The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-01


ofe -. d. o5o 90
W Brainard east half OF and west half of 900 90
FISHERMAN pier So aud oa,h half of So Jay 900 90
d. r Martin Iier IS Franklin street q 34j 90
John Cow les, small boat district 90 90
l. H. Edwards pier foot of Dank street ..... 1856 90
John McKenna Eighteenth street. North river 100 90
North river ......... ......... 5000 90
Courtney 4 MeAiuren, pier, Twenty-s sixth street,
James Leroy ninth Of pier A. Fast river. $40 90
Edward alley Iier as, East river .......... 400 90
NJ G. Smith pier foot OF Stanton street .... i $50 90
Edward alley pier oot of Third st. East river. As 90
DO. do Fifth street, East RIVER. 45o oO
George Brown do Twenty third street, ex Of
ferry, East river . :. -. ............. $50 90
Twenty fourth street, ex Of ferry 225 GO
James Iewey, pier foot Of twenty fifth ST. do. 515 90
Edward Con~a do. Twenty. sixth street do 49, 40 90
George Brown do Twenty eighth street do - $50 90
James Dewey pier and bulkhead Harlem do =. 240 90
Edward Conway, pier foot OF Fifty third st. do. Al 90
stephen Clark DO l06ih street do ......... IS 90
+. s. Mott, do Thirty street, do $50 90
VIM Mengies do Twenty first street. North river 80 70
Those who desire the occupancy Of these piers will
be anxious to ascertain whether they can obtain
leases for them as early as practicable in order to
make their arrangements Tor the business OF the
suing season.
The ordinance passed in ls44 respecting the sink
ing fund and the management of it, provides two
modes for renting the piers belonging to said fund.
These PROVISIONS are set forth in the two following
sections Of that ordinance, viz =
sec. g. Whene, any property belonging 10 the Cor
poration is unprodG ctive the term for which it
have been leased let shall have expired be aboat
expiring, 1t shsl be the duty of the said Comptroller
with the aDcon Of the Finance Committees TO let the
for term exceeding year il in his ildg
mcnt it viii be beneficial to the public interest to do
Sec TO- Whenever, in the Judgment OF the said Comp
troer il shall be advisable to lease property be
longing to the Corporation for q term exceeding
year, it sha be his duty 10 communicate the same with
his therefor TO the Commissioners OF the Sink
ing Fund, and If they vi him. they hereby
authorized and emlow cred 10 lease tie in such
they deem most fl for the interest of the
q
. majority OF said Commissioners. of whom the Comp
troer shall be one it hall be the duty of the said Mayor
snd Ck rk of the Common Connc execute such
under heir hands and zeal of the city said lease to be
submitted TO the Common Council for their soncton be
fore being executed; but no lease made by the Com
isiohers OF the Sinking Fund shall DO for longer term
than five years.
In the present condition Of the affairs of the city
consider it an imperative duty to recommend to the
Commissioners OF the Sinking Fund. under the tenth
section OF the ordinance above given, to fix the
amount of annual rent to be paid on the several
piers where the leases expire on the first Of May,
1898, by pubic auction, after full notice, and for q
term OF five years. My reasons are
First. That this is tie best method Of producing
fair competition among those who desire the Of
the piers for the accommodation Of their business,
and OF securing to the city treasury just equivalent
for the use Of its property.
Second. That by giving leases fer term of years.
we secure to those who desire accommodations for
ocean vessels for canal boats the advantages Of
having fixed place of business for the period OF the
lease.
Third. As the trustees for the Corporation and the
creditors OF the city, we have the custody of property
estimated ct from fifteen to twenty millions OF dollars,
which pledgedfo I the payment Of annual interest
OF some $500 GOO, and principal debt OF fourteen
and Laf millions OF dollars; and for the ultimate
payment of which, not only this property and its
venues are pledged, but If it is not Sufficient, the
faith OF the State is pledged 10 authorize the levy Of
taxes for the payment OF the interest on the debt.
