New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-28
THE PARTITION OF THE BATTERY

For the past ten years the Battery has been
the spois placer Of George Law, but oil late, as
if envious Of his success in working it, Dir. Cor
nelius Vanderbilt has essayed to grasp share Of
the plumber. With this end in view he has caused
to be presented ct Albany these three last ses-
sions of the Legislature, blu empowering him
to invade the defined limits Of the harbor, as
fixed by the Scientific Commission, and rati-
fed by Legislative enactment, for the purpose of
constructing pier 100 feet south Of Pier No. /,
North River. Defeated in the last two Legisa-
tures, he had the audacity last Spring to sink
CRIBS, aud commence the construction Of the
pier without authority. He was eventually en-
joucd and stopped by the Pilot Commissioners;
but the cribs, with other impediments TO free
navigation, still remain. We perceive that he is
once more pushing his project in the Legislature,
Mr. Ellingwood Of Staten Island having offered
a bill to enable him to carry it into effect.
Whatever may be the disguise this is in reality
o bill the Offset Of one to give George Law d
Co. slice opposite the south end Of the Battery,
which has been before the Legislature for two
years under the engneeEog of the agents whom
Law had procured to be elected as members from
Richmond County.
1t is not enough that Law has for ten years past,
through the Battery enlargement, robbed the city
of large sums of money for work which be never
did, and never intended to do; that through his
negligence the filling of the Battery washed out
into the hsrbor, forming dangerous shoals; that
a once delightful resort OF our citizens has been
Ja J;r., och hat ba haa
held ferry franchise, and pucked ferry land
ing from the Battery grounds, without paying one
farthiDg to the city. Not enough that he got
through corrupt Common Council grant of
300 feet Of the water front of the Battery for
nothing; but it now appears that he is endeayor-
ing to obtain through the Legislature perpetual
possession of this stolen property.
In humble imitation Of his great e1emplar, Mr..
Vanderbilt some time ago got through the Com
mon Council, in an illegal manner, permission to
run ferry, rent free, from the locality where
he has been endcayoring TO construct the pier
above referred to. 1t is this grant, Illegal and
void from nformality, which he is endcayoring
TO lcgalize, by worrying it through the Lcgisla.
ture. We hope he will not succeed. The pro.
posed pier is in direct violation Of the line laid
down. at so much expense, by the Barbor Com
missioners, and upon the integrity Of which the
value of our harbor so much depends Rather
Jet the Legislature order the Commissioners of
the Land Office to take possession of the Battery,
on account Of the State. The latter granted it
to the city for free pleasure-ground forever,
making peryerson Of from that purpose work
a reycrsion to the State. That it has been
20 perverted is patent to all. About 200 feet
have been taken of its northerly end to widen
Battery place, and make Vanderbilt pier feasible.
This space has been paved with Belgian blocks
at the Corporation cost, and is now used as q
freight leyee by Vanderbilt 81 Co. George Law
has 200 feet on the other end by grant of the
Common Council, and runs q rent.free ferry from
il, in defiance of the feeble efforts Of the Con-
roller to the contrary. IL is ceary the intention
of these money kings to eventually partition the
Battery between them, unless they are checked
by the strong hand. No such restraint will, in
all probability, be- imposed upon them here, and
therefore do we advise the Commissioners Of the
Land Office to restore the property to the
State without delay.