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

10 thkc charge OF whenever ia your Judgment ulo
public interest demands that you should call upoD
the Commissioners OF the Land once 70 conveyit
under the authority OF the same act.
DUTIES EXPECTED
Upon this vast estate you are to enter and, Nike
dihgent and faithful trustees there erect success
sion Of wharf structures which shall 0e not only SUI
ncent for the present needs OF our commerce, but
thereof
You are therefore bound to give the first and most
laborous part OF your exerons TO the adoption OF
plan for our whole water 'front.' which shall be found
hence as for today. You are lay out and build for
a city which is TO be more vast tnan London and
gateway for the commerce not only of the United
States, but through Pacific Railroads, OF Europe ana
What you are now to DO cannot be undone except
at the cost OF New York supremacy. You are to
prepare for the greatest trade that ever moved
that trade arrive, your work is faulty and your plan
is found to be inadequate the generations which
succeed us win have no time to alter ITS general
scope but must lose the dement's they would attain
by wise and
therefore submit 20 you that however vast and CO.
lossal your undertaking may seem to be. when your
Judgment accepts definite plan you must pursue II,
portions: Besides you are not working "for
day, but for all ume."
Now, to descend to particulars. The
RIGHTS AND CONTROL
vested In you by this act exceed those yet vested
In the local authorities OF this city or parted with
given up to you many powers which It has already
withheld ieal0usly from any board or COMMISSION
You are invested in the first place. with the right 10
take Its property; In the next place. TO build with
out restriction such structures thereon you deem
just and lastly to fix the rates OF wharfage for the
docks you build.
THE BREADTH AND SCOPE
OF these immense grants OF property and power strip
yexatious questions which formerly encountered Ii.
You have no longer to steer between the rights or
the State as corporation in the land the rights OF
the state in Its legislative capacity TO direct the
OF The waters the rights Of the city as corporation
In Its land and docks, Its police power to regulate
the use OF them, and the rights of private owners
their wharves. You take the property OF the
states which 1t offers as gift to commerce you can
take private property by making due compensation
trustees in place OF former officers.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD.
Thus vested with the whole subject matter, with
out question as to your right and authority, you
alone are responsible for the wisdom and efficiency
Of your work And you nave another duty
financial part OF your labors. You are
permitted to RAISE, by ffty years bonds,
TO build these new structures and carry out your
plans You are expected to manage. this property
that the city shall feel direct tax for This out
lay. You can raise by revenues from wharfage and
leases sufficient to pay the interest these bonds
and sinking fund to pay their principal. What the
cost OF these structures may be when finished cannot
now be estimated The Oroton Water Works cost
sll Co., and are now worth $780, 900, besides
The Park cost So 600 00O and now, in less than If
teen years, worth s76ooo,ooo. The public
DOCKS OF LONDON
cover an area OF 1000 acres and cost some
$4,000 000 and the whole cost in the last fifty years
in England for public docks, built at government ex-
pense, IL more than $500, 100000 But this includes
expense for structures which we will never need.
II must be borne IN mind that
BROAD RIVER STREET
both sides OF this island Of 100 feet in width with
room for every variety and need OF transportation,
both for freight and passengers with splendid docks
and warehouses, multplies many times In value the
private properly on the adjoining Streets and in
creases In almost Incredible proportions their own
to prepare for the accommodation and accumulation
Of us riches. With care and conscientious
wisdom and economy thts can be DONE and there is
not believe, citizen OF this city who doubts that
this Department. can accomplish all that Is expected
oft
have made in behalf OF the Citizens, Association,
many addresses before our Legislature and else
where In favor OF the establishments Of such de-
partment, land the subject is iavorlte well an
old one with me; but can hardly express to you the
deep sense of thankfulness feel at seeing prOjecC
so vital to the interests Of this city at last happily
inaugurated and destined to success.
THE PLANS PRESENTED.
At the conclusion OF Judge Daly's speech plans
s sr sna
Howe. Cotton 4. z, Fowle,, James 3; wilson
Pcntez: Most Of these embrace also correlativs
Some proposed system OF iron piers, others stone
piers, and one iron piers covered with concrete,
protective against salt water. One genius thought
Of building entertainments over the NarrOws and
Kills at Staten Island and away up at Harlem,
so as to make q complete dry dock OF both rivers.
The majority OF the plans however, seemed feasible.
The first offered was
10 tae wora Sd Oh n aae OF
fronts running along the seaboard Of the island,
forming a perfect encasement OF the island,
by constructing granite wall LAID in ny.
draulic cement, giving twenty-five feet dranght Of
water without any distractions at present by the
metho OF piling and filing in with rubble stones to
niprS nv which a Indignant IA the
refuse of the city which, permitted to accumulate
and acted on by the solar rays, produces mlasmaic
and reducing the depth of the river one
foot annually. In consequence Of the low
not exceeding six q nine feet between high and eSb
tide 1t Is impossible to clear the refuse
from the present sewers 1t Ii necessary therefore,
to adopt principles suited to the necessities OF the
island. Receiving basins are to be arranged, run
ming along the water front and under South and
West Streets twenty feet below the present sewers
and thirty five feet below the surface Of the street,
resting ten feet In an inclined line from the granite
facing on the front OF the river. These receiving ba
sins are capable OF receiving the refuse OF three
four sewers, ana by the noodgates constructed on
tile front Of the granite wall and at right angles with
rise and $50 feet projecting into the river, spanning
six granite columns, hfty feet cross section, giving
me lace s ., tae S, superficial area OF
vent carts, &C., falling Off. Through these Hood
gates the refuse accumulated in the basins from the
sewers is taken of by means OF scows or lighters
passing under the piers as explained in drawings
This refuse can then be taken various stations up
the rivers and disposed Of to farmers for manure
The food gates are formed OF large cast iron
plates attached by hinges, having slight
inclination at bottom outward to canse them
to lay IN their bed, in order to prevent the influx
OF high tides as at present. which washes the filth
Of the various sinks IN on the easements OF the
lower wards. The granite encasement cuts or
all tidal nnux and would have the erect of giving
perfectly dry formation of EARTH In place Of the
saturated mass as at present, where three or four
streets are almost under water by influx at every
food tide. This would give property owners
the advantage Of constructing two or more
Easements under their present buildings, and
greatly increasing the value Of the property, and
by this improved system Of receiving basins
make the present sewerage or real advantage. For
the expenditure OF millions could not accomplish
more certain means OF obtaining for the lower part
OF the city pure and healthful atmosphere BY the
Introduction OF these receiving basins thlrtyv feet
below the level OF the street and twenty feet below
any sewer in the city, and forming chain connect
ing with each other by side pipes at the base OF EACH
the subdrainage OF the upper part Of the island
be enectualy accomplished, as reported on by
General vele, explanatory Of the settlemenof water
which, becoming stagnant evoed aguea nd swamp
fever TO residents OF such localities. The receiving
basins are built OF blue stone and the water front
faced with grantee the basins will be fifty feet long
hut ftaop uytao nd fyvau faafh a tha