The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-05
BROOKLYN IMPROVEMENTS.
The Gowanus Canal-WhGt Has Been Ac.
cOmplis ed Towards Increasing Its
Capacity--Ihe Brooklyn Tmproye-
ment Company Reciaiming the
Marskes-Adal ionai Dock
age Facilities.
age Facilities.

prosperity OF South Brooklyn, and is at the same
time, source OF annoyance to many citzens or that
district who have been and are stA frequently
subjected to much Inconvenience and delay occa-
stoned by the turning OF the bridge over which the
city cars pass at Hamilton AVENUES a stream of
water which finds It's source IN Gowanus Bay and
Its terminus at Douglass street. running inland for
distance OF about 5000 feet On the banks OF the
canal are numerous extensive coal yards, brick
yards, saw mills lumber yards and potIeries
for the manufacture OF drain pipes, besides
other works This is. inaeed. the great
avenue OF approach for all materials used
IN building which como to this section OF the
city. and allows the dealers along that line to COM
pete successfully with others who have to pay much
higher rates for Transportation. 1t could not be
better situated for the promotion OF the building
interests OF that section OF the city than at present
There are thousands OF acres or land stretching
away to the eastward which Will at no far distant
day doubtless be built upon, as may be observed
from the work already SO auspiciously inaugurated
on some OF the streets leading out Prospect Park
The brick, lumber, brown stone, lime, &C., which s
noated up through this canal can OF course
be readily oaIted at Q greatly reduced
cost TO the site selected for building. Notwlth.
standing these apparent advantages the canal was
opposed by many Old residents OF that side OF the
city as a nuisance, which ought to be abolished, and
lt was contemplated Of one time to ill 1T up with
earth But che better Judgment OF those interested
In It's constituency prevailed and the Legislature in
$780, passed an act authorizing the improvement OF
G0wanus Canal and the work was entrusted to the
supervision OF the following named gentlemen,
appointed commissioners tor that purpose:
Kab1eisch, Mayor; Thomas A. Gardiner, County
Treasurer; Cornelius Dryer, w. H. Harris, Domlni-
Gus S. voorhees,, Chauncey NJ Felt, Frank p.
Bunker, william d. Yeeder, w. NJ. Thomas ana
James II. Watson. Some OF these gentlemen are
property owners along the canal. The amount
originally fixed to be expended on the work was
$3.50 900. within which limit the bonds OF The city
were 10 have boon issued as required. TWAS found,
however, as the work progressed that serious lr-
rier had to oe overcome in order TO permit tue tide
ana also allow vessels of greater draught TO navi-
gate. The obstacle IN question was sandbar which
extended across the mouth OF the canal and out into
the bay for about 1000 feet To remove this oOstruc
tion vast amount OF dredging was requisite, and
OF course o further outlay oil money was necessi-
tated, application for which latter was made to the
Legislature last session. when authority to raise
S350,000 more was granted In the same manner as
before.
Upon its completion It II provided that the money
thus laid out Will be charged by the city upon the
property benefited rs local assessment.
The assessment Tor the work, which s to extend
over period OF twenty years, is made chargeable
upon ae properly ns On en ss sac OF me canal
twentieth per annum. IL therefore becomes no tax
upon the city whatever; but on the contrary, as 1t
has increased private property In value along the
wharyes at least toniOld 1t has also added TO the
assessed valuation Of estate and become thereby
O sourse OF revenue to the city.
Tho work has progressed most favorably and
nearly four thousand feet frontage OF dockage has
been built. 1t has been deepenea at the mouth Per-
cval street. to twelve feet at low water, which gives
a depth OF seventeen feet at hi0h tide. AT the ter
minaton, Douglass street, the depth at low water is
now seven Feet Win twelve ieet AZ hlga water me
The width Of the canal at PeroIval street is 300
uotn s1.l,.
100 feet and continues at about that width up far
as Douglass street. 1t Is spanned by five Bridges.
