New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-20

At Alexandria. Va. which has salaried deputy
receiving $3.50 year, no duties were collected in
1901.
one Of these decadent ports has stirred in its
sleep. but whether merely to turn over and assume
q more comfortable position to wake up
mains to be This is Newburyport, Mass,
one Of the early ports Of the United States which
after q period OF many years. in which practically
business has been done. is beginning I
show a little activity The Hewburyport officials
tell their friends that the time may yet come when
the receipts Of the old custom house will amount
10 S2oo yearly, or perhaps more; at any rate.
enough 10 pay the salaries Of the officials and
square" the government
For years the federal officials have known what
20 expect each month IN the report from New
buryport. When the mail brought the statement
81 took only glance through it tell that there
was. usual. little if any money coming to Uncle
Sam from Newburyport- Now there is nothing
sure about THAI statement from Newburyport since
the big pulp mill owners Haverhin, up the
Merrimac. began having their wood pulp shipped
from the provinces by schooners. Perhaps a
schooner has gone Up the river with cargo during
the month. II so. there is about $50 for Uncle
Sam 70 Jingle IN his pocket Perhaps the time will
come when as many as eight schoners year will
make their way Up tie Merrimac with their
cargoes for the HayerhlH mills. Perhaps. and then
then But that is a long way Of Newburyport
hardly dares contemplate IL YET.
The port Of entry at the mouth OF the Merrimac
was not always thus-one OF the lowest IN the gov
ernIenrs list Of custom houses that Go not pay.
There was urne years ago. when the NeWbury-
port custom house ranked second TO few of the
custom houses throughout the land. In those days
when vessels from many ports locked about the
mouth CT the Merr.mac. the quaint old stone house
with its back 10 the stream, was busy place The
records show that along in The CO.'S when the
business Of the house its height the receipts
averaged about 100000 yearly. frequently running
FAR over thai figure
OF recent years there have been some according
70 the New6uryport officials. in which practicauv
no business was reported. and the years are
many IN which very little business was trsr~sctad
The report for the fiscal year ended June co 1a,a
sforcs good idea Of the average returns from, tb
custom house al Hewhuryport. The report sro,rs
that In that year the total receipts Of the Once
amounted 10 s.. ~
Fort 81 NeNburyport never failed TO get the maj
mum fees and percentage Of duues bis Commence
ton seldom amounting 10 less than 500 vearl,,
and had il not been for the Irait fixed nv lsy :,
could easily have been sEVeiled 10 $500 and q 600
Now the Collectors returns from the once amount
rarely TO more than $3.50 or 500 annually
In those Old days the Collector was assisted not
oaly by 6 deputy, but by naval officer a surveyor
and corps OF clerks. Now the force consists Of the
Collector and his deputy. who. the janitor are
the sole occupants OF rhe old building which is still
kept as serugulousy clean and gets as much atten-
ton inside and out as II business amounting TO
$4,000 a year was being done within its walls The
salaries OF the Collector. the Deputy Collector and
The Janitor amount to $500 yearly and this sum-
with the cost Of fuel repairs and other incdentals
CONSTITUTES the annual outlay on the part OF
government, 70 balance which there has on occ,-
Eions been never penny Of receipts
In the days when Newburyport was one of the
most Important ports Of entry on the Atlantic
Coast the cost Of looking after the business of the
port amounted 10 over $3.50 a year The period OF
greatest activity al the Newburyport custom house
was curing The thirty years between 1850 to 1880
Then sugar and molasses from the West Indies en-
tered the port In great cargoes fishing vessels en-
tereo Win Their burdens Of mackereI or cod from
DAbraocr' salt came n great quantities from
Saoaz Spain and coal and other cargoes too nu-