The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-07-02
RIPARIAN RIGHTS.
The Contest Between the State and
the New York Harbor Board.

The individual riparian owners are not
the only ones who are interested in the
prospective controversy between the
State Riparian Commissioners and the
New York Harbor Board over the pro-
posal of the latter to change the exterior
lines for solid filing aud piers In New
York Bay.
From Communipaw to Bayonne the
shore front is now occupied almost en-
tirely by railroads, the Standard Oh
Company and other companies. Beyond
the lines of riparian lands granted 70
these corporations Is a vast area Of shoal
water, which also lies beyond tn bulk
head Iiues fixed by the Government en-
gineers. The State claims title 10 all this
tract, and a law enacted last Winter
authorized the Riparian Commission to
fix new wharf lines. and thus take pos
session Of the additional riparian prop
erty.
EFFECT OF THE SCHEME
The effect of this would be that the
State would sell the lands 10 the corpora
tions now holding the adjoining pro
perty-shore-owners having the first right
of purchase-and would rea ize large
probably be glad to get 1t, as they would
like more room, and the new wnarf-lines
would enable them TO reach deep water
They are extremely anxious as 10 the
price 10 be asked, however, and some
years ago made desperate effort 70 get
legislation at Trenton that would give
them the additional lands at low
figure This failed, owing to public
agitation.
THE Governments POSITION
Now, "A question arises. While the
States rights to the lands under water, as
far as low water mark has been confirmed
py the highest courts, and while the Ri
parian Commission undoubtedly has a
right under the new law 10 fix the wharf
lines at the outer limit Of the shoals of
Cayan Point, it is an open question
whether the Federal Governments would
permit the erection of wharyes on ac-
count OF the effect on the harbor or New
York. There are also delicate questions
as to the rights of State and Federal
Government to be considered
The wharf lines established by the War
Department engineer, under General Alb
bott tthe name IS sometimes confused
with tnat of Governor Albeit, by the
way). are far within the proposed new
liues OF the State. The government en-
gineers admit that the shoal waters are
useless for purposes Of navigation. but as
sert that the waters are In the nature of
n great reservoir for the haroor OF New
YORK, and that il they were shut of BIZ
the wharves the whole character Of the
harbor would be affected disastrously,
while Kill Won Kull, Staten Island Sound
and Newark Bay might suffer also. II
the depth of water in the harbor should
not be affected, It is claimed that in any
case the movement of the tides in the
harbor would be much more violent and
render navigation difficult.
WANT ACCOMMODATIONS FOR SHIPPING
On behalf OF New Jersey 1t has been
claimed that the shoal waters are now
useless for purposes Of navigation, ex-
cept by lighters, and that by permitting
the extension TO the deen water channel
between the shoals and Staten Island a
vast amount Of shipping could be accom-
modated. As to the effect upon naviga-
tion it is inserted that the wharves might
be so constructed as to permit the dow OF
the water almost As freely as at present
By the use of plllng instead of solid fill
ing. The rights of the State are claimed
10 be supreme. 50 tar as these riparian
lanns are concerned.
NEW YORK's JEALOUSY.
The matter not only involves the Fed
eral Government and New Jersey inter