Tho first bridge crossing IL Is wooden structure
at Hamilton avenue. over which the Court street
ana Fort Hamilton line OF cars are constantly
passing. Tie funerals all cross oy this route going
TO ana returning from Greenwood Cemetery. Delay
Is frequently caused by the turning OF this bridge
which latter is nccessitated to allow schooners and
soops 10 pass by 1t Is this circumstance which has
so greatly melted dlspeasure and complaint against
the Gowanus Canal among those who have had to
wait for the bridge to come round.
About 1000 feet above the avenue-four bOcks-is
the Nnth street bridge where the Coney Island horse
cars cross. The next Dridge-which cost $685. 00o-ts
soners OF the Third street Improvement. 1t Ia
a handsome though light structure, and Is much
of the new park, owing to the 1ne pavement LAID
on Third street. tine UNIFORM arrangement OF trees
and the plentiful distribution OF lamps which are
set at III distance, and at night add considerably
to the pleasure OF the drive by the brilliant ilumina
tion winch they afford. Four blocks, or loo feet
more, Is the fourth bridge, at Carroll street, fine
modern structure, while two blocks further on is
the Union street bridge, which is built OF iron
and cost $4,000. the abutments and centre
pier are of stone leaving thrty-lour feet width
OF draw on either side or the centre pier.
From this point the canal runs three blocks further
10 Its termination. Previously the average depth of
the water at low tide moi over two fee. and a
half. The consequence was that In many places the
bottom, fllod with decomp0sed animal and yege-
table matter when exposed to the sun emitted a
deadly miasma, which spread its Injection on every
side, creating very haa sanitary record Tor South
This can longer occur now that the bottom has
been cleansed and deepened ana the tide ebDs and
hows from the mouth TO me terminus OF the cnanne..
Originally there was creek running up to Fourth
street. The owners OF the adjoining land In 1851 had
IL converted into canal and extended up to
Douglass street. The facing or the canal where /,
was Intended to be docked, was in many places
imperfecty constructed, and the tendency OF tue
adjacent meadows being to wash mud into the canal
at stormy seasons, the result was that the latter
SO CHECKED AS 10 DO practically useless, excep. at
high water for navigation, Tor about Two hours
day when the tide was high and the water increased
to seven or eight feet. There was sewer at
the waters, and leaving deposits In the bed which
has now been connected with the mains enptylag
into the East river greater depth ID now given at
low tide than heretofore at high water thereby null
tiplying the facilities Tor transportation by eight
times The district for which the assessments VIII
be levied to reimburse the city for Its bonds issued
for this work extends 200 feet back from the canal
on either side.
The streets leading to tile canal which in many in
stances were closed 10 the water FOR dock purposes
and used as private property, have since been
opened TO the pubic, according 10 the provisions
ChACtel ny tue legislature
THE BROOKLYN IMPROVEMENT COMPANY.
This body winch was incorporated By the state
legislature last year, has performed much needed
work in South Brooklyn towards retaining the low,
marshy ground bordering the canaland Ia adding TO
the enlargement OF the sphere OF usefulness or the
latter. Three slips broad canals have been com.
menced and are now far advanced toward compile
ton, one leading from Gowanus canal up Fourth
street runs to Third avenue. IL s 100 feet wide II
feet deep at low water and 10 feet at high
of wharf front, leaving ample room for
dozen canal boats TO discharge cargo OF q
time Tie other branches, 657 feet each, leave
the canal at Seventh aud at Sixth streets aud ter
inmate at Sixth avenue. The excavations for the
two last are nearly completed. Tue foundations for
the construction OF these docks are made by driving
piles Ia the meadow at intervals OF eleven feet from
each other. The piles driven eighteen feet into
the SOIL as to pass through the strata OF mud and
get firm hold in the hard clay underlying 1t. The
creation OF these docks abolshes Fourth and Fifth
street roads between the G0wanus canal and
Third avenue. The mud dredged from the canal,