The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-06-24

Important Meeting Of the Depart
ment Of Docks.
The Public Voice in Regard to TIT
Wharyes and Piers.
PLANS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
INVENTIONS AND INNOVATIONS.


INVENTIONS AND INNOVATIONS.
The new Department OF Docks held public meet
ing yesterday afternoon for the purpose OF hearing
the views Of those Interested in desrous seeing
improvements the water front ana the establish
ment OF permanent wharf accommodations. The
meeting, which was largely attended by solid men,
was held at the rooms OF the Department, Nos SAG
and S4s Broadway, the following Commissioners
being present:-John I. Agnew, President; Wilson
G. Hunt, Hugh Smith, William Wood and Richard M,
Henry. Among the audience were Messrs. Peter
Cooper, Charles II. Haskell and a host OF heaven
born inventors, each one OF whom FIRMLY believed
himself to be the destined instrument in the hands
OF Providence to regenerate riparian New York, and
that his plan was certainly one of Divine inspiration.
At least one would think this TO be the case from
the anxiety to be heard on the subject. Mr.. Agnew
stated the object Of the meeting ana said the COM
missioners desired full expression OF opinion on
the subject, and that each plan presented would
have fair and strictly impartial consideration Of
its merits. He then called upon Judge Joseph +.
DAILY, newly elected TO the Court OF Common Pleas,
who made the following
PERTINENT REMARKS.
He said:-The popular confidence In this Board, It's
unexceptionable members, their experience non
partisan character and unpolltical bias ente it to
the earnest consideration OF all who desire To see the
needed improvements. The circumstances under
which they were appointed, being the beginning OF
reform In municipal government, the beginning OF
new era, where every function Of power IL TO be ap
Piled to the substantial benefit OF the governed There
was novelty also in the organization being
the first ever organized In the United States
which Is solely devoted to the working out OF sys-
TEN OF wharves-the appropriateness Of such dis
York, which Is conessedly the mercantile centre of
the Continent. She has monopoized nearly all the
European lines Of ocean transit and gathered nearly
all the internal sources or trade. She possesses
twenty miles Of river front, which needs no excava-
ton any preparation but the construction of
wharf to be available to commerce. She has the
finest natural facilities for shipping in the world.
1t is, perhaps, this ease and convenience which
have so far prevented US from having
good system OF wharves. The merchant needed
only to drive piles through the firm mud to the sand
bottom and place on them plank flooring to have
substantial pier, with depth Of water sufficient for
oil wants. The present style Of wharves has been
used in New York for over 200 years. Our mercan-
tile and dweling-hous architecture has improved
commercial navies OF the world have progressed
through successive stages; but we receive them at
the same kind OF piers we had for the Dutch
schOOners OF old Amsterdam.
Now. let us see on what suggestion your Board has
York have been condemned by ali authorities for
many years past. They are admitted to be, first,
Inadequate to the wants OF convenience; second,
and disastrous to commerce.
STATE OF DOCKS IN 1868.
In 1868 a committee Of the Boam of Aldermen
reported as fOllows:-
In marked conradstnction to the policy auhor-
mes he port that Of Almost every other
% s any %aae1n In h s o or wo
srves and piers thus stated in the report made to the
Whole number Of piers and Sush.sd. .... 1862
In order
H IN IA
Pankng needs patching ss
Need 70 Bs Wholly rebuilt
Need to be partially rebuilt
hi. Was igss and the condition our wlarve: and
eloquent in memory Of departed Oh
STATE IN 1865
Mr.. Cheney Ames, in q speech delivered in the
Senate April 4. 1866, said:-
These piers projecting stream being filled with
&: hs and TN
Of New YORK in such cases made and provided.
FIRST IMPORTANT MEETING.
In 1887 "a m meeting s Of al ca M TIC
Association was held at the Merchants Exchange,
at which it was
70 our commerce. The wharf and pier system Of this port
It,. s III far SsM s
%
that wSu T. be an honor TO our city and prove com
ing ample dock for the trade Of this
and have
most direct interest
REPORT OF SENATE COMMITTEE.
In 1857 committee OF the Senate appointed by
resolution Of that body to examine this subject re-
ported as follows to the Senate
New 0
Ds %s Be rGD ,s aid o Of Of
York not "a, single pier swnsd By it. unls.. .hSss
control conn Or
in : = Ess:i
sirus.ure always BAG, and dsnssous The
SeeS the sns Pay on o the
revision control Of both the structures and their
ORIGIN OF THE BOARD.
In 1856 the Mayor reported to the Senate and the
shipOwners sent memorial couched In much the
same language as the above In 1855, '67 86 and
'6ot he Citizens Association applied to the Legisa-
ture for the creation Of separate board to have
charge Of the creation Of comprehensive system Of
wharves adequate for our wants
OUR PRESENT COMMERCE.
Now, then, you will see why you have been asked
what are the commercial wants for which you are
required 10 institute this SYSTEM At first You have
city OF over 100000 Of inhabitants, and with
1000 100000, This city is the gateway OF a State
containing over 100000 OF Inhabitants and
and terminus of transportation lines bringing an
enormous trafic, which constantly Increases
In 1858 the freight In tons on the New York
railroads and canals was as follows:-Erie Railroad,
6ao39 ions; Central Railroad $780, 600 tons: canals
l,247,s63 tons. In 1858 1t was-Erie Railroad,
a9Os,243 tons; Central Railroad, 1s46,6ss tons;
canals 6,442225 tons. Being total OF IL 1e7, s67
tons In 1Su 8 against s, 23s, S92 tons In 1853.
The aggregate amount OF tolls and freights on the
canals and railroads In 1853 was but about
$4,000 000 while in 1858 they were over $685. 000
This city las 20 ferries, transporting 100 900
people every year. There are over 120 steamships
running to foreign ports There are about 1so