New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-06
GETTING MORE THAN THEY SOUGHT


GETTING MORE THAN THEY SOUGHT
The defenders of the River and Harbor SWIM
die wanted a bill of particulars from Secretary
Lincoln and they appear to have been hand-
somely gratifed. A few weeks ago they got IN
to state of irrepressible indignation because
the ne wspapers had spoken harshly CT the SWIM
die, ana determined to confound their enemies
and silence all further criticism by propounding
some conundrums to Secretary Lincoln. AT the
instigation of Mr.. Page, resolution was
passed asking him to name any instances no
could find where money had been appropriated
for works or objects that are not in the interest
of or do not benefit commerce and navigation
There were other questions but this was the
principal one. The defenders Of the big graz
looked upon the resolution as brilliant piece
of strategy, and settled back calmly to await
response which should convince the country that
they had been grossly malgned. They received
their reply Yesterday, but it is not In any re-
spect the one they were looking for Secretary
Lincoln went into the subject with great enthu-
sasm and thorougbness, and, to the consterna-
ton OF the rropounders, he has answered their
questions in such way as to vindicate com
pletely the dreadful newspapers. We venture
10 nope tllaJ Mc5SIS ago anu l.uDcSVh WIN AO'
move his impeachment for this offensive con-
duct.
The Secretary remarks in the beginning OF
his reply that he had not considered 1T his duty
to make the investigation until it had been re-
quested by Congress, and that when IN compli-
ance with such request he had looked into the
matter, 1t appeared to him that in many in
stances the results of substantial benefit to
"cOmmerce were so obscure and apparently In
q significant az to vindicate the doubt on the
"part of the House of Representatives. indi-
"catcd by the inquiry presented in the resolu-
"tion." What a surprise it must have been to
the movers of that resolution to learn that II
"indcated' such doubt as that 1t is very
clear that Secretary Lincoln miscOnceyed, OF
course Internationally, the object OF the in
curry The detailed statement which he In-
cludcs in his report sustains this view. He gives
n long list of instances in which he thinks the
appropriations. made would not be beneficial to
either commerce or navigation. One OF this
Kind was the $1,000 allotted TO the harbor of
New Buffalo, Michigan. The local engineers
report that there was no commerce, and that
the work OF improving the harbOr was aban-
duned ten years ago for that reason. No money
had been appropriated since 1872, at ~hch time
D balance of IS, 900 remained available. This
was untouched until 1851, when 1852 was ex-
pended for denomination aud the local engl-
neer recommended that the remainder might be
expended in repairing the old Government pier.
Congress ignored this and made fresh appro-
priation of -, 900. Another instance in Mich
ryan was still more inexcusable. Fifteen thou
sand dollars was appropriated for building
harbor at the mouth of Cedar River That noble
stream is a creek with barely water enough to
float saw-ogs, and supplies power for single
saw-mil. The timber supply along its banks
will be exhausted within ten years. The project
was 10 build piers out into the lake and to
dredgc "A depth of sixteen feet. To accomplish
this work II would cos. $13S,O0O and 10y the
time it VAS finished there would be 10 use fol it
whatever.
These are sample cases in long list. There
is one equally bad of $4,000 for LampTey
River, New Hampshire, and another no better
Tor Maiden River. Massachusetts. The famous
Cheesequake Creek, in New-Jersey, very prop
erly appears in the list. and is accompanied by
the case Of -, 900 appropriation for Cohansey
Creek. in the same State, which il "obstructed
"by material coming from the streets of Bridge
"ton.n The Secretary seems to be of tho Opln
ion that a stream which is hardly adequate Tor
the floating of logs and garden sass Is not of
sufficient commercial importance to justify un-
limited Governmental expenditure. Upon that
point a great majority of the American people
agree with him. We trust his report will be
printed in pamphlet form and freely distrib-
utcd. 1t contains large amount of extremely
readable information, for the publication Of
which the country is indebted 10 the able efforts
of Messrs Page and Robson and their fellow
sufferers.