The New York herald., 1870-08-03
OUR RIVER FRONTS.
Inspection by the Department OF
Public Docks.
GeneTaI Mcclellan in His
Element.
What the Public officials Think Of the Rail
Fences and Rotten Logs Along tho
afii.A Kast Rivera View Of Hell Gate y.
qi and In Obstructions


The Commissioners OF the Department Of Pubic
Docks chartered the steamer william Fletcher yes
terday for tour OF inspection, and that neet vessel
steamed away from pier 2s East river on trip to-
ward the northern part island having General
George h. Mcclellan on board. The importance Of
this tour hardly be estimated. and Is OF
o series which the Commissioners have been making
IN order 10 thoroughly understand the water front
accommodations OF the city. II is now years since
the rickety ana dilspldated condition OF the
a. wHAKvEs AND PIERS ots
has been before the community, and It is only now
that there any evidences tnat the Isl and will be
rendered slightly along the bulknead line, and
worthy of magnificent harbor IN marine accom-.
mOdatOns and all the appliances That must necessa-
rily attend ocean commerce. With wise and iibe-
raj spirit consOnant with the spirit OF the act by
which the department has life and function the
Commissioners have Determined upOn a thorough
reformation, upon plans which shall be intelligent,
comprehensive and substantial, and npon
OUTLAWS OF MoNEY
which, while showing a discreet expenditure will
not symbOze mean economy, In previous sur.
veys Of the kind made yesterday they saw and
lamented the decayed rotten and dsRracefui snags
and ends presenting sncb bideous eyesores 10 those
even who cross on board the ferryboats; and TO
bring the measures that may be taken 10 a prac-
teal and familiar acquaintance to each com.
missioner Is the object OF the frequent trips rhe
Importance of the occasion yesterday was OF course,
the presence OF General Mcclellan whO with vast
experience drawn from extended travel and accu-
rate observation in Europe, brings to his high Office
% knowledge that amounts TO something more than
a mere compendium from books.
GENERAL MCCLELLAN. sr nt
he II known, graduated al West Point among the
"starsr of his class. achieving high distinction as
an engineer, TO which he mas been adding through
out his subsequent Abroad his studies were
OF such q character that they made him familiar
with the leading works Of engineering in Europe
and, with mind adapted 10 ms Investigations, he
came home laden with golden fruit, which win re-
dound to the development and wealth OF the city. Il
was then looked upon as significant that General
Mcclellan should accompany the Commissioners
yesterday, though IN fact 1t was business trip,
merely TO make cursory examination on the East
river snOre. 'i 'tHt
PRECISELY AT TWO O'CLOCK p. M
the Fletcher steamed out from pier 2s with the fol-
lowing gentlemen DOard:--Mr. John T. AgDew,
Mr. wilson a. Hunt, MIR. Hugh Smith, Mr.. William
Wood, Mr. Richard NJ. Henry, General George &.
Mcclellan. Chief engineer, General James Mechai.
General Mechan was member Of General McCle
lan's stan during the war, and later was on the
United States Coast Survey and was associated with
General Newton In surveys OF Sandy Hook and In
many dinerent official enterprises, having for their
object the preservation and enlargement OF New
York HarbOr For this reason he has been chosen to
ASSIST his distinguished chief.
The Fletcher, Captain EmmOns, proceeded up the
river. and rs the rotten and ugly remains, mlscalled
piers, came under observation and discussion, Gen
eral Mcclellan smiled and thought he was In the Far
West Indian country hghting among rail- fences and
wormeaten logs. The Commissioners referred TO
the dsgracefuI spectacle In the true spirit not
few Jokes We're passed upon the dock conveniences
along one shore Of In manV respects,
THE FINEST SHELTERED RIVER IN THE WORLD.
