The New York Herald Newspaper, March 15, 1875, Page 5

DESTROYING THE HARBOR. The Danger Threatening Our Com- mercial Greatness, SHOALS AND ENCROACHMENTS. Narrowing the Ship Channel and Reducing the Depth of Water on the Bar, REMEDIAL MEASURES ADOPTED. Legislative Aid Invoked to Ar- rest Further Damage. Every man who has sailed in distant and visited the havens and marine cities of other lands knows that upon the face of the globe there \s no harbor which surp: in beauty, in gran deur and convenience the maguificent bay of New York. rapid pass—the Narrows—between loity heights and formidable fortifications, the great cities, the arts and civilization which surround it on every hand and crown it with a triple diadem, its mighty river fowing from the rich interior of our great State and its deep salt water stratt extending northward and eastward to the Sound, fur- Dishing another pass to tne ocean, all contribute to its majesty and as & whole fill the measure of its renown. Instead of preserving this great natura! harbor and watching over its vast interior space and deep water with a Jealous eye there are reasons to fear itis veing rapidly encroached upon, and | that in the next hali century, unless remedial measures are adopted, that a large portion of our magnificent bay will become impassable to vessels of large tonnage. No greater calamity could befall this great maritime and mercantile city, To destroy its harbor would ve to strike @ fatal blow to its prosperity, The destruction of our marble palaces, the gold ana gems and rich fabrics of the tity would be naugbt to such a paralyzing visita- tion. Deprived of its depth and capacity, where a great navy may now securely ride, would be to rob New York of much of its prominence and to make tne port one of secondary commercial con- Bideration. THE DANGER APPREHENDED. ‘That there is dunger of such a realization those who are well informed will not deny. Year alter year individuals and corporations have so en- croached upon the boundaries of our rivers and baroor by the extension of bulkheads and pliers that legislative action has been repeatedly called into requisition to check them, Committees have been appointed to investigate and report; but, like many matters demanding public attention and upon which hang vital interests, these commis- sions have accomplished but comparatively !ittle. To investigate and report was ove thing, but to restrain the injurious encroachments was another matter. It has never been done, yet it must be, if we wish our harbor in the future to ve equal to the full requirementa of its rapidly growing commerce. All who have ever considered the subject know full well to what ex- tent sucn encroachments abound. On every side they exist. They are manifest to the public. operation of these encroachments in reducing the tidal volame of our harbor are sure in their inju- rious effect. Whesher it is piers or bulkheads, or the dumping of ashes, cinders or garbage, the de- posit of dredgings and matier swept from the sewers into its waters, the resalts are not dis- timilar—they tend to one disastrous end. Yet of the two the latter is the greater evil, Against the further continuance of these deposits a legis- lative blow must at once be struck if the per- Qicious results would cease. As far back Qs in tne year 1857 attention was called to the subject. Later investigations show that the abuse has grown into greater prominence, ana offers ior consideration an ele- ment in our commercial position secondary to mone others. Charles H. Haswell, in the year above mentioned, calied the attention of the Board oi Underwriters to this grave matter in these words:—‘‘fo the wash ol earth from the streets and sewers of this city and Brooklyn into the slips bordering thereon, by which not only this harbor was being injuriousiy affected, but that the width of the channel inride the bar at Sanay Hook had become seriously narrowed, and uiti- mately tne depth of water on the bar must be- come lessened.” Mr. Haswell then MADE MANY OBSERVATIONS to ascertain the extent of the deposit of silt into the rivers boruering the city. To do so he selected Uxteen locations best suited to furnish the ele- ments desired, and being provided with an equal number of bottles of like capacity (thirty cubic inches) he repeatedly filled them with water trom ach of these localities at hall ude (both ebb and flow), both in dry and wet weather, and at differ- ent seasons Of the year. Such water was then Ditered and the residuum weighed and noted in grains, the average results of which, deduced Irom the operations o/ several years, Jurnisned tb@ iol Ing:—Wetyht, in grains of deposits in thirty cubic inches of water:— Grains, Sandy Hook, <oll Narrows. + 205 Robin's Reet 367 Lillis’ Isiand.. SIL Batter; i387 Twenty-third s\ Liberty stree 927 Grand street Canal street + 8.531 Wall street Thirtieth street, West. .937 Broad street. 6.375 ‘The mean result of which was 2.633 grains in every thirty cuoic inches of water, Excludin, therefrom aii the then city localiues except Gran Btreet and West Thirtieth street, there was found that the average annual flow of silt into the rivers bordering this city reached the enormous rate of 1.209 grains in every thirty cubic inches of water; and, assuming the’ quantity of the former to be equal to 1256 pounds per cubit foot, a cuole inch Weighed .072 pounds. The volume of the deposit compared witn water was, therewre, as 1 to 12.505. Side ebservations being confined to tue city alone, there was found that the volume of the deposit from the water in the slips between Thirtieth street, east and west, @nd the Battery, compared wita that of the water (at haif ude), Was a8 1 to 4,610, these resulis appeared, they aid not give a fuil exMbition of the iacts of the case, Jor the obser- vations made were necessarily confined to tne preseuce of silt, and embraced only that portion Which Was retained in suspension by the flow of currents, while the deposit of detritus (rom the dow ot gravel, sand, &c,, could not be arrived at, {n corroboration of the results attained Mr. Has- Well jurther sar :— The proprictors of the Sectional Dock assure me that the deposit of si!t upon their tauks, between the piers of Market and : ike s reets, averages fully five sixteenths to three-eighths of an inch in one flow of tide, and they are thereby subjected to the delay and cost of dredging under their dock to the depth of seven feet every two years. Again he instances :— As an illustration of the effects of the reduction by the encronchments upon our rivers and the deposit therein, of the quantity of Water which flowed into our harvoi the flood tide through the Last River and Hell Gate, enc flowing to sand’s roint, Is wow arrested at Fort ochuy- ler; aiso the width of the channel inside of the bar had varrowed in 18S halla mile since the survey of 1346, and that, from a report of A. Borehke, ot the 5 Ma & to Protessor Bache, the Superintendent, it appe that in the main ship channel along, trom the Southwest bpit to Gedney's channel, there hac’ been an actual de- posit in twenty years of a volume of sand of 2,5°2,000 cubic feet. THESE ALARMING PACTS existed and were made known 41ull ce ago. If the then condition of the har- jor involved considerations demauding the atten- The | Its great burst to the sea, its deep and | Startling as | eighteen | ton of ail interested in the commercial interests | Of the city, how much more now is remedial action required, When year after year the work of spolia- tion has continued and increased @ thousand told! Witnout such remedial measures the width of the channel aud the deptn of water on te bar will | beconie so reduced a8 to preclude the admission | Of vessels of the largest tounage into our harbor. What tollows then? Surely, it requires not a prophet to tell! The deductions furnisued by the Investigations thus made, as above referred to, in 1867, Were as Jollows, and are worth remempber- Ing In view of the many new elements submitted Bince that period :— First—ihat the deposit of silt and detrital matter into m the rivers bordertug this city is so considerable amount that the sips are rapi indentations and flats upon. th and New Jersey, the H the current Is compa Silted up by the Udal eu erelions of the Wash upo tidal volume thereut is of wh d all places where iy reevle ure bemg rapialy its; and along with the ace the shores of our harbor, the educed, upon the extent it tidal volume uepends the aime of water basing the bar of sandy Hook—a« point involving the commercial value, if not the physteul existence, of this Barpor.. That the system of the dredging of our slips ud (1867)—viz., the removal ot the deposits n below low Water depth, to be exposed to ‘ents in the r re—encs in Duta transter ot them fo other slipe ant show es, the effect lavelve the loss of tine and Cost of re-removal of the leposiis trom Thiord—I bat by Bnd piers of this city, of brooklyn and neighboring ft which is to | | Buttermilk Channel of | entirely sate in NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, MARCH 165, 1875.—TRIPLE SHEET, its into the slips would be lessened ai is, ioe tenet ate them 4 be rendered ro frequent. REMEDIAL MEASURES BEGUN, The elements thus suomitted by Mr. Haswell nad the effect of caliine such attention to the reservation of the haroor as the tmportance of he subject Gemandea, At that time the State Commisstorers baa completed, or were avout compieting, the harbor lines, and the few laws then existing to prevent encroachments and to stop the practice of depositing dreagings in the rivers Were not suticient for the object intende and were violated with an impunity that demon rated how little the parties invoivea cared for the enactinents Siiil the few earnest men who had the interest of the city at heart and aesired | that rewedial weasures should be introjuced to | arrest the further spoliation of the harbor zeal- ously worked to thatend, and at last trey were rewarded to some extent py the action of the | State authorities, weo reanested the Pilot Com- | missioners to assume the superintendence of the harbor. At first the Commissioners, who knew too well the vast injury then aireadv done, and jeelng the great responsibility ate to tie position, oectined to State autnorities insisted, and of Commerce, together with leading merchants, coming to their rescue and joining in the request, the Pilot Commissioners consented to serve. This wi step in the right direction, Earnest and practical men, they were familiar with the requirements of the case and did not hesitate to do aliin their power to attain the importunt end in view, ‘hey held, primarily, that the transter oi the materials dredged from the Blips to the channel o! the river should be fortn- with forbidden, Tae reasons for this determina- tion were twofold. further First, 1¢ would prevent the SHOALING OF THE CHANNEL by the stones, bricks and o'her matter too heavy to be moved by the detrital action of the current; and, secoud, the increased cost cousequent upon the removal o. the deposits to the maib land was quite incensiderabie compared with that of tts re- peated removal by being thrown in the channel of tne rivera, This was ‘the commencement 01 an earnest and glorious work, which has been continued by the Commissioners until this day, 80 Jar as their hampered hands have aliowed them to act. For two years they were paid their prom- ised salary, $1,000 each, but since then the jattn- ful custodians o; the strong Dox of the State have valiantly repudiated tne claim and refused to settle, The meanness of tuis resusal is only in keeping with many similar acts of State oMcers, Yet (he Pitot Commissioners did not throw up vheir office as Harbor Commissioners, but per- formed their duty conscientiously, although it to- | volved personal and pecuniary responsibility of great moment. not wisbing to leave the care of ‘he great bay of New York into hands less scrupue Jous tian theirs, and perhaps subject to the wil and caprice of the reckless and irresponsible owners Of steamboats and steamtuas, a calamity to be avoided, whatever eise might happen, OYSTER ISLAND THE DUMPING GROUN’. The Commissioners at this period earnestly be- gan the work of checking existing evils, First, they ordered that all dreagings dog out of tne sips should be taken toa point souta of Oyster Isiand, in the bay, where, under the sanction of the authority bestowed, all deposits were alter- ward transierred by the parties interested. Kor several years tiis locality was used for the pur- pose, the selection being deemed excellent, and the Jeeling thatno harm could arise therefrom receiving Oficial sanction, But a sudden awaken- ing Was in store ior all concerned. The magnitl- cent ocean steamer Greece, of the National hue, wentushore near or on Oyster island ata point where plenty ol water was known 10 have pre- viousiy existed and was supposed to be found there then; but upon examination the alarming resalt of taese deposits Was ascertained. The chunnel way was rapidly filling up and shoaling liad occurred jor a great distance about the islaud. sibly reiused to give auy more permits co deposit dredgings at that point, and, veing in a quandary as to, what was best to do, they asked the United States Coast Survey autnori:ies to send a proper person to make the necessary surveys: for the purpose of determining Where the deposits o| the city couid be placed Without further injury to the harpor. Mr. Henry Mitchell, Chief of Physical Hyarography, re- sponded, and devoted that time and lanor to the | matter whicn its great importance deserved. ‘ihe result of 8 observations was*®to recommend as the placo of the future depository of dredagings that poiut in the bay one mile below Fort Lomp- kins bo one mile, about the Great Kills, on the west side Ol Lhe counnel between WEST BANK AND STATEN ISLAND, This was in Juiy, 1872, and the Commissioners afterward directed that all such Seposite should be transferred tu the above nike t was done through that year, during 1873, and up to just summer, when reports began to flow in that the dredgings of the dumping ground were rapidiy filing up the chaune: and repeating that injury observed at Oyster Island. ‘I'he Commissioners, alive to the vast importance of the matter and not wisiing lo cilange the ground recommended by the United States authorities without consult- ing them, petitioned the Superintendent of the Coast Survey to muke such inspections of the cumping place as would settie beyond peradven- ture if such injury as had been complained of had been done. ‘Tne response to tie request was lnmediate, and all through last summer the examinations were made and a short time since the authorities at Washington reported the result of the pro- tracted work to the Commissionners, wherein tt showed that there ja need of more striugent rules to prevent persons from dumping outside of the assigned limits, und to cause the stuit to be more evenly distributed over the entire space, instead of being continually depositea in one place, as bas been the criminal practice of reckiess and une renecting agents ior years. ‘The reporets as fol- OWS i— Usxtracts from the report of Captain K. R, Breese, United Stares Navy. Hydrographic Inspector, United States Coast survey.) ‘Ihe comparison of the survey of 1872 with that of 1874 does not indicate any very material change. Over the whole extent of the