New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-01-07

city alone has right to terminate If the wharye. shall be
required for public purposes Other wharyes are leased
the city The city alone resume possession for the
purpose OF public Improvement or other public use
mention this fact Of great importance The average
annual expense of rebuilding and repairing the wharyes
present OF wharfage and dockage established by
The State Legislature are SO low that lessee cannot not
estimated value OF the wharf property. The power to
rebuild and improve and he power 70 establish rates
body. II this Joint power should be exercised with
from the piers would pay the interest on the value Of the
property and the cost Of Improvement and leave con-
Of sH h s OF in the end
would yield large sum toward paying the general eh
lowing plan, which is, in my Judgment as practical and
1t win be recolected that all rents Of wharves and
pers and all proceeds OF sales thereof belong TO the
Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund. The Commission Is
made up OF the Mayor the Controller and City Chamber
LAIN the Recorder the Chairman Of the Finance Com.
mttee OF the Board OF Aldermen, and the Chairman OF
the Finance Committee Of the Board Of Councilmen 1t
represents therefore, the Executive and Finance Depart
ments of the city, the Judiciary and both Boards OF the
Common Council. propose that the Commissioners OF
tho sinking Fund together with three persons to be APP
pointed by the Mayor, shall constitute a Board OF
Wharves and Piers. suggest this addition OF three per
to be appointed by the Mayor because 10 will enable
him 10 have representation IN the Board. OF the COM
mercla interests, and Of men OF practical knowledge ana
thus constituted should have the entire charge and con
troll of all the wharves and piers belonging to the CITY
1t should be authorized to make and adopt general sys
OF improv and to il into execution ana
operation To this end IL should have power TO expenu
tie necessary moneys under such limitation as the
Legislature may prescribed to be raised upon bonds 70
be Issued authority OF the Common Council IL should
have power the wharves and piers the rents IN
all to be paid. now into the Sinking Fund.- ana
IL should also have power 10 fix the rates OF wharfage ana
dockage In all These general suggestions cover
my plan. The details OF IL need not be stated In TINS
message. II only be objected TO by those who seek
to attain the object by new Metropolitan Distfct
Commission (which venture TO say ia now mpossibe or
by interested parties, who having some personal emu 10
attain, will oppose any plan. with which they are not
Immediately connected have thrown out these sug-
gesons, because satisfied that the great work can
only be accomplished as public work see no reason
to believe that absolute sale OF the pier property 10
individual would the result we all desire
much The socalled private piers in this city, are but
little any, better than those belonging to the city the
best piers have those which occupied excu-
sivey by essees for their business These lessees
But this great commercial city needs general improve
ment upon general plan, and there must be, a satls
fed public plan carried into operation by public a-
thory. The present rates OF wharfage Will not justify
the erection OF rscass piers either by the CITY, or Dy
private IL the city sets the example OF improve
ment which have suggested, and the Board be author
zed fix the OF wharfage there can be no doubt
that private will soon make equal improvements,
as they could well do under the increased rates.
In my last annual called the attention OF the
Common Council TO the propriety OF extending Ffthaye,
through square, and then widening Larens
to West Broadway Also TO the extension OF centre
ST. to Lafay ette place. which connects with fourtbaye
These suggestions received attention from the Com.
mon Council OF 1861 | trust your honorable body VIII
JOHN T. HOFFMAN. Mayor