Invested with such important trusts, involving great
pecuniary interests OF the public creditors, as well
ap1 nf ftn
sirabe property within the bounds of the corporation
1t is desirable that the official agents Of such trust
should 10 managing and disposing OF this property,
protect themselves against the possibility OF suspi-
clen that they were Influenced by desire to grant
fay0rs TO political or personal friends, or actuated by
any inference, save thatwhch springs from honest
desire to discharge the trust with the strctet del
ity to the public creditors the ore hand and our
confding constituents on the other.
Above all things we should fortfy official acts
with such degree Of olenness and lair dealing as
10 Keep ourselves at an immeasurable distance from
even suspicion that could be tempted bv any
earthly consideration, through middle men, or
brokers, to secure to ourselves interest in this
property. or to put dollar into our own pockets.
which faithfGEess to our trusts would have secured
to the city treasury. Next in importance TO an
honest and faithful discharge OF pecuniary trust is
the conviction on the public mind, Of the fact, pro-
duted by open ard fair dealing in every transaction
which concerns the trust, or those interested in it..
We should not only be honest in al OR acts, but we
Should as far practicable, prove to the people that
we are so in dispOsng OF their property, should
adopt the course sanctioned by the practice of intel
hgent and judicious business men. In pursuing such
q course, we may hope to be sustained by moral
force, which is essential 10 the beneficial and success
full administration of the city government The
priceless value Of good private character needs
illustration. The influence and value of character in
public agent entrusted with the credit and property
OF the city, ard personally pledged to taithflness by
Oatbs and bonds cannot be computed by dollars and
cents 1t Is essential 70 all the great interests con-
ded to such agent that his character should mot
only be pure, but unsuspected.n
The corporation owns eighty-seven piers, wharves,
and bulkheads, estimated in the Comptrolers report
OF 1852 to lie worth IS 25S 600. On the 2sth day Of
November last the Commissioners Of the Sinking
Fund passed resolution to sell ten whole piers with
laf OF buIkhead in the OF SIX Of them, and the
aaf Of fourteen piers with half OF b.lkhead in nine
'ases- Some OF these were among the most valua-
Die and desirable Of tie pier AID wharf property
belonging TO the city. The valuation placed upon
The property by the Commissioners OF the Sinking
Fund, under section |, title 5, of the ordinance of
1874 was $685. 900. The sale was to have taken
place on ard after the 2lst of December last, but
was stopped by an injunction Issued by Judge EN-
met. The late Counsel to the Corporation, and
majority Of the Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund
although they stopped the sale, did not concurin the
opinion of the Judge, and proceedings we're taken
to carry up the>cae. Although cur agency in re-
gard TO this trust fund may be regarded in one
sense as mere financial question, confined to the
management OF the fund, and in getting the greatest
nho.hs iS'nh.e iVi tie hoiheTs VI Tue City ueuI,
and for the relief OF the axpayerE yet in the spo-
stion OF that peculiar portion OF the property which
Consist OF wbarves, piers and bulkheads we should
not lore sight of the Importance OF controlling this
property, and the land under water connected with
it. for the purpose OF accommodating the commerce.
interior and exterior, Of this great and growing
city The estimates in regard 10 the future growth
of the city, lead 10 the belief that it is destined TO
have concentrated in the bay which connects it with
the ocean, and the rivers which surround IT, more
extensive internal and external commerce than any
city Of ancient modern times. Making every al
lowance which the most cantions would recommend,
there aIe urmiktakabe indications that the demands
on the water, altogether beyond any price which
could be obtained for IL now. IT. therefore, tie rent
ing Of this property can be kept out OF the hands of
Jobtes and its fair value lie paid into the city trea
sury directly, by those who wish to use the piers in
carrying on their business, it would not be advisable
in my judgment, TO ltgste the question whether
the Commis sioners o. tie Sinking Fund have power