dumping ground there is aslight difference in soundings tor the two years, gener- ally decreasing, but in some tew instances increasing in depth. ‘tite extension of the shoal ground or bulkhead can- not be due to material dumped on or near the aumping ground, but must be due to other c 8.7? ‘rom the result of the two suc 81 am quite satis- limits of the damping Gpouna. ‘the 3, 6,9 (12) and 15 teet curves on the dumping ground agree wonder{uily well, indicating only the local character ot the changes that have been made by dump- ing. ‘The Bulkhead to West Bank Channel has changed a very little. The 6 teet curve has been quite evenly advanced yards tor the quarter part of its length, increas- 1 65 yards directly south of the Stuten Isiand about 50 ing to abi Lighthouse, The 12 and 18feet curves are aavanced here also, agree- ing practically at other points. To prevent tiis channel trom any ill effects of ma- ferinls deposited on the West Bank ‘it 1s only necessary that the dumping should not be permuted ‘beyond the limits of the locality marked by the Coast survey. ‘This ly a matter entirely under the control of the local autnorities, I would state, however, that the of cers of the Coast Survey engazed in the survey last sun mer frequently saw scows dumping their loads at not more than halt the distance between the buikhead and Kim Tree light; in tact, they rarely saw the scow go within the prescribed limits. Immediately upon the receipt of this report the Commissioners saw the necessity of drawing the lines tighter which govern all ureagers, aud to Atonce the Commissioners very sen- | roduced in the | Bulkhead Channel trom any material placed within the | make the iuture operacions of all permits to act in | accordance with the above recommendations, re+ voked at once all authority to make such deposiis in tue following resolutions :— Orrick or THe Boako oF Com 10NERS OF PILOTS, Naw Youn, Feb. 16, 1b. | To Dreporrs—Ata meeting of the Board held to-day the followmg was adopted :— Whereas this Boara 1s tn receipt of a report and art of the result a stirvey made by the “United States during the summer ot i874, showing the have taken’ piace in the depth ot water esignated tor the vepostt of dredyings west nk Bank Channel; aud whereas the suid Tevort aud chirt indicate the necessity of a change in the places of aeposit of said a s, theretore Resolyed, That the designation of any place of depostt for dredyings. and all permits heretotore given to de= posit dredgings ut any place within the waters of the port ot New York, be and the same are hereby revoked and withdrawn. Resolved, inat hereafter all parties receiving permits trom this Board to Meposit dredei t plice or places within its jurisliction will be io so de- Posi them strictl¥ Within the places di ted In thetr Fespectiye permits, under penaity of prosecution for vio- er of the Board KG W. BLUNT, Secretary. New grounds for dumping may be selected by the Commissioners. Stiourd this be the case, or whatever may be their fiaal action regarding the Tecommendation woove alluded to, 16 Will at once receive the publicity demanded, But no action will be taken unless the way to avoid ail suture recurrence of a like difficulty is cleariy seen, THE @REATEST BVI. Again, besides the aummping o! street dirt and arbaye into piers, the wash of streets and tne ow of aii Sewerage into the rivers, whien do their great share in filling up the harbor, there 1s a greater evil than all ¢ Wat is the dumping O1 vsnes, cinders and ciinkers into tle bay jrom steampoats and — steamtuga, prae- tice has grown to an warming extent and threatens the existence of our commercial Importance, The entire ped of the harbor 1s covered With such deposits, steampoats now get their coal from the mines of Pennsyivania and Unrow the rejuse into our vay, thinking that the Place is so large it cau never be filled up, Some 260 tons Ol this stull is pitched into eur rivers and bay every day. ‘The Commissioners know the re- suit of this greatevil, It is sown in the shoaling O1 the harbor, uot obly in te channel proper, lation of the law. “By oi GE where the larger vessels are accusiomed to come and go, but in all parts of the channel, The Gre went ashore on such staff, 4 sample Of 1t NOW remaining in the ofice of the Pilot Commissioners. General Newton a short While since made some preliminary dredgings in places that have tiere shoaled, and louad the obstructions to consist of cinders and clinkers, Since the iast soundings there the bortum Nas shoaied from two to ten leet, So that navigation even vy Small vessels 18 nob that locality. Let tue reuse ot the mines of Pennsylvania bo lurther deposiced there ana the shoaiing wil go on to thatextent | that buttermilk Chanue: will be — hardiy navigable even to the smallest drait ves- seis. The Commissioners seek earnestly to slips. the thorough cleaning ofthe streets | STOP THIS GREAT WK They have beiore the present Li with this end in view. gisiature a bill It witixes a neavy penalty to the captains and owners 01 steamers and stoeam- tugs Wno shal permit the dumpin cinders from their vessels Vor a time the bill bus hung fire in the Assembly, some Of [ne steuimooat men haviug oblained the services of ove or more members to oppose it. It will be @ great calamity if tt does not pass, There can be nocontroversy upon the question of asies or | Into the rivers er bay. | that ry portion of the harbor where shoal- ing hi Place it is found principally to cone sist OF and clinkers. peaks suMcientiy of tne practices which nave been induiged in by the captaims of steamboats and steawtugs, Wwe latter being responsiole for more of this work than any ciass of steam vessels. George W. Blunt, an earnest and active Member of the Commission having charge of the harbor, was calied to Albany rezarding the above il, and while before the Assembly Committee ou Commerce took occasion to eplighten the mem- bers on the extent to which this praciice of throw- ing overboard ashes ana cinders 1s carried on, noetonty in the harvor, but aloug the upper Hu son, the result of which is observed tn the grow- tng shoals which threaten to make this portion of the nobie siream unnavigable except to small vessels. Mr. Yosbargh, a member of the commit- tee, degied the soft impeachment. He said that ashes and cinders were not thrown upon the Oversiauxh, and aimost insinuated that Mr. Blunt Kuew he was not stating tacts. Mr, Blunt, at this Siage of the game, bowed himself out, and in a day or two despatched the Commuee on Com- merce the following from Gener ewton, United States Army, which must have satisfied even a more skeptical person than Mr. Vosburgh that W. Bw Ware ol what he was taking about. Unitep stares Exainxens' Ornice, Room No. 31, ARMY BurLpinG, Conwer Houston axp Gaeenr, ay vag Dear Sin—In reply to your note ot the 20th inst., imauiring whether any dredging nad been done unter my-direction on the Overslaugh, and what mate- rials were brought up, | have to state thet the dredging Was dene in the Oversiaugn channel and apon Cuyler's bar 1n 1870-71, and the material brought up contained a large per ceutage of clinkers, cinders and ashes. from steawer furnaces. Steamers bound to Albany had been in the habit, as eported to me, of hauling their fres upon the Oversliugh and Cuvler’s bar, aud I have never heard that the practice has been stopped. Subsequent above given, Ihave had complaints of the practice aliuded to. The margin of improvement left by navure [3 too smallin the Upper Hudson to permit the continuance of this evil, Very respectfully, your obe- dient servant. SOUN NEWTON. PASS ALL THE HARBOR BILLS, ‘The bill in question must DO! Jail, Its provisions cannot be too stringent. Other