New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-10-07
Revolution in the Present System Of
Wharves.
Review Of the History Of New.
York Piers.
THE PLANS SUGGESTED.

OF New.York have long becn inadequate Doth IN char
acter and extent to supply the needs OF our shipping
interests and In the steady increase OF our commerce.
which the transient impediments inerposed by the re-
cent National struggle only TO have inspired win
renewed vgor-in the rapid growth in population ana
trade and In the gradual certain OF those
metropolitan characteristics which stamp this port as
the Empire City OF the Western World-those accom-
mod ations must every year become more painfully den
Gent This sub ect has occupied the State and unic
pal authorities for period OF nearly thirty years.
Plans for improved piers have been earnestly solicited
and though many have been suggested all' with Que
exception have hitherto failed to secure approval The
reason Of this failure that oil the Plans with TIC
single exception indicated involved one or the other OF
two general principles Of constructing; i. "ais OF
masonry. as at Liverpool projecting from the shore
into the waterway H. Enclosed excayated basins as
at London extending from the shore into the city.
The nsuperable objection to the first OF these plans
WINS that piers Of solid would operate US pafta
dams across the rivers and by ohstrueng the now Oh
water round the city an accumulation OF hn!
denos of our ers not only the serious detrment
of tho health OF the city, but also to the eventual hng 10
Of the harbor thus running the natural advantages wbich
ne vet remain These are indeed. the main objections to
our present system Of wooden piers switch howover are
fortunately temporary in their character while the con-
sructon of stone whaves would be permanent obstruc
,ions. and would perpctuato all the present evils.
To the other plan, OF ncoscd eIcavatcd basins there
were objections equally insuperable. New'fork Is
already felt to bo unfortunately shaped the extreme
narrowness Of the island which II Is but permitting
OF scarcely enough arteries for the natural flow OF life
and business from end to the other The deep and
numerous ipdcntations which would have to be made
| iaffon Of Our
on this London PLAN would to reduce our already
.eanty breadth TO an unbearnbe degree by the destruc
ton of avenues and horoughres which are at present
found 10 DO inadequate
II will thus be seen that the difficulties In the way OF
improying our system Of piers by no means in
considerable and the announcement that an entirely
new plan has at length been adopted which promises
not only TO eventually surmount oil these objections,
bnt perhaps to effect complete revolution in the en-
tire system Of wharf and dock structures. must be
matter Of profound interest to al who have the pros
periiy Of the American metropolis at heart Before
considering the new PLAN however. II Will be well 10
glance at our present system Of piers In order that we
NAV the more clearly appreciate the extent and nature
Of the revolution which will be shortly inaugurated by
| practical experiments
THE PIERS VOW IN USE
IRE on the primitive plan introduced by the Dutch up
ward Of two hundred years ago, md consist of long,
bare narrow wooden floors running out into the water
way. and supported by wooden piles driven into the
bed Of the rivers by wooden curbwork filed In with
stones The water the spaces or basins between the
piers thus projecting at right angles from the shore
and parallel with each other Is thus rendered In a
measure siagndn and as the slips are the recep'aces
Of the sewerage Of the city constant pna e1penS"
work Of dredging has to be carried to keep them of
sufficient depth for the entrance and egress Of loaded
vessels.
Moreover the piles rot away very fast new piers are
being built and diapidated ones repaired almost every
day; and still the piles driven down but few
inches npart s the sediment OF the great city drifts
in between forming breakwatcrs OF filth and still the
cesspoos form between the piers frothng with pcsti
enta, scum and black with all manner Of noisome cor
rup,on and ath.bree ling filth. Most Of our Jen'
Ikpses." in speaking graphically OF New-York. have
uey Of conjuring up tho ghost Of old IIcndrck
Hudson and 20 IL iqto spams Of rhetoric as to what
the Ion defupct navigator would hck II he could now
sail up the river which bears his name. a. &c d'o IN
olden times, when the bshaped prov OF his gaiot
first parted the waters Of the virgin stream. They
dwell upon the amazement which Trinity spirc
would cause In his SOUL and are in measure awed and
nplussed by the tumultuous emotions which would
gle Of tho many.wallcd manifold chin
noycd. mast iorcstcd island mart in con
trast with the peaceful, Indan.hauned
groves which greeted his living gaze. But there is one
thing which old Hendrck would be quite familiar with
our docks and piers. Their extent might surprise
| him. their hum and creakng might disturb his equa
nimy In degree; but their fashion would revive the
memories OF the land he left behind him. As erst
through the sluggish waters OF the Zuyder Zee his
clumsy keel would glide through the stagnant waters
between the rickey. Shiny piers, parting the green
scum Of the sewers and pushing Its way through the
floating earcases OF dogs and cats, the old stencil
would psrmeate bis nostrils. the same old wharfrats
would fit his vision and he would have the cargo
OF his vessel discharged In the OLD way perhaps
with the Improvement OF and hauled away
to distant warehouses with the same old expense OF
carriage and 'ongshoremen. Hendrck would certainly
be at home on the docks and would doubtless oice to
see the facilities OF perpetuated in the good
old Dutch style.
BIT our present naygators and ship ow ners DO not
like the piers 50 we'll They have to subsait to DELAYS
and nconvenienccs which are often seriously detri
mental 10 their interests and would gladly pay largely
increased OF wharfage for better and more civil
lied accommodations.
CIRCUMSTANCES
against the continuation Of the present system Of piers
have been loud and frequent On March o. 1863 the
Committee Of the Board Of Aldermen Of the City on
Wharyes. Piers. and Slips submitted to that body
report urging the adoption OF some new plan say.
ing;
is 1t not worse than criminal to permit nny TO an.
thorze and direct the building OF structures from the
shores OF the Island into the stream which are positive
distinctions to tho navigation OF the ndacent