New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-05


want of proper dock accommodations, In 1872 tne
Legislature authorized the municipal authorities 10 con-
vey to the United states triangular plece OF gIounu
adjoining the property above stated, which ground was
considered necessary to extend the frontage on tne
water OF the Government bulkhead The city deiaye
taking action and It was not urged because OF tue aD
sence OF any appropriation for barge office In $50
the United States was oqsted from the oia gge I eD
the building No. 6tatest was hired for the purposes
OF barge Office. -, -,
his Office on July 26, 1878. Among the matters
TO which his attention was first called wa, was
made by the Collector of Customs in behalf of the
Treasury Department 70 the city authorities io NEE cor
ground for revenue purposes He learned that tne ap
pcston had been referred by the Controller 10 tne
poratiOn Counsel for an opinion as 10 the proper netno
OF procedure The opinion of the Corporation Coaess
being obtained, Surveyor Graham urged ana p
g. 1875 authorizr the desired The Mayor
approved the resolution on september wS
should be 81 000 then remained TO nave h e MO-
passed and the Ss te TO the triangular
piece of ground and their reference 10 lne ~
Graham TO make any further personal efforts ON sew
eral subsequent occasions however, he gave
s 20 inc p 80 the prSgress being made patl
March o. 1879 when Department letter. win ur to
Uecesssry setion by the corporate authorities He I'M
mediatey took active measures In the matter an
Alter that another obstacle presented the city
authorities O6ecng tha William ihe e. stenmetz supsrn
tendent of Repairs, ETC., furnished aho'her mp o" "
The Barge Office which has since been built is to be
used for the outdoor business OF the CUSTOMS, wS
IS under the supervision OF inc ud ninety nSbf
inspectors who when they are not actually on poalu
vessels are required to remain ~ inc
and night until they are assigned 10 incoming Vessei
At the Barge Office kept the records OF an Vessels
arriving and discaargaG lner ca sned TO each
Here are received recorded all manests and papers
otin t5e retrns of cargoes vessels is
performed by the inspectors IN this building Inc aver
age daily arrivals of foreign vessels are about thirty 70
which officers are assigned from the Barge Oiee IL Is
intended to devote considerable pari OF Tue Duug,
the iron shed to the Of the baggage OF e1
passengers Up to December l, from July 1881, 2I3
steamships and 6397 sailing vessels arrived here from
ing from January December l. 1882 eleven months)
5s403 every cabin passenger bringing more OF iess
baggage proportion being articles subject 10
duty. The total duties collected In TINS time ~Sro
$119s30 "a. For the five years ending IN ISL Ine
average duties collected from passengers were ABOUT
After General Graham entered upon his duties and
during August September aud October OF that year tne
examination OF baggage took place under ms P
sion The large increase OF duties contested ~ a' ye
months was oecasi0ned by inc return ol PnrSs
who had visited the Paris Exposition Colonel 6eOrSe
&. Klbbe was appointed Deputy surveyor on MaTol .,
1872 aud since tnat time has devoted tue larger
of his time 10 the supervision OF the eAanatoh ol DIE
gage well the outside work In 1881 thefe vas Il
slight decrease in the amount OF duties,
the increase In cabin passengers Inc ucoI seso iu 49,
their baggage would DO subjected very thorough ex
animation, brought smaller quantity OF uutaeie a.
fa'1N'tHesN
was due 10 the enormous I'm Immigration, many
Immigrants Of moderate means taking pnsease III tns
an order that no than $500 should be collected
from cabin passengers on the peT ana th,s resulted IN
ton thus considerably reducing the amount oil dutes
formerly collected on the steamship piers
Since the old Barge Ofce,,on Pier No /, was deno-
shed all cabin passengers and their baggage have been
landed and the baggage mas been ehhnne1 on or, e Rrs
Ia Hoboken and Brooklyn. and the remainder IA tnis
city All Of these steamship wharyes are etoMuea WIN
nd ont
carts and trucks delivering and receiving
are often filthy and always uncomi"rtaOle. Ihe new
Rage Oiiico VIII be a means of Obyatng the scandals
which have grown up from the manner OF treating the
of arriving from foreign ports The
and departure Of Transatlantic passengers viii Dc
far convenient both 10 themselves ana ther
when the steamship companies begin the use OF Tue
Barye Office The steamship companies WILL however,
be little more expense IN iandlhg thls Sass vi Pas
sengers and those lines landing at Jersey City aud 10
boken are making efforts to be released non the proNs-
The main building IA an imposing granite
be placed evcLic light II has a. frontage gu IVe
feet ana averae, ieph OF 90 leet Inc mrs -
l7la feet IN height. the second story 10 rect Inc
at the easeIy end - "a feet nom tbS grouha 20
the ton OF the stone work, and the height from the
ground 10 the peak OF the roof Is SO feet surrounding
this Is flagstaff 20 feet in height the largest room
2S feet wide; II Is handsomely furnished Win toet
opening 'front.' H. On the West enu OF ,ne TO-"
opening INTO the main hail. on tbe othe .siue OF
whioh are two rooms each ~ Dy Is ieea anu 5n ,
one by 10 feet. AT the north emu IL doorway eahs
into semi-crcnlar room, having radius Oh "a 1v.,
with three windows looking out on the Buttey, ~ ho
end of the hall Is the main staircase Leaning W tue
second floor At the east end OF the wating'rO0m Is
doorway leading 20 driveway which RUS underneath
the tower large iron heprOOi shed IN the rear
which be used Tor the examination OF baggage Inc
main entrance TO the building at The nsrth 'front.' oil
fine main Of which IL the prin.
cpaI TO the baggageshed AT the east side OF
the driveway are two small rooms ana private staircase
leading TO the second floor ana attic. These two rooms
are 10 be occupied by the Marine Hospital officials Inc
rooms on second floor, for the sole accommodation OF
the officials correspond with those on the hrst
floor.
Ihe building Is OF Maine granite backed with btlck'
The roOns are pastered with grayish nnsh, ana the
woodwork is OF white pine There are plate glass WIN
dows on the front and tue headlights OF all exterior IN
dows the first and second floors are OF CathedFa4
glass The floors Of yellow pine over brck arches,
sprung between iron beams The roof IL OF slate and
copper over an iron skeleton. The whole building Is
fire proof Although built made ground, the sLiuci-
ure SHOWS signs OF settling.