enactments of @ similar character are also about to be introduced @l the present session Which deserve the earnest | and favorable consideration of every memoer, These are, first, a bill irom senator Robinson, of Westciester county, Whose inhabitants have ielt the evil effects of ashes auc cinders being thrown irom steamboats into the river. It takes up, on the Mudson side, the matter where the jurisal tion of the Harbor Commissioners cease, at Spuy ten Dayvil, and extends to troy, On the other hand, Senator King, wno desires to protect the oyster inierests o1 the Sound, will also introduce @ bill for the purpose oi stopping Steamboats and steaitugs from throwing an delecerious matter into the water, whieh bas so, long been the practice, ana tor years has destroyed the immense oyster beds between here and d Harbor. These three bilis passed and at ol the Harbor Commissioners, Senator Kobertson’s and Senator King’s—there will be yet some chance to save our noble rivers and nardor, CARELESS POLICE COMMISSIONERS, Some o! the shoaling in the harbor has been due to the thousands of loads of dirt which the Police Commissioners have irom time to time dumped, pernaps nol just where they pleased, but the reck- Jessuess exhibited in this respect amounts almost to that, as the Harbor Commissioners have a suit against them for violations of the law in this re- spect, Recently, however, some of the Street Cleaning Bureau called upon the Commissioners aud asked them where they could deposit the city dirt witaout damage to the harbor, Tuey were at once enlightened, being told that east ol the west end of Vouey Island it coud be dumped and would not interiere with any interest, and, being outside tue jurisdiction of the arbor Commissioners, no trouble could possibly ensue, Ali tniormatiou sought was and is kindly extended the Police Com- uiissioners, and it is to be hoped that the efforts of | these conservators of the laws will in the future be directed to the preservation of this noble hare | bor rather tnan its destruction. WHAT 13 DEMANDED. In short, every measure tending to remove ex- isting evils, or to prevent jurther encroachments upon the haroor lines, or the decrease of the tidal volume at Saudy Hook, should receive tho greatest encouragement ana wiost emphatic indorsement by law iuakers aud law observers aike. ‘The HERALD at intervais tas betore called attention to the urgent necessity of tus important element in our commercial existence, and, and, though years of reckless disregard oO} ail enactments concerning the great end in view may not result so dis- astrousiy as to alarm those interesteu, the occasional grounding of a steamer or deep laden saliing crait only too forcibly reminds those interested of the great danger to which we are surely tuough slowly approacaoing. Thus it is Tepeated, “that in the next half century, unless remedial measures are adopted, a large portion ol our magailicent bay will become liopassabie to vessels o! large tonnage.” Could there be a greater calamity ? PROOF UPON PROOF, Instance as further proof the recent report of General Newton giving the results ol the “ex- amination or survey of the bank of mud in the Hudson River, opposite Jersey City.” He details at length the Jact that there is an tujudicious con- traction of the river from Castle Point to West Fourteentn street by the projection of piers on the Jersey shore. ‘Notwithstanding tne effect of considerable dredging done along the Jersey City shore,’ he says, “we find generally that the original depth of the river hus decreased rather tnan increased near the end of the piers.’ * * * “The sketch just made or the condition of matters suggests serious refloc- tions as to the future of the channel of the Hudson between New York and New Jersey, The opposite | shores, betng under aifferent governments, are | not readily reguiated upon any policy caiculat jor the general good. On the contrary, an en- croachment irom the one side may be too readily | Met by a coriexponiing one irom the otner; and | | | even if the general character of the river shoud not be altered jor tie worse, still, individual and vested interests ol a high order may be sacriticed or injured—amoug others the principal inieres concerned in the preservation of deep water along | the jront are tue Pennsyivania Railroad Company, the Erie Rallsay Company, tie Cunard, the Soutn Wales and Atlantic steamship companies, the North German Livy, the Baitic Lioya and Ham. | burg-American packet companies and the Eagie | lines. Toe White Star line bas removed to the New York side.” ‘it seems to me highly proper,” ne continues, “that a superior authority Should interiere to reg ulate defluitely the lines upon both ores, En- lertainiog no expectation woxtever that dredging wil insure a permancnt benefit, and doubting whether such benefit would eudare sufficiently long Lo compensate iu any degree for the expense invelved, Isubjoin herewith an estimate for aredg- ing the sboal to a Gepth ot twenty-five feet from the heiwavorhood of Pavontia terry to a short dis- tance beiow the Cunard ducks, Over an area of 223,500 square yards :— 221,300 cubic yards at forty cents. ++sesevs $88,528 00 Contingenciés and engineering, fifteen percent 1 ,2/9 20 TOtBL...eeseceeeeeeeee + $101,507 20 That section lying between Pavonia ferry and the piers of the Carduf line apyears to be, from certain indications, not so hopeless of tmprove- ment oy dredging as the other portion ot the shoal. The provable cost ol this dredging would be $35,000, But 1t suonid be insisted that dock owners keep the slips between the piers weil dredged, else there wiil ve a tendency for such de- posit to press beyond the pier head and snoal the space already dredged.” Are such exnibits pleasant to the commercial community * General Newton hopes for but little permanent benetl: irom the expenditure of over | $100,000, and holds that the encroacuments on the Jersey shore demand the attention of Congress. Ji tne Nortn River channel presents so many inju- rious aspects, What may het auother extended series of Observations in the Hast River and in the Bay, similar tu tuose o1 Mr. Haswell, made at tas duy reveal ? COURT CALENDARS—THIS DAY, * SUPREME COURT—UHAMBERS—Held by Judge Douohue.—Court opens atten A.M. Third Mon- day’s motion Calendars will be calied at eleven A. Me by SUPREME COURT—GENERAL ERM—Held Judges Davis, Brady and Danie!s.—Nos. 60, 61, 62, 63, G4, 65, 66, 67, 63, 181, 132, 70, 183, 184, 135, 186, 72, 81, 90, 11944, 139, 14014, 141, 14L3g, SUPRE! OURT—SPECIAL TEKM—Heid by Judge Van Brunt.—Court opens at uall-past ten A. M. Demurrer—No. 7. Issues of law and lac'—Nos. 61, 167, 142, 156, 218, 219, 220, 224, 229, 38, 237, 239, 87, 212, 242, 244, 245, 246. 110, 248, 4 SUPREME COURT—-CincurT—Part 2—Hela by Judge Van Vorst.—Nos. 1306, 1166, 1264, 944, 1238, 128834, 4524, 1176, 1 30, 980, 1214, 1.2055, 1 6, 1186, 1222, 1242, 460, 67: 948, 1822, 862, 12 46, 1294. Part 3—Held by Juage Lawrence.—s 1008, $89, 18: 55, 877, 1663, 1005, 1057, 917, 101: 1237, 1079, s 715, 1119, S81, 1037, 92044, 785, 601, 82 80) a SUPERIOR COURt—GENERAL TERM.—Adjourned for the term. Suretion CoURT—TRIAL TERM—Part 1—held by Judge Moneli.—Nos, } 937, GOTK, Mi ¥75, 956, 1043, 917, 9 1789, 3838, 717, Part 2—Held by Judge breedinan—Court at eleven A, M.—Nos. 358, 1186, 1726, 1044, 062, 1046, 556, 992, 1182, 754. PNERAL TERM—Aaiourned un- Monaay, April 6. COMMON PLEAS—TRIAL TERM—Part 1—Held by Judge sobimsou—-Court opens at eleven A, M.— Nos, 1412, 315, 1424, 1428, 509, 803, 1093, 1104, 1403, 1431, 1248, 1249, order—2135. Part 2— Adjourued tor the term. MARINE CoURT—I RIAL Judge Spaulding.