The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-01-06

MANAGEMENT Of tho New York Piers and
The ruinous condition Of our piers and
wharves is not only disgrace to city like
New York, but If suffered to continue, threatens
serious injury to our commerce. A cores
pendent, who is thoroughly conversant with
the subject, suggests that the remedy lies in
raising the rates Of wharfage to an amount
sufficient to enable the owners and lessees to
rebuild or repair the docks and keep them In
good condition. He holds that the present
rates are altogether too low, and argues that if
fair amount of wharfage could be collected
it would be to the interest Of the owners to
make the required improvements.
The subject is one Of much Importance and
will claim the attention Of the Legislature at
its present session. Whether any comprehen-
sive scheme of city reform will be perfected at
Albany this winter is doubtful, in view Of the
approaching Constitutional Convention, where
the work can be more directly and completely
done. The public interests demand that the
control and supervision Of our wharves and
piers should be in the hands Of commission.
They should not be farmed out at a nominal
sum to any private corporation, but should be
made source Of income to the city. The
Warehouse and Dock Company, chartered At a
former session, and now applying for additional
powers and privileges, Is one Of those private
speculations Of which the city has already felt
the cost Itshould meet with no encourage
ment whatsoever from the present Legislature.
It is simply scheme Of ring Of lobbymen
to enrich themselves ct the cost Of the taxpay-
ers. The city has right to make all she can
out Of her wharves and piers consistent with
that liberality toward commerce which has
always distinguished her. Ills evident that the
present rates Of wharfage are too low, consid-
ering present prices for labor and material, to
warrant the owners and lessees in expending
much money on the repairs Of the docks
This evil should be at once remedied. The
rates can be raised without any additional
cost to shippers, provided they are at the
same time protected against the impositions 10
which they are now subjected. There are
at present harbor masters, and pilot and
harbor commissioners, and others claiming
authority on the docks, by most Of
whom the shippers are subject to all sorts of
charges, legal and illegal The Legislature
can make some reforms, If they do not inau-
gurate thorough and permanent system of
relief They can repeal the laws relating to
the Pilot Commissioners, place proper restric-
tons upon the Harbor Masters, raise the wharf
age fees to fairly remunerative amount, and
appoint at least q temporary commission to
see that the necessary repairs are made and
that the interest Of the city is protected in this
valuable property. They can also repeal all
charters granted to any monopoly by former
Legislatures and leave the city wharves and
piers open to competition. The necessity for
reform is so pressing that the city cannot afford
to await the action OF the Constitutional Con-
vention, and If the Legislature will study the
interests Of the people instead Of those Of any
private corporation, they can do much at the
present session to secure an immediate re-
moval Of the most pressing Of the evils under
which commerce is now suffering at his port.