a4 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



high idea of the proposal of one of its members for conuecting 

 the city with the great lakes by a line of water navigation — con- 

 cluding with the statement, that as a single corporation, its funds, 

 of course, were not adequate to the undertaking ! Can we wonder 

 that from such beginnings, and with such lineage as that traceable 

 in its subsequent history, the enterprise of this metropolis should 

 reach to such a Himalayan height ? 



Previous to 1806, action had been taken in the Chamber, on 

 three several occasions, for regulating the system of pilotage, and 

 measures were instituted to remedy the complaints to which the 

 sj^stem then in use had given rise. Quarantine laws, which had 

 some years before been discussed, in 1822 again became a subject 

 of deliberation, with other matters not less vital to the public 

 interests. 



In 1828 the Chamber responded favorably to a request from the 

 Philadelphia Cliamber of Commerce, for its co-operation in indu- 

 cing Congress to construct the Delaware breakwater. 



After repeated action on the subject of pilotage, the Chamber, 

 in 1837, represented the grievances arising therefrom, by a com- 

 mittee sent to Albany for that purpose. 



Questions concerning wharfage claimed the attention of that 

 body in 1840, and its committee then made the important sug- 

 gestion that the i^iers and wharves of the city should be subjected, 

 if practicable, to a uniform system of rules and regulations. What 

 difficulties and dangers to the commercial interests of the city 

 might liave been avoided, had this suggestion been adopted at 

 that day ? 



Astronomical Observatory. 



Favorable consideration was given in 1845 to a proposal from 

 Columbia College for the establishment of ah observatory near 

 this city, tlie chairman of the committee to whom the matter was 

 referred, reporting it : " as an object well worthy of the conside- 

 ration of the Chamber, alike for its utility to the commercial inte- 

 rests of the city, and for the maintenance of its character as an 

 advocate for the cause of science." 



It is interesting to observe how public opinion grows by action 

 from one individual, or one locality upon another. The project 



