New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-10-07

this self criticism OF one Of the branches OF tho city
Government have charged upon the municipal authori
ties the failure to mako suitable wharf dock accom-
modatons The following extraot from their memorial
will show the present condition Of our piers:
"Of the piers and "a bukheads on the East River
from Pier No. to Tenthst there were reported: IN
good ORDER end Of pier broken down. Is needing gen.
eraI REPAIRS IA requiring partial rebuilding ID re-
curing entire rebuilding; GA dirty needing cieanlng
81 with holes IN pankng; a planklne needing pacI
10 foundation partly broken and settled; Is foundation
decayed and rotten Of the "a docks and bulheads on
the North River from the Battery TO Iwentysseona,
st.: 2 ore new; In good orders In fair order; 81
dirty, needing cleaning; IL holes In pankng; - plank
ing needing patching planking worn out; part OF
pier settled foundation partly broken ana settieu
foundation decayed and rotten end OF pier broken
down; needing general repairs; requiring parnai
rebuilding; requiring entire rebuilding.
THE RESPONSIBILITY.
These limitations against the municipal authorities,
however cannot BIO altogether justified, inasmuch rs,
in the erection piers they subject to great
tions imposed by the State. while. at the same time,
the Legislature assumes the right OF prescribing the
rates of wharfage which have been fixed so low as to
prevent the erection Of costly structures and neither Is
exactly foir to contrast our piers with those OF LV
erpool London, Antwerp and Amsterdam. where the
charges are far heavier for the increased dock facilities
For example, the expenses Of ship of 1000 tuns enter
ing and clearing from London are $780, from Liver
pool e. 800; from Antwerp $780, from Amsterdam
81. 100; while from New York they are only $40
Neither can the State be made wholly responsible for
the existing system Of piers. as the whole matter d.
recty concerns the collection Of the national revenues
threefourths Of which are derived from this port Inc
General Government is therefore. deeply and directly
interested In whatever concerns the commercia acii
ties of NewYork and under the broad constitutional
provision authorizing the regulation OF commerce ana
collecting Of mposts Congress could assume cohtfo Oh
this whole question: the commercial States OF Europe
have done aud erect suitable structures for the accom-
mediation Of the commerce Of its principal city
THE NEW SYSTEM.
But wherever the responsibility for the present mser'
n5le oontrivances may rest the public will not be the
less reoiced to learn that influential company has
been chartered by the Legislature with the privilege
of building six piers, on entirely novel principle
which promises to effect radical changes In our system
Of wharf structures and to eventually girdle the Amer
icon metropolis with grand chain Of Improvements
Of great value.
The new plan originated with J. Burrows HYDE esq,
Of this city, The piers will be 500 feet long and 100 feet
wide supported iron tubular columns thereby per
hitting free flow OF the water currents under them
and around and between tho columns that support
them
THE COLUMNS
will vary from two and half to six feet In diameter
according the depth Of the bed of the stream and tue
weight with which each will be burdened. 1t Is pro- |
posed to Ill these hollow columns with concrete, or
what Is called Roman cement, which was used IN al
the great architectural works Of ancient Rome his
was for many years lost art but was redscoyered BY
an English antiquarian who introduced 1t into genera
use In modern engineering II capable OF hardening
under water hard the most solid granite WITHIN
30 days after its submerson that il the iron should
be gradually eaten away by o1ydizaton' there would
still be left the concrete columns to support the src-
ture. as durable adamant
The WAREHOUSES.
The piers thus supported are to have erected upon
them iron warehouses thus bringing the storage ana
shipping 10 close contact These warehouses are 10 De
five stories high the first story to be open on all Sides
and to consist of the oor deck Of the pier which
TO be provided with cartways. and to be used for the
discharge Of such cgrgoes as are 70 be taken away
Immediately while the upper stories are to be inclosed
and provided with hosting apparatus, elevators etc.
where goods can be stored.
Each pier will thus be crowned by an imposing
structure. par!itionod off into ten warehouses,
each Al by &c feet. Each pier or collection OF
warehouses will be provided with five powerful steam
engines. which will work the hosting machines aud
also the purposet Of fre.cngine to protect the
structures the shipping in the harbor and the adjacent
pn,ldinrs The entrance to the piers will DO provided
with gates aftcr tho manner OF the present ferry
bridges These can DO closed at night and the piers
in the charge II watchmen thus efectually secured
from the thieves who now nfest open piers and
wharves.
THE ADVANTAGES OF THE NEW PIERS.
The advantages Of the system are manifest and
important
In "a sanitary point Of view. the Improvement will be
almost inconceiyablc DR.. Swinburne. Health Officer
Of the port of York. in commencing the adoption
Of the system Of Mr. Hyde, apurely sanitary meas
ure. says:
"Ihave e1aminined your drawings for iron piers and
warehouses combined and fully in the practical
by Of that system set forth for preventing the deposit
Il sewerage matter under and between such piers and
this eahnut b. effected except by plan that shall per-
NIT The mao oH Of the tide currents under the piers
and at right angles with the sewer outlets through the
bu khead walls"
Another advantage Is that our merchants viii be
saved he great expense to which they are now put in
shetering their goods on the open piers by means OF
tarpauns, and the security FROM loss by fire will also
be an enormous saving both to private parties, and to
the Government having dutiabe goods in bond while
the operations Of the gangs OF thieves, which now
iafest our wharyes. will be effectually stopped.
The bringing OF the warehouses, as il were, imme'
diaely alongside the shipping will also be an advan'