New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-30
TILE DOCK COMMISSION.

| The Commissioners who are now engaged IN
creating for the City of New-York new sys-
tenn of docks and piers, while they nave an
arduous and perplexing duty before them, nave
also an opportunity Ofrendering brilliant service
to the public such as no similar Commission
in the history of New-York has ever
! enioved. This is not only the chief com
mercial city of the continent, but one or inc
great shipping ports of the world Inc re-
| ouiremepts of our mercantile marine, aHeauy
! enormous. are certain to he immensely IN
| creased even during the life of the present
| ganeration. and in time may tax our
natural advantages to the utmost. Ihose
advantages are equaled in but few
barbors of the world. Besides spacious ana
sheltered bay. easy of entrance by the largest
sbip ever built or likely to be built, we have
river front on all sides of the city. The Har-
lem needs but little Improvement to be
made available for commerce, while on
the other sides vessels of almost any
draught can lie close to the wharves. The
natural resources of the port of New-York
are indeed so great that we have never taken
much trouble to improve them by art, and our
ships lie to-day beside the same kind of rick
ETY. wooden piers which suthced for the few
unwieldy soOps and schooners of the Dutch
colonsts The task devolving upon the new
Commission is nothing less than the crea-
ton of an entirely new system of wharf
age all along the Hudson and East Rivers,
and ultimately along the Harlem also. 1t is
hampered by no conditions and no vested
rights. 1t may occupy private property; it is
already placed in possession Of the property of
the State and city; it may choose its own
plans it may spend all the money it pleases;
and when the docks and wharves are built
it may regulate their use, and make all
needful provision for keeping them in repair.
Baron Haussmann had not more absolute power
to tear down old Paris and build up new one,
than Mr.. Tweed's Legislature has intrusted to
the new Board of Docks for the purpose of
Transforming tho river front of New-HOrk
City. Several plans for a Dock Commission
have been proposed in former years, but
none has ever approached this in splendid
opportunities and in grave responsibility. The
Department is required by law to invite plans,
suggestions, and proposals from architects, en-
gineers, and all persons interested i'll the mat
ter, and with the assistance thus rendered to
fix upon some definite system of improvement
cation or combination of any of the plans sub
mitted. A decision must be reached before
next Nav and the work is then to be let out
to the lowest responsible bidder.
The unlimited power which gives the Com
missioners such efficiency gives them also, OF
course, abundanS chances for dishonesty ana
and the law seems to be specially
designed to make their work as profitable as
possible to themselves and as expensive
as possible to the people. There is
no limitation whatever as to cost, except
that not more than a certain very liberal sum
can be called for i'll any one year. Bonds are
10 be issued, not below par, and not to exceed
100000 per annum, and the Supervisors are
10 raise by tax a sum equivalent to the
annual interest upon the bonds 1t Is
not provided however, that the bonds shall
only be issued as they arc needed -;
the Controller must throw them on the market |
whenever the Commissioners Of the Sinking |
Fund call Cor them; and the city may be com
PEELED to pay per cent interest on millions OF
dollars for years before the money is wanted
For instance, though it must be a long time
before any payments will be required on ac-
count of work. there is nothing in the law to pre-
vent the issue of S3,OOO0OO of Dock Bonds this
year and $3,000000 every year hereafter until the
Board shall please to consider their under |
taking finished. We have no protection but |
the personal character of the Commissioners |
Among the members of the Board there are |
indeed gentlemen whose names give us every !
and we can only hope that |
hey may neither be Overreached nor cor |
rupted, and that when they go out of office |
they may have honest and capable SUCCESSORS |
The people of New-YOrk are patient of wrong |
even to an absurd degree but in such a serious
matter as the renovation of the port we be-
ieye they will not tolerate much swindling.