—! Wil, 7 ri RM—Part 1—Held by 148, 1652, 1672, N Lis, 657, 1480, 1594, 169% Judge Joachimsen, BIVL, 3157, 8051, 1562, 8260, 2084, 300: F284, B22 COURT OF GENERAL Sessions—Held by Judge Suctneriand.—1ne Veople vs. William Martin, burglary; Same vs, Rovert Relistab, burglary; sume Vs. Michael Sullivan, burgirty; Same Vs. James Kelly, burgiary; Same vs. Carrie Roger burglary; Same vs. ‘Patrick Wals, Durgiar, same Vs. James Kelly wna Willan MeVay, bu aiury; Same vs. James Reed, burgiaty; Sume vs. Wiliam Hantord, grand jarceny; same va. Jacob Stone, grand larceny ; Saine Mary Ann Moran, felonious assault and b\ttery; Same vs. Valentioe Dabren, telopious assault and batter. Charies’ Strausvury, attempt at rape; Same vs. | dacob Stone, larceuy; Same vs. Patrick MeDonaid, | larceny; Saine vs, Samuel Ritner, petit larceny; | ; pame Vs. Louisa Gline, petit larceny. | Divitioa of 1876, the foliowtn, | into the Treasury as miscelianeous receip's. | ton, THE CENTENNIAL. Regulations for the Governmental Dis- play at the Exhibition. THE CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATION. Two Hundred Thousand Dollars at the Imme- diate Disposal of the Exposition. THE SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION. A Dual Arrangement by Coun- tries and Objects. Governor Bigler, Chief of the New York Branch ofthe International Exposition Commission, has received from the national capital a copy of the Executive regulations for carrying into effect the lately enactet iaw to further the objects of the great Exhibition by enabling the several aepart- | ments of the government to join in the national display commemorating the centenary of our independence. The following is President Grant's order :— EXEOUTIVe MANSION, March 7, 1875, In order to carry out the provisions of the flith Section ol she uct of Congress, entitied “An act making appropriations ior sundry civil expenses Of Lhe government, for the Uscal year ending June | 80, 1876, and tor otuer purposes,” approved Marca 8, 1875, the Board heretolore appointed to take charge ol the articles aud materials to bs ex- hibited by the several executive departments, the Smithsonian Institution and the Agricultural Department at the International Exnibition of 1876, 18 hereby continued under the following regulations and distribution 0} duties, viz. +The funds appropriaied by the above named sec- tion will be drawn from tne ‘ireasury upon the requisition of the Chairman of the Board, and to be disbursed as are otner public moneys under che existing jaws relating to disbursing ollicers. An officer ofthe army will be detatled oy the | Secretary of War as disbursing officer of the | Board, Each representative of an executive depart- ment, and the representative of the Smithsonian | institution, of the Agricultural Deparment, and the United States Commissioner of Food Fishes, will bave charge of the matters pertaiming to his respective department, snoject to the general ad- visement of the Board, and ali bills will be paid vy the disbursiny oMlcer upon vouchers certitled vy | such represeniative and couutersignead by tue Chairman of the Boaru, ‘The disbursing otticer will render monthly ac- counts current of all advances to and disburse. ments by him to the First Auditor of tue Ireasury, tor audit and settlement in the same manner as | are other accounts of disbursing officers of the government, Each representative will be held responsible to the tead of is respective department for all public property of the Cnited States furnisned by the head of such department or otherwise com- ing to nis hands for tne purposes of the Exhivi- tion, and will render proper accouats of the same to such head of department until the property is | f returued. U. S. GRANT, President United States. Below 1s the text of the section of the law re- ferred to in the above Executive order:— An Acr making appropriations for sundry civil eanpnach of the government for the fl-cal year ending June 80, 1876, and ior other purposes, Ke it enacted by the Senaie and House of Rep- resentatives of tie United States of America in Congress assembled, That the ioliowiug sums ve und the same are hereby appropriated tor the ob- jects nereinaiter expressed, lor tue tscal vear end- * * | ing June 30, 1876, namely :— * DECMON 5.—To enable the executive depart- | ments of the government and tbe Smithsonian Institution to participate in the Interuational Ex. sums are hereby appropriated, uamely:—Fo: the incerior Depart- mant, $115,000; ior the Treasury Department, $5,000; for the Post OMce Department, Jor tue Agricultural Department, $50,0/0; for the Smithsontin Institution, $67,000; tor the Unitea States Commission of Food Fishes, $5,000; jor tne War Leparvwent, $133,000; lor tne Navy Depart. Ment, $100,000; for snow cases, shelving, atationery, postage, telegrams, expressuge, and otner necessaty incidental expenses, $25,000; 1n all, $605,000, to be disbursed under tne ditection of the Board on Executive Departments 1M pursuance of the Presitenttal order oi Jauuary 23, 1874. And autherity is hereby given wo tne heads of the several executive departinen's to 35,0003 | dispiay at toe International Exhibition of 1876, un- | der such conditions as they may prescribe, subject to the provisions of section 7 ol the act of June 1, 1872, ali such articles in store or under the control of sald departments as may be necessary or de: able torender such collection compiete and ex- baustive; provided, that should it bec: ime neces- "y to erect any building or part of a building for tid Exnibition, on the part of tne government, toe same shail be paid tor pro rata out ofthe sums | appropriated to the several departmenzs, tae Mited states Commission of Food Fishes aud the Treasury and Post Oitice excepted, the cost of the building not to exceed $150,000, and at t close of the Exnibitiou said butiding snall be sold and the proceeds covered Aud provided turtier, that the sums hereby appro- priated shall cover the entire expense to waich the United states goveromeat shall be subjected on account of said Exhivition, except the suin appropriated in this act tor printing the certitl- cates of stock of said Exolbitiou; and the Board on Ex ive Departments 18 forbiduen to expend any larger sum than 13 set down herein for each department, or to enter into aby contract or’ en- gagement that shall resuitin any such increased expenditure; and no money siail be taken by any | department for the purposes of this Exuibition, as | aloresaid, irom aby other appropriations except the one hereby made. And further provided, nat of the sum hereby appropriaied the sum $200,000 ahall ve immediately avaliable. * * Approved March 8, 1375. THE CLASSIFICATION OF OBJECTS. There are constant inquiries gt the city bureau of the Centennial Board of Finance relating to the arrangements of ovjects at the coming Ex- position, Every manufacturer or producer who comes to make his application for space desires to be iniormed as to the group in which nis goods are to be placed. For the benetit of all appli- cants and others interested in tne exhibition, the complete system o1 classification adopted by the Centennial Commission is herewith published. It will give a complete picture of the wonderful variety of the display—a microcosm in itseli—as no other information could, and form a striking departments | of | * | and ornamental obj | trapping, | transmisstor commentary on the complexity of our civtiliza- | If Ruskin’s ideas were carried out and men went back to the heroic age, to what @ smail com- pass the Exposition would dwindle! THE GRAND OUTLINES. The act of Congress instituting the Exhibition o1 1876 gives the grand outitnes of a classification when, in she preamble, it announces “An act to provide for celebrating