nothing hut the same scene, one continuous mass
OF wooden debris with here and there little sys-
| tenn, Dut only enough TO insure safety TO man
the ravages or fierce storm; In another the ac-
cOmmodatng spirit OF oiiai bumpers ana manure
depostors. There was an elevation OF hlth
then depression OF nasty, stagnant pools
sragnant, fonl and stlnking with animal and vege-
table corruption. Heaps or sand, dirt aIluval de-
poslts soil Of every description, masses OF rough
unhewn rock and agglomeratiOns OF almost positive
impossiDiltes greeted the eyes the calm commits
soners IL was IN viewing such scene OF The CT yis
rOttenness and neglect that the Board looked to
work on
A CAPITAL OF $3,0oo,0oO
set apart by the Legislature for improvements Of the
docks with antlcp atoms Of delight And 10 may be
comfort for the community to know that improve
ments are to proceed forthwith No fear need be en-
tertained OF venality Prom the President down the
members OF the Board are reputable, worthy and OF
high standing having hut one care, ;the rescue OF
commerce, the Improvement Of the barbOr and the
timely preservation OF many natural advantages
Passing the yacht Cambria on the dock, having
her bottom scrsped, the steamer sped TO Thirty
fourth street, by the dirt and manure mountains.
past the buiy shores about Eighty sixth street and
toward Harlem. Hell Gate was made &C three
O'CLOCK. Here could be sceo Mil Rock, with the St
Charles Hotel; Little Mill Rock, with It's powder
magazine, and Flood Rock. In the distance, be-
tween the two latter. was the dangerous Mil Reef,
All ugly anu treacbcrous accumulation Of granite
gneiss. entirely submerged at food lde yet showing
EDDIEs, wHrRLpooLs AND DANCING RPrLEs
above It's sharp protesting and numerous suminits
This obstruction Is OF the fouleSt In the river.
Situated at point where there might be fine, deep
channel, itnow forms regular impassable blockade,
and destroy 1t VIII be one OF the most important Offices
OF General Newton and his force. Mill Rock comes
next, tnen Little MIL These two upheavas are
| barriers that demand gunpOwder aud glycerne
without benefit OF clergy; ana they Will have both.
Passing on the steamer left Little He'll Gate Ran
daiis and Wards Islands In the rear at the same
time passing mouth Of the Kills the landscape
| along the route was scene or
LIVING BEAUTY,
| soft bamy ond deep green, and the day was moth
ing less than superb. At Harlem orders were given
! 10 turn the Fletcher down the stream and she now
for Hallets Point. Arriving at the pier the
| commissioners antl engiueers disembarked and re-
tired to view me mammoth eXcavstlng operations
| Newton aud bis force are engaged IN destroying
| one OF the worst fmpedmep's to commerce
near the Atlantic seaboard under an appropriation
by Congress OF $50 900. Tne work ~ far advanced.
deep pit shaft il Is called, seveny-ive feet
| long sixty wide and thirty deep. has neen exca-
| vated through nard and fn,Y qualifications OF OBJ
snate granite, and IN this pit the men are engaged
| In drilling and blasting. The PIT IS on point OF
land pushing westward into The channel. IL pro-
| jecrs out into the stream IKE
| An fNCOMPLBrEB DAM,
mere Is q SWEI mites aU uDtT
az Hood tide. The object 10 destroy the rapid now
TO get rid OF the rocks out In the channel, known
! Frying Pan. Hogs Back and Ways Reef. and thus
| to give clear gateway commerce. These objects
I are being rapidly attained
| Tunnels are being pushed ont into the river like
| radii and two feet below the rivers bed thus pre-
venting leakage other dangerous annoying i'm
| pcdiments. These tunnels are 10 De connected
laterally by galleries circular form. three In num-
ber and thirty feet between the arcs Thus the sub
marine soha VIII be broken unto hoGeycOmb, TO be
| thoroughly mined with iniammable and powerful
| agents witch viii az
| ONE GRAND GENERAL EXPLOSION
depress the entire distractions into the cavity pre-
viOusly excavated below leaving an open and broad
| channel. In other words, when farmer has hinge
boulder on his farm aud he wishes 10 burrOw IL, he
| simply digs below II, springs trap. and let's
the monster fall This IL all there h TO General
| NewtOn's operations, as any simpleton can see.
| Already 1000 cubic yards of rock have been taken
Ouf OF the pit aud the men are working like Deavers,
! night and day. A cupoa steam scow IS ON hand,
| consisting OF a frame with