merce, or else to provide some other suitable and efficient counteracting measures for that purpose, to the extent at least of the difference in the prices for labor and money between this and foreign countries where steam and sailing vessels are built. Any arrangement which would merely enable us to build or buy and repair merchant vessels as low in price as they cost people of other nations would be insufficient. We could not then sail them on equal terms, because of their low wages for seamen, low interest for money and freedom from duties on ships' supplies, all of which would still continually and largely work against us.

On motion of Mr. JAMES H. FROTHINGHAM, this amendment was referred to the Committee for consideration and report at a subsequent meeting.

The propositions contained in the report were then considered separately, amended and adopted, as follows:

First-That owners of either iron or wooden steam or sailing vessels, when engaged in the foreign trade, or bound to ports on the Pacific, be allowed to purchase all stores and articles necessary to fit them for sea, so as to enable them to perform their voyages in bond. And in case such articles, except breadstuffs and provisions, are of American growth or manufacture, a return equivalent to the amount of duty, or tax, paid on the foreign articles, shall be made.

Second. All the materials used in the construction or repair of steam or sailing vessels traversing the ocean, (whenever the amount expended at one time in construction, repairs and outfits exceeds the sum of one thousand dollars,) shall be allowed to be purchased in bond, duty free. And in case articles of American manufacture are used, an amount equivalent to the duties on the foreign articles shall be paid to the owners of said vessels; and that the present tax of thirty cents per ton per annum, and all custom dues and other charges, now imposed on all vessels entering any American port, be specially appropriated for this purpose.

Third. That the Postmaster-General be instructed to give a preference to suitable American lines of steamers in carrying the mails to foreign countries. That Congress be recommended to suspend for two years all laws prohibiting the purchase and registration of foreign built ships to be used in our international maritime com

merce.

Fourth. That these provisions be carried out, subject to such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may from time to time prescribe.

The report was thereupon adopted, and the officers of the Chamber, with the Chairman of the Committee, were instructed to pre

pare a memorial, embodying the propositions, and transmit an authenticated copy of the same to both Houses of Congress.

Mr. PAUL N. SPOFFORD, Chairman of Committee Number Five, submitted a memorial, in accordance with the instructions of the Chamber at its last meeting, asking the passage by Congress of the bill pending before that body, entitled "A Bill to authorize the appointment of Shipping Commissioners by the Judges of the several Circuit Courts of the United States, to superintend the shipping and discharge of seamen engaged in merchant ships belonging to the United States, and for the further protection of seamen."

Objections being made by Mr. SPOFFORD and other members to certain provisions in the bill, the subject was referred back to the Committee, with authority to incorporate their views in a memorial, and submit the same at another meeting of the Chamber.

The President submitted the following communication from the Collector of the Port, asking the appointment of a committee to unite with other committees to be selected, in a revision of the rates of storage and labor chargeable on unclaimed goods in United States private bonded warehouses, approved by the Chamber in 1857:,

To the President of the Chamber of Commerce, New-York City: SIR,-The rates of storage and labor chargeable on unclaimed goods established in 1857, and approved by the Chamber of Commerce in February of that year, have remained without revision. The large increase of business and the requirements of commerce demand the establishment of a schedule suitable to the present time. May I ask the co-operation of your honorable body in the appointment of a committee to meet with a committee of warehouse proprietors and a committee from this office, for the purpose of fixing a scale of prices, which shall be agreed upon as the future charges at this port.

I am, sir, very respectfully,
(Signed,)

C. A. ARTHUR,

Collector.

The communication was referred to the Executive Committee for consideration and report.

The Chamber then adjourned.

Monthly Meeting, Thursday, February 1, 1872.

A regular monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held this day, at half past two o'clock, P. M., at the Rooms of the Chamber, No. 63 William-street.

PRESENT.

GEORGE OPDYKE, First Vice-President:

WALTER S. GRIFFITH, Second Vice-President.
GEORGE WILSON, Secretary.

ROYAL PHELPS,

F. A. CONKLING,
SOLON HUMPHREYS,
R. WARREN WESTON,
FERDINAND LAWRENCE,
CHARLES H. MARSHALL,
GEORGE A. JARVIS,
WILLIAM H. FOGG,
GEORGE H. BREWER,
CHARLES P. BURDETT,
ARCHIBALD BAXTER,
HENRY R. KUNHARDT,

PAUL N. SPOFFORD,

MATTHEW MAURY,

GEORGE W. Dow,

SINCLAIR TOUSEY,
GEORGE W. LANE,
ISAAC H. REED,
D. COLDEN MURRAY,
WM. M. HUNNIFORD,
SAMUEL HARDING,

L. MURRAY FERRIS, Jr.,
SPENCER K. Green,

WALLACE P. GROOM.

The minutes of the last regular meeting, held January 4th, and of the special meeting, held January 18th, were read and approved.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES.

