Year: 1876

The DOCK COMMISSIONERS CALLED TO AC-


coUNT-THE HUDSON RIVER FREIGHTERs' AS


socIATIoN DEMANDING THEIR RIGHTS


After several years OF individual effort before the
Dock Commissioners and before the State Legislature
to obtain fixed locations for the reception and delivery
OF the millions of OF freight brought to the docks
OF this city by the river the Hudson River Freghters'
Association sent representatives to the Depart
ment OF Docks yesterday to make known the
extent OF the homo trade, its Importance to the city,
the wrongs has suffered and the rights which it
Is entitled along the shores OF New York.


The barge interest which embraces the hay interest
which is OF more value than that of cotton repre-
sented by Mr. John Bodine The freight steamboat in
terest generally represented by Mr. E. Hamilton
the Poughkeepsie interest by Mr.. J. r. Gaylord and
the Catskill interest by Mr.. A. p. Black.


Commissioner WALES said 1t was understood that the
steamboat and barge interests considered the
same in the present inquiry; and that with the excep
ton of the Peoples limo of steamboats, already cared
for the others required and permanently defined





Mr. HAMILTON said the associations represented by
the gentlemen present desired information as to the
purposes in reference to the railway and foreign and
coastwise steamship interests in the future. They
needed such information in order to be able to know
how arrange their varied and business and





mtted to know whether their interests to be
cared for regard to fixed dock for tho transac
tion OF business.


Commissioner wxsrERvELr asked as to their present


Mr. HAMILTON responded that at present there were
six lines with accumulated business located at
the Franklin pier, No 35 and that it occu-
pied continually by more business than should be
there. Their desire to have what dockage room
they needed anywhere between Franklin and Christie
pher streetsthe barge interest, as he believed pre-
ierred beng permanently located in what was known
as the Christopher street basip.


In answer to a question he said that the length of
per reouired effective use by steamboats, was about
800 feet, and he wished it understood that the
ngly little room they asked for was because they did
propose to the docks OF New York for store
houses, the foreign steamships did. He did not be-
hevc that whlc the dock room was, rs at present. in
the lower range, any company should have tho prvi-
lego Of using as storage house. to the deriment Of
the receiving and landing business.


Commissioner DIMooK SAID the main trouble was
that all the docks West Eleventh were fully
occupied.


Mr.. HAMLroS-onc difficulty with the Dock Commits
sioners is that they have allowed valuable docks be
built up for storehouse uses which ought have
been so used He spoke after a large and varied cx-
perierce of thirty years, and felt that he right in
saying that sucn practice 70: only Injurious to
the of the city, but also the real estate
along the lines For such purposes docks had been
taken from the interest he represented they
been leased over their heads Such was the when
tho White Star line secured their pier and the interest
removed had to secure temporary accommodations at
the ST. Nicholas Ice Companys dock, which might be
taken from them at any time This was the case whe
both the White Star and the Frcnch lines not
worth much to the city as the Interest which
removed 10 give place to them. What they wanted
was a we'll defined, fixed position on the North River
side and they claimed that they bad right 10 it. for
they had built up the commerce OF the North River
side He said he remembered when all the foreign
steamers located on the east side.


Commissioner wEsrERvELr said he could remember
longer than Mr.. Hamilton and could not remember any
such time


room need. We have 10 move thousands OF tons
of freight at the Franklin street dock alone and have
not assurance of continuance of that prvi-
lege while others gain such assurances


Commissioner DIMocK-Have you enough
there at present, provided you can keep III


Mr.. HAMILToN-Our needs are as have expressed
them. But we have no assurance OF remaining where
wo any longer than they choose to let us-that is
tho additional trouble We have fixed rights aud
vet we of consequence and the real
estate interest than all the foreign lines. What we
pay 80 900 Tor there at Franklin street is Of more
value this city than any other dock leases, even
rented as high as $45, 600 year.


Mr.. WHEELER POWELL called on, and said he
feared that the Commissioners did not clearly
hend the needs of the barge and steamboat interests
He felt that their greatest trouble was in their failure
heretofore to get fixed locations


Then followed long Conversational discussion Of
the conditions existing concerning the Leroy street.
Harrison street and the foreign piers generally during
which Mr. John Bodine complained that the barge in-
terest which he represented had place along New
York into which they could know before arriving that
they could run their boats; in fact, their millions OF
produce values were at the mercy OF accident


Then another discussion followed IN which II was
made to appear that the hay interest OF this country
was vastly superior financially to the cotton interest


suggestion from Commissioner Wales brought the
remark from Mt Bodine that the Harbor Master
now could not bo bought, and they had no inclination
to to the old rule under which they could buy
unrecognized rights


from Commissioners Wales and Dimock that they had
no idea OF shutting out the interests represened
that they were glad that they now knew their needs
and could them that they believed that under
the new rule they could secure to them what thoy
needed They could not then state definitely, however,
int 10 be