tue one hundredth anni- versary of American independence by holding an international exhibition of arts, manulactures and products of the soil and mine;” and further, by “an exnibition of the natural resources of the country and their development, and of its prog- ress in those arts which benefit mankind !n com- parison with those of older nations;” and again, in section 1, “An exhibition of American and tor- eign arts, products and manufactures,"’ Commission is thus co provide for tue exhibition of the products of the solis and mines and jor all the productions of the arts, not only of the United States, but of foreign lands The progressive development of those arts is also to be shown comparatively. The require- ments of the organic act were carefuily considered in the formation of the system of ciassification which foliows. The system is based on the idea of evolution or derivation of manufactured products from the crude materials of the earth. objects in the following order:: First—The natural producis of the earth ase.a to man, or the basis of manutactures. Second—The mantiacitires and resiits of the combinations and working of such products. Third—Vhe means and, appliances by which the Tesults have been attained, Fourth— Toe resultant! efnects of such productive activity. ‘This is a comprehensive general expression of the classification. The raw or unmanu‘actured materials are placed first, at the base or found: tion, and then in succession, 98 nearly as possible in the order of their development, the results of the use of these materials, placiog at the end the higher achievements 9) intellect and imagina+ tion. A DUAL SYSTEM ADOPTED. It was resolved at the outset that the arrange. | Ment of Objects should be both geogrannical and systematic, combining the two elements ol ar- rangement by Countries and arrangement by the nature of the objects, thus securing the great ad- vantage of having the productions of each coun- try kept together and at the same time placed \ The | It groups | | tridges. 5 according to their nature, similar produets oF Tariows religious systems and sects, and of miss‘onary manufactures bein; tinuor grouped in | effor'. indey sonosts, fy ae parallel zones crossing the space assignea to eacn | , 97oup WS—Educational Liustration of the variow country. ‘The arrengementor placing of the ob. | $7#¢™4 and accessories of education. from the niga! jecis Will conform generally as closely as practi- cable to the sequence of the classification. The closer the approximation toitthe better. There may be exc-ptious without destroying the sym- metry aud system. The spaces may be assigned to groups rather than to Ciasses, Toe detail of the arrangement need not be carried so far as the classes abless it 1s convenient and expedient to do so, Entire groups may be excepted from the sequence in the building in consequence of the pecuilar nature of the ovjects or e conditions Imposed by tue building or site, ‘tbe idea requires adneren parailel arrangement oi the departments from I to X and ol the groups within the aepartments, ail the ob= jects being piaced in zones, side by side, so that | continuous areas, ol greater or less width, cross- ing these zones, nay be assigned to each country, thus keeping the exhibits irom eacn country together, while at the same time they are ar- Tahged according to tie nature of tue ovjec 8 Spec.ai provision 18 made for the illustration of Ue progress made in the industry, art and civili- zation of the century by the assignment oi a separite space, to be Known as the Historical Section, ci ossing aii the departments, ior the re- ception and proper display of relics, and any objects illustrating the progr Industry and the ars, especially such objects as pertain to tne early history of tne United States in colontai or Kevolutionary times, The lurniture and costumes in use at the beginning of the century would iorm @ very intepesting addition tv the approiriate RTOUp, a8 would also the tools, arms, machines | and vehicles of that period tn otber groups, It will be seen below that tuere are ten princi- pai divisions, calied departments id that eaca aupartMen’ muy be divided into ten groups (some of them veing yet leit open). The folowing is the cla.sitcation in detall, embracing, as wilt be seen, every ubject under the sun:— J DEPARTMENT 1.—MATERIALS IN THEIR UNWROUGHT CONDITION—MINERAL, VEQETABLE AND ANIMAL. Group W—Minerais, ores, building stones, metal metatiurgical products, inciuding miscellaneous and aystemacic collections of minerais: iron wad steel, cop- Per, tin, lead, €c., viewed as maceriais. Grow il—Agrichliural products used. chiefly for tood, grin, root crops, vegetables, Iruits and dried vegetables and [ruiis ot ail Kinds. Group 12—arboriculture and floriculture, fruit trees, ornaiuental trees and shrubs, flowers, terns, tc. Grow 1$—Forest products, including logs and sections of trees, samples ot wood of aul kinds; Worked timber or lumber tor buildings; dyewoous, ‘corks, ichens, Mosses and terns; gums, resins, &c, G » i4—Aromatic, oleasinous, saponaceous, stimu- tating and nar substances ' of vegetable growtn, vegetable drugs and perfumes, including tobacco, tea, coffee, spiccs, &e. Group 15~-bibrous ov hairy substances of vegetable or | of animal origin used in the arts, ineluaing cotton, tax, hemp. jute, & , woo! raw silk and hair, ¢ Animals, lve stock, &¢.—including domestic nimals, poultry, birds. insects, £0. —Fish and aquatic i 1 "fish products— od, fresn or preserved; . whalebone, &e, unit products used as food or as the basi Group 8 of manutactures, exclusive of aquutic products, inelud- ere ihe . feathers, butter and tats Group 19—Preserved meats, vegetables and fruits. DEPARTM IL.—MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURES, 4 SULT OF EXTRACTIVE OR COMBI: stuer, AVOry, PRO! Group 20~bxtracts and compounds of animal or vege- table origin use» chiefly for foon, such as star sirup, alco , sugar, ¢., malt liquors, bread, biscuit, pastes, pharmaceutical preparations and fertilizing compounds including atkalles, suits, min eral andl vegeradle acids, bleaching powders, artificial manures, &e. Group 22—Medicinal compound: pomades. cost Group B—« perfumery, essences, tics, uromatic vinegars, &c. ) soaps, candies, illuminating and other —Paints, pigments, hes, printing 1 dyes, colors, turpentine, Wweiting inks, Blacking, Group %~Coments, artificial stone, concrete, Beton— Lime, bydraulic cement, plasters, mastics and speci- ving their strength. w4—lhe ceramic art—Terra cotta, bricks, tiles, porcelain and majolica. —Glass and manutactures of glass. —txXposive and {ulminating compounds—In ntitics only and under special regulations the building only by empty cases and car- DEPARTMENT I1,— TEXTILE AND FELTED FABRICS, APPAREL, COSTUMBS AND ORNAMANIS FOR THE PERSON, Group %®—Yarng and woven goods of vegetable or mineral materials, Group 3i—Woven and felted goods of wooland mix- tures of wool, (roup St—ilk and silk fabrics and mixtures in which silk is the predominating material. Grow %3—Ready made clothing, kuit goods and hosiery, military clothing, costumes ant clothing tor special objects. Group %4—Hats, caps, boots and shoes. gloves, mittens, &c., straw and palm leaf hats bonnets and millinery. Group 35—Laces, embroideries and trimmings tor cloth. ing, \urnicare and carriages are 36—Jewelry and ornaments worn upon the per- Group 37— Artificial flowers, corffures, buttons, trim- mings. fans, umbrellas, sun soades, walking canes, pides aua other objects ot dress or adornment, excius: ive ot jewelry. Group 3s—Fancy leather work—Pocketbooks, toliet cases, (ravelling equipments, Vaiises and trunks. Group 39—stalionery—Paper, Dasleboard, card board, Sige duiluing paper and paper indusiry gen. r DEPARTMENT IV.