New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-09

The footing Of these figures are thus:
Rents collected IN six si0t5I 92
Repairs paid for IN SIX years yo'4i1 ~
Eetincorne OF six .S2i,I7G -
This committee in session in this city in the Autumn Of
1906 SAID in their report made IN January 1857, that not
single r owned by the city, unless those leased TO aud
occupied exclusively by ferries steamships, railroads, or
some corporation nrn VINO, by neglect or against 'N,
exercise absolute or entire control * either cOnmodous
or ssc The rates wharfage neither pad interest ON The
value ~ the property nor kept the structures ~ Tep
and consequently general revision ard col troll OF both
tho structures and their use seemed Imperative
and demanded prompt attention. They found 10
soilorranIzed administration Of law ord-
nance controlling or directing this immense prop
erty Tic slips were fast nlng up from the sewers
Of the city, nua the public health endau gcred by the filth
mar testers therein They found the streets bordering
'be bulkhcals ohstucted, narrow, and entirely IN
adequate The proper delivery aud discharge OF mer
cboialse our Wharyes sCicr continual drainage
nom tine sewers, many OK which discharge az the buk
head r0ngte street nc and thus deposit the silt on the
bottom Of he slips. The amount Of solid matter thus
bere 10 ,,ae many ~ the slips there offensive t. health
"a well n.comfort, and also gradually diminish the
depth q water 20 alarming extent or which dredging
is an expansive aud insufficient remedy In the United
states Cjqst Survey Report of 1881 Lieut. Craven com
mcutcd su this obstruction as serious eN,
alps Where the sewer opens the head OF The slpg
This particular evil is diminishing by the changes intro
duccd by the Croton atcr Department. hat u would De
long boore the nccdu correction cOld thus be Effected
TO accomplish this needs grant Of adequate power,
other such is the official and public record Of
a water front 81 The commercial metropolis the queen
city OF America. such are ne accominodAlioh., 80
called which 10 affords 10 the millions Of tuns OF shipping
"a
not remain 10 be discovered or invented The Gtt OF
planning constructing docks mas been pracced long
I'M Europe. The chief cities there make the most
Of their natural advantages For more than half cen
fury q thorough system has prevailed among them In
Liverpool the docks desublc covering space OF 400
acres Of water along tue eis ana eAtenung h1I !ess
five miles side ~ the river and two miles on
miles Beside his the sci-Hau whSh protects me FHl
ping an immense work five miles long anu eleven feet
wdc AMI rising 20 feet from the bottom Owing 10 the
tides of New-York being less than half high those OF
Liverpool, equally ehcciual docks may be made here
with much lees work and material. and will not require
the guard or loek-eatcs Inc annual d0ck ana hght
dues received In Liverpool amount 20 about &OO0u00
and are little drawn for repair Of tho massive stone
masonry; while whole II miles OF 'front.' yields scarcely
100000 of yearly net income after dcductng the eS-
pcnses OF pcrpctualy mendiug the poor woodwork The
growth of brkenhtad, from neghboihood OF o. lhhhD-
tants 10 town OF q 2j In 1851 period OF SO years,
Is mainly owing It's excellent docks built since ls24
London has several extensive ana perfect docks.
Among tlVHl. tie West India Docks were completed IN
lsO1 The docks OF London occupy about 1000 acres OF
vessels Of the largest draft They consist OF series OF
basins connected with the Thames by locks are CON
sructed OF masonry, and are surrounded by spacious
warehouses. some OF the warehouses IN the London
docks stand The waters edge, and goods can BE-
transferred directly between the lofts OF the buildings
and the holds Of vessels, without using the quay, ana
without carriage. our Atlantic Dock aud projected Erie
Basin follow these nome eNtnptS % ~ frahce, tho
harbors OF MarHeilos Hayre T0uon and Bouogne have
ample and substantial docks for their shipping. In this
country the city OF Boston supports and encourages com.
by furnishing excellent wharyea, and constantly
receives the reward Of te enterprise In that rd and
It evident that while that port u preferred to ours by
reason Of its superiority IN that respect we stead
citation OF New-York, impressed with the import
OF a reform In our wharf system. carly in
the Summer of last year took active steps prepare the
way Tor sanitary change by causing accurate surveys
and COlorcd maps TO be made OF the water front OF New
York and Brooklyn, showing the exact state OF every
wharf bulkhead ana pier; All the laws aHecung the
waterfront were examined and cOlated and opinions Of
eminent Jurs taken TO the present ghsof tho state,
the city, and private parties The Association laid be-
fore the Senate Committee, the Autumn OF 1866,
nised the draft bill to create Board Commission
WharVes and Piers, which was introduced into the
Isata of hV lint dc
feated in the Assembly by corrupt combination OF
parties having private interest IN the existing abuses OF
our local government. THE NETWORK TRIBUNE, in
commenting upon the affair, said tho failure OF
the Wharf and Pier bill, through corruption, was
nothing less than q great public calamity New-Iork
is the commercial metropolis not only OF the
state but Of the nation receiving more tha2
shipping more than half OF all our Xports ana yet pos
sessing he most disgracefgl and diapldated system OF
wharf and pier accommodation, causing vast losses In
the landing and transfer OF goods, and repeng instead
Of attracting trade. Every pound OF tea coffee, every
DuhC or grn the and producer an added
TAX on account OF the waste aud injury Occasoned by de-
fectiye wharf accommodations The whole state suffers
cause, and the canal revenues impaired to serious
amount That Association desires again 10 agtate tho
treasures which may result from the present meeting
The wharf property and rights IN this city are held by
the City Corporation alone others owned by the Corpora
ION aud pary by individuals, others owned exclusively
by individuals, Others where the structure is upon land
under water owned by the state. The chief plans hth
eo suggested First: The sale at auction OF all the
wharf property Of tho city Corporation Second: The
quire wharf rights, and with obligations TO
taDnsh and maintain proper structures, AS
In the case OF railroad companies. such
Wharf Company TO take the dockage as profits on its
capital. Third: The establishment Of Commission ap
pointed by the Governor OF the State or the Mayor OF the
Guy with authority To sell or lease for long terms the
wbaryes which owned by the city, and ample power
70 regulate the structure, condition and use OF the
wharves and rates OF Wharfage This latter plan alone
received The support OF the Citizens Association. It's adj
vantages have an illustration In the Liverpool Docks,
which are under the control Of Public Board organized
by act OF Parliament.
The object OF this meeting Is 10 place the matter fully
before tie public and to initiate renewed aud vigorous
movement In It's behalf In conclusion, Mr. Tracy said:
let the access OF shipping TO our shore DO perfect, and
the future Of New.YOrk IL secured
Al the conclusion OF Mr.. Tracys remarks. which were
greeted with applause Mr.. WM Il. DODGE, President VI
the Chamber OF Commerce, observed that II We
were enjoying our normal condition Of prosperity
The system OF wharyes and piers which disgraccs
THIS the thrd commercial cltyOr the world would be
unbeaIabe Saying nothing of our present needs, the
great future Of Ncw-lOrk demands better ncl-
iucs Tor the operations OF commerce. We have