Mr. WALTER S. GRIFFITH, on behalf of the Executive Committee, reported the nomination of the following named gentlemen for membership:

JOHN P. DOUGLASS,

CHARLES C. DUNCAN,

Nominated by
FRIEND P. FITTS.
A. A. Low.

DANIEL C. ROBBINS,

JACKSON S. SCHULTZ.

These gentlemen were, on one ballot, duly elected members of the Chamber.

Mr. GRIFFITH further reported the nomination of Mr. GEORGE W. LANE for re-election as a member of the Committee of Arbitration, and Mr. LANE was, by ballot, unanimously re-elected to that office.

Mr. GRIFFITH submitted a letter from Hon. O. D. CONGER, of the

House of Representatives, dated Washington, January 27, 1872, with a copy of a Bill introduced by him into the House, to promote immigration to the United States, and on the recommendation of the Executive Committee the Bill was referred to Committee Number Four for report.

Mr. GRIFFITH reported that the Executive Committee had referred back to the Chamber the letter of the Collector of the Port, requesting the appointment of a committee to unite with a committee to be appointed by him, and a committee to be appointed by the proprietors of private bonded warehouses, to revise the rates of storage and labor chargeable on unclaimed goods remaining in warehouses, approved by the Chamber in February, 1857, and recommended that the subject be placed in the hands of a Special Committee of five, to be appointed by the President.

This recommendation was adopted, and the President named the following gentlemen to comprise the Committee:

JONATHAN STURGES,
WILLIAM A. BOOTH,

ABRAM S. HEWITT,
SOLON HUMPHREYS,

D. WILLIS JAMES.

Mr. PAUL N. SPOFFORD, Chairman of Committee Number Five, submitted the following report on the subject of Obstructions and Encroachments in the Harbor of New-York, prepared by Mr. GEORGE W. BLUNT, a member of the Committee, which was unanimously adopted and ordered to be placed on file:

To the Chamber of Commerce:

Your Committee, to which was referred the best means of abating obstructions and encroachments in the harbor of New-York, and of preventing them in future, respectfully report:

That the existing natural obstructions in the East River are

1st. Diamond and Coenties Reefs at the southern entrance to the river.

2d. The sandspit at the northerly entrance to Buttermilk Channel. 3d. Shell reef, extending from Houston-street to above 16thstreet.

4th. The rocks at Hell Gate.

Diamond and Coenties reefs and the rocks at Hell Gate are now nearly removed by the engineers under the General Government, and application has been made to General NEWTON, U. S. Engineer

in charge of the works at New-York, for the removal of the sandspit, which it is believed will soon be commenced.

As to the other rocks mentioned, while it would undoubtedly facilitate navigation to remove them, the danger arising from them at present is not very great, as not many vessels are berthed in their neighborhood, and they are not in the way of passing vessels. It thus appears that there is a good prospect of the removal of most of the natural obstructions which exist in our harbor, and this is a reasonable subject for congratulation.

But while the action of the General Government is thus abating the natural hindrances to navigation, the self interests of the owners of our water fronts and the unadvised action of our city and State authorities have combined to produce an unnatural and much more serious impediment by a gradual extension of the shore lines, and narrowing of the rivers (especially the East River) to an alarming extent, creating a strong and dangerous current, for which there is no remedy but the removal of its causes, that is to say, of the encroachments which have produced it.

This current is now so strong that it is unsafe to move large ves sels except at slack tide, (a period of less than one hour in six,) and the anchoring of a heavy ship in the East River is justly considered an exhibition of foolhardiness.

The removal of the encroachments already created being impracticable on account of its cost, (to say nothing of the difficulty of obtaining the necessary legislation,) it remains for us to "endure the ills we have," but carefully to guard against their unnecessary

increase.

The extreme limits to which extensions into the waters of our harbor may safely be carried having been carefully determined by engineers selected for that duty, on account of their known capacity for the work, and having been fixed in accordance with such determination by a law of our State, nothing short of PRESSING PUBLIC NECESSITY Should be deemed a sufficient warrant for changing them; and in every case a thorough examination by competent disinterested engineers should be made, before granting permission to further encroach on the already cramped waters of our rivers.

Other causes of damage to our harbor are in constant action, which should be stopped by proper legislation. It is in evidence before your Committee that the steamers plying in the waters of our harbor draw their fires into the water; that the steamboats, or many of them, have pipes or pits through their bottoms specially constructed for easily and secretly discharging all their ashes and refuse overboard, in violation of the law.

The effect is, as shown by a survey recently made by officers of the United States Coast Survey, at the request of the Pilot Commissioners, to create new shoals in various parts of the harbor, to the great injury of navigation.

Your Committee recommend that the lines of the harbor, as established by law of 1857, be, as far as practicable, restored, and that no deviation from them be in any case permitted, except upon the recommendation of competent engineers, after due examination and legislative action based on their report.