The New York herald., 1879-08-24
CHANNELS CLOSED UP.
The Pilots Declare that New
Bars Are Forming.
DUMPING CREATES THE INSTRUCTIONS
Jent Laws Needed to Sup
press the Evil.

deeper and more widespread interest than any other
commercial problem discussed tor the past few
years. The fact that New York depends for her COM
mercial greatness her splendid bay and harbor
makes the subject of national Importance.
Should the channels be closed to steam traffic. Mon
real Philadelphia and Baltimore all stand as formid-
able rivals for the succession of New York as the
great shipping centre. The efforts of the accused
Police and Dock departments to escape the great
responsibility they have brought upon themselves
will scarcely be tolerated by the powerful corpora
tions whom they have injured nor by the general
public whose lives daily placed in jeopardy.
Among the many interests involved those of the
large steamship companies preponderate. Yester-
day HERALD reporter called on q number Of repre-
ientatives of the principal steamship companies to
Dbtain correct expression of their views and sent
nents. Mr.. William Coverly, ono Of the members
the Anchor line firm of Henderson Brothers. was
On at the company's Office. In answer to inquiries
to the past and present conditions Of the harbor
Mr.. Coverly made some very decided replies.
"This is tremendous subject" said he, ''and
there is sufficient ground to alarm the whole
country Our pilots and captains constantly
complaining that plotting is becoming more and
more difficult A few years ago vessels were not
6 much lighter draught. Then could sail at any
time we were ready to weigh anchor. Not only that,
but any vessel could approach moderately near
either shore OF the bay which gave the whole scope
OF the bay for navigation. At present we are CON-
PEELED to sail just at certain hour to get out of
port at all. Sometimes we have to leave at
three O'Clock in the morning. Then the chan
nels in both bays narrowing that it is
only skilled pilots who take Of our
larger vessels through safely. If miss tide by
an hour we are compelled to keep the ship in port
until favorable tides again give opportunity
fho o1v
complaints used to be about the filling of the
sey shore with garbage. ashes and dredgngs The
pilots and officers found that the ashes and
refuse rolled from the banks into the middle of the
channel bed. This has grown to be serious mat
ter. The steamers cannot now traverse the old
and have to steer to the east considerably to
avoid going aground"
"what number of large vessels do you send out
each week?'
This week sent six To-day alone we sent out
three. This will give you faint idea Of how large
the interests of steam navigation have become. Our
Glasgow steamers the largest. There is hardly
British steamship commander who does not feel
timid about New York harbor's safety as port. OF
course. the pilots intrusted with the RESPONSE
biity OF directing the vessel in safety. but still.
when these men of experience and judgment become
hmid it is time that public movement inau-
yurated to abolish the nuisances that endanger
ing the lives of thousands of passengers weekly We
in favor of the strict and impartial
OF the harbor laws. They ought to be executed Wig
orously in this CASE
THE HARBoR GREATLY IMPAIRED.
The State line is represented by ME. Baldwin His
views on the subj .ct of the destruction Of the
harbor were expressed with great cearness.
'"There is no doubt, said he, that the Upper and
Lower Bay impaired in value channels tor
ufaa rba HurAr q D.,
Of the nation. and especially of its shipping circles.
FOR its splendid effort to the harbor of New
York from ruin. know of no subject that concerns
ats prosperity more than the protection of its
shipping interests and the maintenance OF
safe harbors. New York Bay the
finest natural harbor in the world. The
negligence of the city officials and the failure of the
State to punish persons juring IL have encouraged
the dumping of ashes and mud in the bay. We once
had from sixty to ninety feet of water in a good
wide water course. This has since altered In
same parts of the bay small craft cannot
venture at low water. In the great channels the
heavier vessels almost scrape the bottom
they are forced through the shoals which
are constantly accommodating. There is no use
taking any mild measures in the matter; IL
Is a subject that has to be held with iron
hand. Penal servitude should DO the punishment
for all Offenders against the State in this particular
Europe must have strange idea OF our government
which allows such fine harbor to be spoiled tor
Its penalties upon guilty corporations municipal
departments. The English would not tolerate it for
instant, and the official who failed to make an
example OF the law breakers would be forced to
resign by weight OF popular opinion. II we
are ea %en New rect York OK VIII a'er in
bad fix. I'D yet IL such were the case 1t is most
likely to ~, what would the penitence of the de-
stroyers accomplish. This is q subject that con-
erns the Whole people,"
"How can the steamship companies take any or
q, anized actionY
I "They all members of the North Atlantic
7 ,team Traffic Conference. The subject could DO
brought up at its next meeting"
"Wil the Conference call the attention OF the
ytate to the matterY
81 am not certain The principal lines of great
ocean steamers European. They would be will
ing but might feel delicate about making any de-
mands on the government. You see. they look to
the State to that the laws enforced and that
Justice is done them without any outside Unfit
The American steamship owners might move in the
matter as they have perfect right to feel injured
In the case.
rHE OFFENDERS SHOULD PUNISHED.
All the steamship officers who were spoken to on
the subject were unanimous IN the opinion that the
harbor was ON the verge of ruin and might any day
become unnavisabo. In the Maritime Exchange tho
topic was discussed all day. There is "a strong feel
Ing manifested la favor of the Indictment of the
Police and Dock departments test to the
power of the State to protect ITS harbors against the
dcpredatious made 10y employees of its subordinate
municipalities. In order to ascertain the extent OF
this feeling HERALD reporter called on Mr.. g. r.
nsded tor expression OF h. views the subject
Mr.. Elwell proffered his entire willingness to add
uis VOICE 10 the uonand the salvation OF
tho lHrbor. II represent, personally said hc
.mainly the interest of the sailing ship companies.
The HElaID's expose of the unlawful acts of tho
Police and Dock departments has aroused the city to
proper sense OF its danger. II is a terrible
thought that New York BAY may any ,ay
be declared unnavgablo. Millions aud millions
OF dollars depend the channels be-
ing kept open; | am convinced that the
revelations made by the HERALD within the past few
days should bring upon the guilty officials tho Sc
vcrost penalties possible under the law There is no
uso accepting excuses from accustomed law break
ers, who are fully aware OF their liability to tho
state for the offences. To delay action would be
simply farce on our system OF state
government Every intelligent man knows
that when statute requires garbage to
be dumped in the tnat is a crime to
throw IL within the harbor. Not oven the promise
OF future good behavior should be considered as this
is an cid trick by which offenders have always es-
capped. The officials VINO most active in sec urlng
the punishment of offenders will deserve greatest
credit. The shoaling of the inner and outer bays
In an old sore, which has been vainly auitated for