—FURNITURE AND MANUFACTURES OF GENERAL USB IN CONSTRUCTION AND IN DWEL- LINGS. Group 4)—Furniture—Drawing room, ber sults; office and libi 4 Group 4—Gold, silver and silverplatea ware; urns, samovars, epergnes and table turniture generaily. ect \shachapaina metal work, bronzes, ‘mantel clocks, &e. Group 43—Mirrors, stained and enamelled glass, nices, picture trames and upholstery. Group 44—Household impiements, apparatus and artl- cles used in o weiliugs nos included in other groups, in- cluding sundry appliances, washing apparatus, wring- ers, woodenware, baskets, dairy furniture and fittings, meat safes, refrigerators, &c. Group 45—Manutactured parts of dwellings, such as sash, blinds. doors, waiuscoving, ceilings, mantels, Group 46—Apparatus and fixtures for heating, lighting, ventilating and cooxing, such at di ators, stoves, was txiures, ret shades, kitchen furniture. Group 41—Hardware used in construction, exclusive of toois and implements. This includes spikes, nails, serews, tacks, bolts. locks, i es, hinges, pulleys, plumbers’ and gastitters’ hardware, ‘furniture fitungs, ships’ hardware and fittiags DEPARTMENT Y.—TOOLS, IMPLEMENTS, MACHINES AND PROCESSES, Group *b)—Miscellaneous hand tools and appliances used 10 various acts. Cutlery. Group 5\—Firearms, ordnange and other instruments and Sppetesay for the destruction or life; tor hunting, 1 pariorand cham- ry turniture, &c. cor- ng. achines, tools and Group 54 Apparatus of agricul- ture, lorestry and alimentary indastry. Group 53—Machines, tools and apparatus of mining, metaliurg} istry and the extractive arts. c Group 5i—Macaines and tools for working woo.l, metals or ston: Group 55—Sachines and implements of spinning, ing, telting, paper maxing, sewing and making cl Weav- lothing Group 63—Machines and apparatus for type setting, printing, stamping. embossing, pressing ana for making ooks and paper working. DEPARTMENT V1.—MOTORS AND TRANSPORTATION. Group “%—Motors and apparatus tor the generation and engines, botiers, wate: netic engines, shatting. ot power—at es, electri wearing, &e. wheel delti Group bi—d¥draulic Pneumatic apparatus; pumpin hoisting and hitung. frou 6. hicles and apparatas of transportation upon common roads— barrows, road engines, & Grup @—Rallway plait, rolling stock (and. appara- Locomotives, railway carriages, freight cura ks, hand cars, Cats for horse 'rallways, rails, riages, carts, wagons, wheel- &e. C. sportation upon suspended cables. on, pneumatic transportation, Group 65—Kouts and sailing vessels, Group #&—Steamehips seamboats, propetiers and all yessels propelled by steam or other motors. (See also Group 61) Group 67—Boats or vessels designed for special pur- Poses, such ng teiegraph cable voasels, life bouts, dredging boats, coal barges and steamers, Ww for conveying railway trains, terry bonis, & DEPARTMENT VIL.—APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ter boats, THE INCREASK AND DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE. Group 70—tdueational apparatus and methods—Toys, hool furniture. ditings an , draw: | Di st gam D ing and writing books, and methods ot instruction. &c, Grow il—typographic aids to the preservation and dissemination of Knowledge, books. periodicais, news: pa Group 72—Charts, Maps and graphic representations, Group T—Telegraphic instruments and methods. Grovp 74—Instruments of precision and apparatus of physical research, experiment and isustration, Group T—Meteoroloxical instruments and apparatus. Geoup 76—Mecnanical calculation; mdicating and Feyis.cring apparatus other than metéorological ( Ti Weights, weighing and metrological app coins. MW watches, cl . &e. Grovp 79—Musical instruments and acoustic apparatus. DEPARTMENT VIII.—ENGINEERING, PUBLIC WOR ARCHITECTURE, &O. p 80-—Agricultural engineering—E xampli EL management, €c, Systems of M 0 planting, ig © r! examples of mine con- nd working, including hoisting, ventilation rang. Modéts and maps. Grow sé—Civil engineering—bxamptes of construction of bridves and other public works, illustrated by models, drawings and plans, Grou %—Dyuamie and indastrial engineering—The constriction and working of ina bines; examples of planning and the descriygon of manufacturing and metallurgical esta blishinents, Gr aiiway engineering—Location of railways and the consiruction and management of railways, Group 85—Military engineering. Group Si—Navai engineering. DEPARTMENT [X--PLASTIO AND GRAPHIC ARTS, Group W—sculpture. Grup Painting. Group Yom lrawing and engraving. Group = jo-lithography and lithography. Grows M~Photogra phy. 95 —Industriat designs. Mosaic ava thind work. Architectural designs and models. interiors of gs and of public this wFoUD Is. de. wo melude special exhivitions of tia 4 haga is nh combinations of objects tor imterlor decoration, clus Vu US ZVOU)S aNd ClAsses. Wier Vario andscape gardening.—This group is d le. unds, parks and gardens. ONIRCTS ILLUSTRATING EFFORTS TELLECTU Grove W)—Ph AND MORAL CONDITION OF MAN. cal development and condiui dito iveluds exhibitions of Au 1 its accessories IM comoimation: of gymni Manly sports; alimencation; dwellings combining can- itions essential Lo health and comfort; Novels, public hottses, pudliy baths, iavatories, &e. Group | 1=Medieuie and sanitary, Group Wt—venevolence, the displays in this group Will consist of stich objects as {lustrate the working and re of benevolent institutions. Models, plass ®ud arapic presentations of staristios would be appropriate und the insdiutions themselves may be Visited. Group W8—Goverament Loan Mag odeis, drawings, uraviie representations, « ‘iy LReligious organizations and systems. This group Is intended to include such objects and statisty illustrate (he origi, nature, growth and extent sters, shells, coral, | les of farm | ie exempleso; artistic laying out and | | OVEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL, IN- tal i science and art jibr: ae bean kspcrngl Grovp 16—Instriuy societies and ormaniaepons having for their object the promotion of science. Tins trations of the rise, progress and results of the various orgauizations for the promotion of science; models, drawings, descriptions and isties. Group LT —Co-operauve associations. To tlustrate the Drac'ical working and resuits of industrial organizations, workingn co-operat Group | Group 19— illu . &e., of secret societies, and of fort generally, usi and the drama. + xorbition of Works of art and industry. To « the organization, working and results of great h e upon ipdustry, art, scene exhibitions; t and civiltzation 3 ‘The groups that are left open are for unforeseep additions, TEXAS DISOWNS THE CENTENNIAL. HovstTon, March 14, 1875, | Governor Coke recommended some actign on | the Centennial io bis message to the Legislature, | but that booy yesterday rejused an appropriation | to seoure the representation of Texas at the exh AN EXCELLENT SUGGESTION. To Tae Eprror oF THe HRRALD:— | A Suggestion has been made by several gentler men 1p New York that it would be @ very fitting thing ‘or artists to give a series of concertsin this city In ald of the grand ceremonies that are to d¢ bonor to the memory of the great men whe jouaded our free institutions aad, so far as may be. to inspire the popular heart io favor of thi Patriotic work. It is believed that such concerts would make the coming ceieoration not only a social but a domestic topic, and result In educae ing the youug and old alike up to @ clear Appreciation of the wondertul aviievements of our Republic in the first 100 years of its existe ence. Initiated in New York, we doubt not that bhose Converts will be folowed tu otuer cities a be a great means