded almost across to Brooklyn.
GENERAL BARNUMs FIAT.
The Harbor Master thereupon issued order that
all the boats which had just come in and for which
there was accommodation in the slips. should be
towed over to the Erie Basin, in Brooklyn. To-day
svs the piers over Should
got out, and either towed to the Erie
Basin or otherwise disposed OF by their consignees
or owners. This order gave rise to grumbling
among the canal boatmen who thought they had Sc
cured choice position for the winter. They even
went far declare that the real motive for the
removal a desire to make room for steamers and
other large vessels which could be compelled pay
larger fee for wharfage. HERALD reporter yes
terday found over two hundred canal boats Lying
within tho pier line and about one hundred in the
stream in exposed position General Barnum
| said that seventy-hve more boats were the way
and would arrive by tonight The law allows the
| time the Harbor Master has power to order them
away to the Erie Basin the Atlantic Docks. Brook
lyn During the winter. the General said not three
| boats In hundred discharge cargoes within three
days. The grain Is kept in them on storage for
from week to three months. 1t is cheaper for the
| owners Of the grain to keep 1t on storage in the
canal boats because they pay only So day for the
first month and So day atterward. and the cost OF
&c mueh crsater General sarnum pronouncsd abb
surd the assertion that he wished to allow larger
but canal boats and barges this place. All the
boats pay yearly tax Of 81 25 for the Harbor Mas
ters tees, no matter how seldom or how often they
come to the port. The wharhnger receives fifty
| cents day from every boat in the docks.
| THE BoArMEN SAY.
Inquiry among the canal boatmen showed that tho
| only complaint comes from the men who have snug
berths for their boats South street. where they
tnOuSnt they cOulu lle al winter 10 the EXCLUSION
Of other boats. The captains Of the newly arriving
boats praise the prompt action Of the Harbor Master
and say that he is doing his duty in impartay pro-
tecting the interests of the boatmen. THAT is
what the basins are for The boats with grain
In Them. said skipper "can lie up just as well
in the Erie Basin. where there is for 800
l boats. Two hundred more boats are coming down
before the canal closes the 9Th of the month"; and
very glad to be ordered there, because If we
TO lie here in the river should either 60 to
the bottom in collision be strained and stove in
when blow came up"
Yesterday afternoon there great activity in the
| feet The boats that had been more than three
days in the docks were being towed out, new ar
rivals coming in and the boats nearest the
South ferry. some of which were drifting around in
front Of the ferry slip with the turning tide were
hurrying to get out of danger.