Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-08-21
NEW PORK CORRESPONDENCE.


cia enterprises yet attempted in the country is the Atlantic
Dock at South Brooklyn. walk its front pier day
two since, with examination of Of It's massive
stores and warehouses reminds that little account Of
may be interesting to the readers of the Inegencer
is built on little bay that made into the shore of South
Brooklyn, directly opposite Governors Island and about
mile and half from the New York Battery The strait be-
tween Governors Island and Brooklyn is called Buuemk
channel Years ago. before the Revolutionary war; Is said
the the channel SO shallow that at low tide it
could be krded but probably owing the made land and
the numerous piers the New York shore, throwing
stronger current upon the Brooklyn shore, Buemk
channel gradually deepened from year year, till for many
years past it has afforded sufficient depth of water any
time Of tide for the largest class of vessels
The rspidy growing commerce of New York has for
felt The need of more extended dock and pier
daons and this bay Buttermk channel was selected
the most available and suitable location for that purpose The
work was projected eight nine years ago by Mr. Daniel
Richards merchant who pursued it with great energy and
perseverance nl company formed with capital of
million Of dollars and charter obtained from the Legislature
of the State in May, Is4O The company commenced ope
rations, but for long time, Observers it looked
like throwing their money into the sea- When hundred
thousand dollars spent there nothing show for it,
and many predicted that the company fail and the project
now its grand results begin demonstrate the magnfcence
Of the esprise leaving doubt Of its immense public
utility. assA priassly snsasn. tho company Large
hills havesn cut down within three four years in South
Brooklyn, and the earth removed temporary railways
the neghbohoodof Atlantic Dock make new land, till
the recedng water line is in places third of mile
from the original hore The land and water surface owned
by the Dock ComAny is about eighty The enclosed
dock about forty res the remaining forty being taken
In piers and bukhes and five six hundred lots
rounding the dock Several heavy machines moved by
steam power have been at work two three years deepen
ing the basin give sufficient depth of for
sells Of the largest cSs The greatest feature of the work
the outer pier, forming the side of the Dock which has
risen up like mighty coral reef almost in the middle Of
Buttemk channel where the good part of the way
thirty feet Deep The length of this pier is about
ty-thee hundred feel with opening of two hundred feet
in the centre for the passage Of vessels which the only
trance to the dock ba The width Of the pier is hundred
and fifty feet. Kindred feet along the centre is to be
covered with heavy gtnite Stores leaving of twenty
five feet each side between the and the shipping
lying at the pier Thenorhern half of this pier compile
ted and nearly covered with stores Between twenty and
thirty Of the already occupied and doing large
business Four Of these occupied by the General Gov
eminent warehouses pr bonded goods and twelve
(neary fnhed) have ben leased for the purpose.
The southern half of the pier is nearly built but stores
yet erected that section. This pier, the
side of the dock, will be covered by eghyour stores, Of
twenty-five by hundred feet each. They among the
heaviest and most substantial to be found in the
try, built of granite, with walls feet thick and three and
four stories in height For commercial facilities and the
and npdity with which they receive and deliver
goods to shipping, they certainly unsurpassed if
equalled.
Mr. Richards who occupies several of the stores in the
centre of the block, has introduced heavy machinery with
steam power for moving and handling and gain the
same plan, with improvements, the grain elevators
introduced by Mr. Evans, at Baltimore some time since.
This machinery, in moving grain, will in do the
work Olive hundred hands It will take grain from vessel
lying at he pier carry up into the second third story OF
the store winnow it its way, weigh it and return into
the vessel into another vessel at the rate Of tDo
thousand5tseLs per hour The machinery is arranged
that can the grain from another through
half dozen stores with equal facility If cargo Of grain
ino port little heated il be taken out by this
chne, and carried up into the store and receive airing
quarter of cent bushel And if vessel loaded with
grain wishes to discharge into another vessel lying by
side, instead of passing by the half bushe from hand
hand the usual mode, less expense be taken into
the and put on board the other vessel besides the ad
vantage of cleaning and weighing the way. Another
firm (Wadsworth Wes) is introducing similar set Of
machinery in another part Of the pier.
The Atlantic Dock already place of considerable business
and when completed will form important point in the
Of New York. The basin will form harbor for
than five hundred vessels and two three hundred at the
time find pier and wharf facilities for doing business
The whole work stupendous operation, and it hardly
fail to produce large returns to the company
But this grand improvement will scarcely be completed be-
fore the commerce Of New York, in its giant growth WILL
like Oliver Twist, be crying out for "more" New York
will begin receive greatly accelerated movement
from the railroad improvements in progress. In two
three years the great New York and Erie railroad will be
completed the Hudson River railroad carried to Albany the
Harlan road probably extended to the point direct
railroad communication opened to Massachusetts through
New Haven and Hartford all which, added to the Phade
pea and Long Island railroads. must give impetus to
the commerce and business Of this wonderful city, and it will
not be long before she will be stretching out her hands for
more Atlantic docks.
Letters to the Philadelphia papers state that Mr..
CLAY is to leave Cape May on Monday next for
tho res;danca or Mr. Senator Or AyToN and after