of awakening a spirit of ‘76 throughout ail sections of our common country, | Wituin a brief period, ater proper consultanop | with those officially represeating the Centennial, | @ pleasant oppurtunity will be trnished artists td veer their assisiaoce in this commendable work. | Communications on this sunject may be ad | dressed to ex-Governor Bigler, the Financtal | Agent, at the st, Nicholas Hotel, or to myselt at No, 24 West Fourteenth street. Your obedient J. JAY WATSON, | Servant, | New York, March 13, 1875, | SLOW TRANSIT. | —_—— | THE TERRORS OF WINTER FOR RESIDENTS OF | THE WEST SIDE—THE MISERY OF TRAVEL UP AND DOWN TOWN. ‘@ | Ot ail the people in New York compelled to use the sireet cars those on the westside must be considerea the most docile and long suffering. | During the past three months their daily con. ; fnement of an hour and a half or two boura | has been attended with untold horrors, and | On investigation it could doubtless be proved more hurtiui to the system thao | to ve | eight hours of ordinary labor, Take, for in- The cars le | stance, the Eighth avenue road, ing the depot between the hours of eight and tem in the morning are generally filled at tne moment 0/ starting, 80 far us the sitting accom modation is concerned, and in any ocher country except our own the passengers themselves would see to It that no further addition should be made tothe company. By dint of well-timed dawdling the conductors generally manage to treble the legal | carrying capacity of their cars by the time Thirty-lourth street is reacted. No mat. ter if there are seventy-five persons already en a car, and that men and women are promiscuously huddled together in a state of semt-suffocation, all passengers hailing mast be taken on, Thus crowded to three times its proper capacity the car proceeds down town. Moat ef those on the car desire to reach their places of | business at a certain hour, the allowance of time to Vesey street being iorty-five minutes—e longer time than it takes to reach Newark. Apart from the inconvenience of standing and jostling, of vile topacco fumes and corrupted breath, which thirty-five or forty passengers usually ex | Perienced on each trip during the recent bad Weather, the atmosptere in tnese cars has been disgusting, partly arising irom the meited suow carried on to the damp straw in the vehicte, partiy trom the cefic.ent ventilation and partly and especially jrom the abomimabie system of | crowding irom flity to sixty persons into a space | that should contain no more than twenty-Hve at | the utmosi. The “rush trips,” commencing | at four o’ciock 19 the aiternoon and continu. | ing to hali-past six, are conducted with the same | disregard of the pudlic convenience, tt being an | understood practice toat each conductor snall | have his “feir snow,” by his “follower” hanging | back vy all kiads 0! tactics until a “pig toad” is | Ovtained. Whether this is to the advantage of the | company tine aluue Will prove; certain 1ti8 that | the practice bas so disgusted hungreds of citizens | that any system of rapid transit will ve welcomed | most hearitly us a release iront this most aude | clous species 01 cruesty and injustice, | One morning last week cars leaving the depot at | about hait-past eight aid not reacn Vesey st | til past ten o'clock. Indeed, the 1mm ‘nse tramio | to and irom the Vanderbilt depot, in Hudsoa Street, blocks Canal street Irom South Fifta aves | nue, literally, to the river, every morning, stop. | ping up the entrance to West Broadway also, aud | thus suuttiug the passengers by the Broadway, | Sixth, Seveuth and Eignth avenues in their close quarters, in some instances from tnirty to jorty minutes. The young and active can leave the cars and plunge into the slusp and filtn in order to reach their offices, bur | persons advanced in itfe were compellea to watt untli the road 18 opened. At the smailest esti. mate 4,000 persons 1D business ure thus decained Jor thirty minutes, and how Many disappomt- ments and iosses result from the delay may, perhaps, be more readity lnagined than enumate ated. Indeed, during tats winter it has been im- | possible to travel op the west side with either | comfort or certainty, leaving out o: consideration | the deficient accomimodat.on ot the Klevated road, | It has been suggested that naif a dozen policemeo r Should be reguiariy employed to keep open the | traMe of Cana: street, West Broadway and Charon | street, plactog them at the points where ‘blocks’? most frequently occur, as is dene in Londou and | Paris and sometimes in Broadway, These men might at least save people the discomiture of | vedious delays. wich. coupled with otner disad- | Vantuges, vend to render existence on too west side simply intolerable. “RAPID TRANSIT IN A NUTSHELL.” New York, March 18, 1876, TO THE FDITOR OF THE HERALD:—, Yon bit the idea exactly in your little editorial @ few days ago, under the caption of “Rapid Transit ip a Nutshell.” There bas been much ing }-Wasted in this matter. Column upon column bag | been written, but nothing practical suggested, | until the paragraph in question met the lignt I live up town, but 1 do not own one cent’s worth | Of real estate, and consequently the only interest | Lhave in the matter is to get to and from my home in svmething less than a day’s journey. Nor have | any interest in auy elevated railway to the | extent of one peuny. Sotiatlcan get to my | busmess in proper time I care not who carries me; aud while our legislators are dozing over ti | matter, and our scientific men are suggesting all | sorts of metnods “how not to do it,’ let us take advantage of the roads already half-ouilt and push | them to completion, Yours truly, RAPID TRANSIT, | PUBLIC PARKS IN JERSEY CITY, | The committee appointed by the property own | ers of the Bergen district of Jersey City to ascen tain the most sultavie location for a pubite paz: have prepared a report with a recommendation that a bill be presented to the Legisiature author jging the purchase of that section of the marsat | lana lying between Montgomery and Grand | streets. Tnis tract, the report sets forth, is not only useless but is the cause of great unbealth hess in that se tion of the city. There are eight | sections in the bill, The first provides that | board of five persons be elected at the ensuing | charter elect on, not more than thr-e of whom | shall be trom one political party, The second pro» vides that proposais pe received by this Board | from the owners of property ior park sites. The third section empowers the Board to de | termine locations, ‘The fourth se:tion re quires them to apply to the Circuit Court for the appointment of three men, as @ Committee of Assessments, In the sixth section tt | fs provided that a map be puolished, explanatory ofthe park, tbe work periormea, and tae cost oF constr: ion, A vote olali the citizens shali oe | taken to determine whevher the city will bay any {orthe sites or not, The city shalt pay for the | Jands purchasea for parks in forty year bonda, | A bill is penaing in the Legtsiature for the con Tale | struction of a park east of Palisade avenue, nortt na | 01 bie arsenal property, and covering & large tract | of This bli 1s supported by every | property owner, Without exception, tn chat sed | tion ofthe city, The residents complain that since the consolidation Of tue three cities tne o1¢ Hudson Oty district has been aimost eutirely meg lected in the matter of public improvementa, while in the Bergen district, on tne other band, public improvements Were rushed ahead of the requirements of the taxpayers or thelr abiliey to pay for them. The cost of these ye te forms & large portion of the present edt. mproved lau