Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-11-01
SHIPS In THE HARB0R,
FIVE HUNDRED VESSELS ANCHOE
AT NEW YORK IN q MONTH.


inS-Iu the Hands OF Rcycnuc In
spectors-TaIsing Out tho Cargo. ?,
Pretty nearly five hundred vessels of
all sizes, rigs, tonnage and male--ycssels
propelled by steam and vessels propcllcd
ny wihu-iind I'M anchorage i'll this har-
Dor IN one week. These vessels, repre-
senting every industry imaginable, and
valued ut millions of dollars, como and
80 almost unknown, savo to the few hum
dred directly Interested in their existence.
All these vessels find berths in this port:
which IL second to mono in the world, un-
load their cargocs under tho wntchful
eyes of Uncle Sans agents, the United
States Treasury agents, better known M
Custom Inspectors, ship IL new cargo, or
mayhap only tako on ballast, receive their
clearance papers from the Custom House,
and in fow hours leave tho port of New
York far nstcrn; the only notice of their
departure and arrival made by tho daily
press being the name of tho vessel, iis
Captain, consignce and destination.
When nm agent of nm incoming sailing
vessel or tramp stcamcr-thnL is,
steamer not belonging 10 any company
owning picr-has been notified by tclc-
graph from Sandy Hook that his vessel
has been sighted, he hirriors TO the Dock
Department. secures the lease of u certain
pier, tclcgrnphs To The Hook the number
OF the pier secured, his Captain is sigrnlcd
ilnt inct from the Western Union tower
mt the Hook, and the vessel proceeds to
this city. Before arriving hnrc she has
to undergo several ordcals. Tho first is
mt Quarantine. On coming alongside az
|,
Health Officer Smith or ono Of his assis
innis aboard, ranges alongside tho
steamer.
The Captain meets The doctor, who asks
HIM n number of questions regarding the
health of his crew or passengers, the port
he came from and the general health
there.
These formaliiics over, and providing
That the Captain can show II "clcan bill
of health" ns tho health statomcnt is
termed, the steamer continues on 20 this
city. She will not have proceeded far
when three shrill toois of steam whistle
will cause her Captain to slow her up. A.
small tug flying the colors Of the United
States Revenue Marine is the signnllor
y line is thrown to tho small boat from
the steamer, hawscr run out by its aid,
and W. soon as the two boats are mndc
last boarding officer climbs aboard by
means of II rope ladder let down by tho
steamers crew. Tho vessels manifesto
is given 20 tho boarding officer, who i'm
rcdiatcly rcgnins The tug. One Inspector
is then sent aboard, if the bont ia only II
freight steamer, two if she has pnssen.
gers. Tho lines arc then cast OFF and
| again tho vessel is free.
The skippcrs next tllsslc s at the picr.
10 which, as he has been Informed by hia
ngcnt, he is TO tic up. When hc arrivcs
there hc finds that there arc othor boats
there, whose masters nrc not disposed to
move. This difficulty soon got over by
the aid of the doclsmnslcr of The district
in which the pier happens to be, and with
great deal of shouting, hauling and
general hubbub tho steamer s made rnst
to the pier and her gang plank is run
out.
On the pier the skipper md agent
meet, discuss the voyage, exchange M
pers and finally adjourn TO the steamers
cabin To pour over the manifest.
During all this time the customs i'll
spcctor has not been especially 80
90 :" ''"lINh' w Nv III lnC ulItTnOOn
and the vessel has II large cargo. AZ his
orders the matches are removed, tho
stcvcdorc's men and the ships crew ret
to work, and soon the cargo ia being
moved Outof the hold, where il has lain
probably for many II day. As each bale,
bag, barrel or box is taken out il is care
fully checked Off ON tho manifest, while
the covers are taken of by other inspec-
tors sent up from the Barge Office for tho
occasion. Constant practice makes the
inspectors adept ut this work, and no
time is lost.
While the work is at it's highest tho
sunset gun booms from Castle William on
Governors Island, and the inspector in
charge of the work gives the order to
stop. Sunset is tho hour when Uncle
Sans Treasury servants knock off work.
1latchcs are battered down once more,
and the ships manifest handed over to
the night inspector. If the ships agents
aro In hurry TO get the steamer away
again, the latter, REINFORCED by another,
continues the days work, and that night
may see the end Of the job.
The steamers commander is then
handed back his 0. KID manifest, while
the Custom House people keep a sworn
copy OF it. As soon as the inspectors
leave the pier the vessel has been, in tho
vcrnacular of the Treasury Department,
discharged. "-Me,o York. Star.