New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-15

Il q
since tie above report was made time and hard usage
hove breu eating away The rotten lumber Wtll now
many OF our piers only useless for any OF the or
binary purposes Of commerce but are GageIOus 70 o
and 10 nayicatOn The Citizens Association presented 70
Tho Senate Committee appointed 70 investigate the
matter of the Wharves and Piers OF tins city survey
made by its corps OF euginoors, showing by cOlOred
drawings the actual condition o. the wooden structures
skrting Mahattan island called by most ekut'oIalaII
courtesy harves and piers As We turn over te pages OI
the manuscript volumes containing these surveys we ste
sS@s ReGs sT0 qGYP m 9S SS
one side and others broken down in the CENTER IN otheI
places We see piles Of rock and few struggling logs and
fimbers-the remnants Of what II may De supposed were
once called wharveS and piers We see piers Struggling
20 stand. or to fan no one can zen III SOM
places with paukng fun Of holes and IN other places
with plaRlng at a-and not single per lHat Is SUIT
able for the demands OF commerce or mat Is nor I
behind The progress Of the age In other matters we nave
not rested content with the adyoncT made Dy our grand
Gathers Why shond We III TINS me present ZEN "a
wooden wharves aud piers In this city was mauguateo
about the wear 100 ana do not that we have made
any advance since that time IN either manner OF conse
tiOn materials. Let us look at the docks Oh Othet
T9Si and ycsf India docks. the Gondcn docks the ST.
KGtheines the Commercial and the Victoria docks Ihe
Tbey Occupy very many acres Of water space and afford
safe aud convenient shelter fOT thousands OF vessels OF
tide in the River these docks are necessary nom
The nature Of the case they are an ara IOf ns
Vessels They are connected with the THAMES by locks,
deptS These docks are buitn the most substantial man
ner ri the most solid masonry, aud are surrounded 10y
numerous and have greatly contributed TO the growth
and commerce Of the port The total water space Is
about POO acres and the entire dock estate about ~ acres
The river wall Of these docks Is five miles long,
while the Quays II miles in length These docks
arc also constructed OF solid masonry. In Liverpool
rhe warehouses do not generally belong 10 the
dock estate bat mostly private property.
Many are at q considerable distance from the
docks thus causing great Inconvenience 10
commerce. but this inconvenience has induced the con
sl1ctOH Of warehouses around many Of the docks At
Hayrc there three old docks basins, which can ac
rOmOdate vessels ana fourth constructed In 1892
larger than any of the others, and furnished with ware
houses OF the best kind fifth cock has been recently
completed FOR steamers At Marseles the harbor Il 2
basin the OF the city, 1850 yards long by about
yards in breadth Three extensive basins were con-
strlcied at Antwerp in 1908; they are capable on
admitting vessels Of the largest size which are en-
means OF eight canals At CherboTg, over $1,000 coo
fcnses. These accommodations for commerce have been
provided not only in the large cities Of Europe but even
the thirdrate cities IN our country have undertaken
similar works. Tie fact is that NewYor has the poor
wharvcs and piers IN the world The trade
trate here and this tendency 10 be opposing
rs many obstacles possible. Let Va take glance at
the rapid with which the process OF GENERALIZATION Is
going on In 1854 the imports and exports Of the United
States amounted 90 $536OO00OO Of which NewIOrk had
F27sOOO0OO while in 1906 the imports and exports OF tho
Iniled states amounted TO S7l O35 e33, OF which New
York had Sl29 O02 Should this process continue II will
not be many years before NewYork absorbs nearly tho
rBtre foreign trade OF country The following Stats
tics will give still further evidence Of the rapid increase
4 f,of ,rciq on ra1a az NJ