New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-15
CROWDED
Colonel FO7cler Says More Room r,
ImperatiUely Necessmy.

Congress will have to take early action to nro-
vide more space and better facilities for the exam,
ination and appraisal of merchandise at This ~.
according TO Colonel Edward s. Fowler Ut
Colonel Fowler became Appraiser of the Por, -
summer ne set out at once ward of the rbr.
ened congestion in the warehouse at Chrfstonbo
and Washington streets. and started many reforms
in TIE handling of merchandise So crowded Ea,
the warehouse become. however. that Sometimes
viii have to be done by the government in a bnrr1
to give better accommodations if the exanlinatio
of imported merchandise is to be handled AZ an
of imported merchandise is TO be done at all pron
erIy.
With the coming Of summer. the decrease in ~,
volume of imports is generally very marked bu+
such has not been the case so far this season L,
fact. If there is corresponding increase during
the coming fall and winter months when the aooJ
of imports usually reaches its highest mark C'olo
mel Fowler thinks that more space will have IN IA
obtained in some other place if the examiners and
clerks to keep up with the work at al!
The increase in the number of automobiles i'm,
ported became great last winter that at C'ooraI
FOwler's suggestion the Treasury Deparrna,.
leased quarters outside the Appraisers Warehouse
for the express purpose of examining the machines
Nine years ago there was only an occasional auto.
mobile brought in. but during the last fiscal vea-
LABS cars We're imported. The great amount ~
space required for the storage and examination 30
the machines compelled the making OF special ar
engagements.
But the volume OF other imports has grown .,
rapidly that all the space formerly devoted N tbs
?
appraiser finds himself facing the task of hastarr,
the examination OF merchandise much as possJ
BILE without the proper accommodation In which -
do Only three days required for N.
examination. appraisal and passing OF a ulbi,
store case. but that period will be considerabIv
stretched out, according 10 Colonel Fowler unless
space for the work Is at once obtained
Colonel Fowler said Yesterday that il was an ,,
fortunate lack OF foresight that the foundations 20
the warehouse had not been made deap enougb
and strong enough to allow the building Of adT
tional stories. He believes that the governr1sr+
ought to acquire at once the title 70 the block a,
land on the opposite side Of Barrow street and a.
rectly south OF the warehouse. II this were done
communication with the present structure could Ia
easily provided by tunnels under the street ana
bridges leading 10 the various floors.
II the Appraisers Stores were further uptown
and the river. Colonel Fowler SAYS The trans
action of the business would be greatly facilitated
Were this done, the cOnSested condition Of traffic
in the narrow streets about the present byliIdirs
would be avoided. He suggests that IL the presan.
building could be sold to advantage by the gov
eminent II would be we'll 10 obtain new sit.
the North River front around 10Th street Tba
increased remOteness from the Custom House and
the Office OF the Collector Of the Port would be q
negligible consideration as the stores are so far
away