The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-11-18

Important Report Of q Herald
Commission.
The Docks DilaPidated and
Dangerous.
CONDITION OF THE BROOKLYN PIERS.
&c. DC. &c.

The subject Of the defective condition Of the wharves
and piers Of New York having 70 prominence
within the past fw days consequence Of the proceed
ings Of tho Senate Committee in the matter, an in.
specton and report ordered for the HERALD and the
result will be found below.
II would DO well TO remark In advance that careful
examination OF the wharyes and piers OF this city
veloped more startling stale OF affairs than most
persons imagined Taking the piers the East river
examples, IL will be by the statement elsewhere
tina seventy there not dozen III for
Indeed 1t is doubtful If board Of inspectors appointed
with power do, would not order sixty-six Of the
seventy TO be discontinued using until they are ro-
pared rebuilt. II the danger existed only for
property there would be loss importance attached TO
the subject bu, the of losing lite many that
prudence alone would render change Tor tho better
desirable.
The following report gives the condition OF the piers
1t when they xamned They ahe piers)
are taken in rotation commencing with No. l. foo. OF
Whitehall street, and sendin9 with No. 70, foot OF
Eleventh street.
Pens Nos. and 2, loot Of Whitehall street. are used
landings for the boats and for tho bargcs be
longing to tho government Although they appear to
be olerably good condition from the shore, they are
very defective The beams and pillars rotten and
holes in the flooring bat sufficiently large rs 10
endanger lite.
Per No g. at the foot OF Moore street. Is In toerablo
condition. Tho supports appear to DO In good order
excepting some few rotten beam, which, IL permitted
10 remain will endanger entire front portion Of the
structure.
Pier No T. between Moore aud Broad Streets is In very
bad order All the supports rotten, and have given
way or two pla es tho flooring is loose In conse
quenco OF the rotten beams failing 10 hold the nails
Pier No. 6, between Broad and Coentes slips, Is in
tolerably good condition.
Pier No. O. between Morris and Es srcets has been
rcnoored but the piles and beams rotten, and the
entire structure is likely TO fall in When examined
there several vessels loading and unloading At this
pier. aud the flooring covered with merchandise.
Pier No. is In very good condition. The beams and
Supports nre strong and the flooring Is perfect
Tho aoorings Of piers Nos. and 10 are In good
condition, but tho beams and piles beginning TO rot
The lcssces appear to have reloored tho
structure time. without repairing tho founds
ton, the consequence Is that the floors about
float upon the water. Neither OF these piers should
be used for mercantile purposes. At present heavy
loads Of merchandise constantly them aud tho
weight Of these resting upon the rckety piers cannot
fail TO add 10 their already weak condition.
Pier No. II Is not good order. Tho abut.
monts have started and tho beams and supports sre
rotten and are giving way. An examination under this
pier showed that key to fall In at any limo II
appears passaby well from the flooring but this arises
from the fact that little attention has been paid TO
the top, while the most important parts have been
entirely neglected.
Per No u is in about tho same condition as the ono
last described
Pier No Is barely In tolerabs order few m ,nths
af uasra nd n viii bn In aaune con n
a. those mentioned above Some Of the beams roed
through and through and tho piles have greatly decsyed
Tho abutments however, In GOOD order. and with
little trouble the structure can DO placed In safe
condition.
Psrs Nos IL is and 10 can be written down .. In fair
order Il 10 true that the beams and piles have com
menced TO ROT, and the abutmepts Of No 10 not
strong; but those dangers are nsutrazed 10 some
measure by the compact manner In which the piers
were originally erected. Tho beams and pIiss arc
numerous and what they lack in quality 10 made up in
quantity The flooring OF each IL In good Order with
perhsps small hole hero and there - an eIoepson
per No II is rapidly decsyins Tho entire fouDds.
ton 10 rotten although tho flooring appears In good
order close inspection Of this pier from the water
revealed the fact that majority Of the plies arv in tho
Last stage Of decay The wood eaten through, and Ia
many instances The portions resting In tho bed Of the
river am entirely severed from the tops which support
Pssr No IS Is In very bad order The foundation Is
unrclabIe the beams and piles being rotten and tho
abuments having partially started The flooring ID
laid finding no support from the beams on which
they rest A the wagons roll over the nooriag tbs
whole structure ,ppear. 70 shake
described In the foregoing paragraph Notwithsa
tho evidently dangerous state o. the structure Is still
being used for shipping purposes ana heavy
loads Of merchandise ara constantly resting on the
patched flooring
holes and The abu,msnts have commenced to starr The
beams and pler however, have the appearance OF being
ain sound and strong
Pier No a. foot Of hurting slip and sdjoin iag the
right hand side d the Fulton Ferry HOUSE, In most
wretched condition IL perfect disgrace b the city.
feet has fallen nd is now benesih the water Ihs
portion yet above the surface Is stu used and per-
fect Ssn trap" The beams and supports ere rotten.
the flooring full OF holes, and the ire vreck-for II
nothing eise-of the structure n In nj peril Of
being washed away BY the strength % The waves
Pier No a. foot OF Fulton street. IA In very bad order
Tho flooring full OF hocs the supports rotten aud
have gwen way IN one or vo places and the whole pier
No az ao ~ n 's rss -sss
good order. The foundation work is becoming rotten
aud tho structure canno, last much longer. when
araned there werc three large ships aside Of This pier
and tho nooring was heavily lad o with iron bars and
merchandise.
Pier No "a 70 In fair order, although some Of the
Piers Nos 70 and 20. foot Of Peck slip, are IN good
condition. they are used BY the New Haven sseamsbip
Company, and appear 70 BE- kept repaired
Pier No II ~ IN vsry good order.
Per No ~ full Of holes and Is most dangerous N
ne and limb The eesms and suppors are rotten, tho
several places In consequences - the supports giving
way
per No ~ 10 perfect wreck. over onehaif has
already gwen cay. and nothing remains nut few
solitary posts rising above the water The portion now
above the water 10 ricksty and likely 81 tall 81 any
moment The flooring N full Of hoie~. and the besna
% rotten that they appear n float on The waller,
rather than 70 rest upon solid foundation.
PER No 40 only b termed ocsiled (" for except
few beams and post there IL nothing 70 tell that such
Q structure erisied
Pier No. 81 10 used az . Dumping ground, and 10 IN
issntaby bed order Everything about this pier sssms
70 10 rotten
Pier No "a foot Of James slip and adjoining the ferry
house IL In bad order The flooring II full Of holea
beams and supports tho stages of decay
and the sbutments have starred
Pier No a. loot ~ Oliver street, has partially given
WAY tho end tins abusmenx have started, and every
thins shout II 10 miserable.
Piers Nee ~ aud -. foo Of Catherine etrret srr IN
nns osder Taey sscd by the Br dssTor ss.sutD&l
company and are kspt thoroughly reTsirrd
Ptrko ~ - beng rebuilt a. present 10Th no re-
msins VI " bur the front part u the ~ the ID
sucture and which, from arnnecs II being rrpIed
mp g. receive he bes portion. " this " done the pis
VII Always Be unssfe