The New York herald., 1870-09-26
THE WATER FRONT.
What is Being Done by the Departs
ment Of Docks.
Repairs Commenced and Completed Quick wOrA
and Good Observation-Disclosures OF Speedy
Reformation in the Character and
Appearance Of the Docks

Appearance Of the Docks.
Among the departments created under the new
charter for the government OF the metropolis there
there was none TO which such an important andf
arduous work was committed as the Department oa
Docks. The gentlemen appointed by Mayor Hall sS
Commissioners OF this department too well knowf
to the citizens Of New YORK to need any como
mendation They entered upon the duties oe
their ONCE with proper ideas of system and economy3
they mad observed and had felt the effects OF, thd
disgracefu condition OF the wharves and pierS
around the city. They appreciated the extent and
Importance OF the trust assigned to them, ana they
determined TO deserve well OF the community. Tha
work Of the otner departments as the Departt
ment OF Parks-can readily be seen by the citizens
at large. Their
SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS
In retaining the parks and public placesh
throughout and making them pleasing io
the eye and gratifying to the ideas OF the
people can be appreciated. The work OF thu
Department Of Docks is sucn rs cannot be readily
seen by the people at large. Their work could not
be commenced without great deal OF care and pre-
paration. They, OF course, could not immediatey.
begin an entirely new and improved system OF mag
nidcent docks, such as behts the great commercially
centre of the world. In the meantime
and something must be done to place these docks M
passable condition and to insure safety to life and
property. AS everybody knows by this time, Ma1os
General Mcclellan was chosen engineerin-chief to-
perfect the necessary plans for the reformed SYSTEM
and ex-Mayor Westervelt was chosen general super
ntendent take charge OF the work Of putting the
docks and bulkneads In good condition. Everything
having been prepared to make the department rur
smoothly,
TIE WORK WAS COMMENCED
a couple Of months ago. The commissioners made
tours for personal inspection and then required de-
tailed reports from their district superintendents as
to what was needed TO be done Immediately. Ths
reports were made and referred to superintendent
Westervet who estimated the cost anu at once com,
menced operations NS
A tour OF the East river docks was made yesfer"
day, and it was plainly demonstrated that the re-
pairing has been done most completely and In such
a short time as reject great credit upon the de-
partnent and win the highest commentators from
those who are most interested IN the docke.
PIER NO. 8 EAST RIVER, ~. ."'>
for instance, which was so much dilapidated as IN
be almost UNIT for use, was taken In hand. This
dock and the adjoining are used exclusively for
the canal trade. and the freight here unloaded is OF
the heaviest description. The sheathing, which was
so worn rs to be dangerous, has been entirely re-
newed. The string pl eces have been strengthened
by screw bolts, the support tlmbers and paes have
been Strengthened and strengthened, and, with the
exception of the extreme outer end which Is to be
entirely rebuilt The pier Is now In good condition
which was also much dila idated has been repaired.
The underpinnlng has been Strengthened and
Traced, covered with four-inch panking and nve-
inch sheathing. New string pieces have been added
and secured with screw bolts thr Ough and through.
scuttes have been cut in the string pieces as there
are no lumber heads or rngbOlts which will answer
for securing the boats ana at the same time allow
vents Tor rain water from the dock noor.
THE MAIDEN LANE BULKHEAD,
between piers Is and IL, which was in such fighSs
fully bad and utterly useless condition. has been
ana sea ie Sep Tne
INTO capping timbers between the tenders. These
Gaping pieces back fourteen feet and are laid
done the earth and stone filling was replaced, and
now This lately badly diapidated structure shows
good lrm piece of work.
PIER no. %
month ago was sunken at the outer end something
more than TWO feet. To repair this it necessary
TO rip up the flooring, sraighten the piles, put In
number OF solid blocks and lay new planking. This
was all done; the worn timDers taken out, the un-
derpinnlng strengthened, solid blocks put in COW
cred with hye-inch panking and new tenders
secured ali in sixteen days by seven men.
Pier No % Is to be covered with new sheathing
The work VIII be commenced to-day. Thirty thou
sand feet OF sheathng are to De laid, the string
pieces mended, ana tenders are to be placed at
one side and at the end OF the dock. one OF the
MOST SUCCESSFUL SPECIMENS OF WORK
Jefferson street This dock Is used FOR heavy reieht
and was almost entirely useless. it has been most
thoroughly and soundly repaired and Is now in such
fine condition as TO excite the loudest praises from
the merchants doing business In the nelghborhood.
There is, indeed d rivalry among the owners OF
warehouses thereabouts to their vessels unload
at this pier. and yesterday it presented unusually
active and comparatively attractive appearance
NEW BULEHEADS,
which are really models Of substantial work and
god hnisn, haves been built at the foot of Cherry
has, perhaps. the most finished appearance but
both are good testimonials to the activity of the
department. and the efficiency OF the workmen ear
ployed. Both bulkheads were previously rotten and
dangerous and have been rebuilt In detail the same
az that at The foot Of Maiden lane above mentioned
Among the points visited thai which presented the
MOST FRIGHTFUL CONDITION
was the pier foot of Twenty.taTd street. This is
the only public pier between Nineteenth street and
Twenty-elgnth street, and has been monopolized by
the street cleaners and some brick dealers. The
Nth from the streets had been dumped ON the dock
until it became solid mass, in some places three
or four feet high. The planking OF the dock, OF
course roea away 60 thas ~ became positively dan
zens complained OF the condition of the dock The
department. had II inspected and in three days after
1t was reported the work OF repairing was com
menced. The iaborcrs in the employ or tue Dock
Department were obliged 10 use pickaxes and crow.
DIGGING AWAY THE DIRT
80 as TO get to the dock. Already or eight sco~
remains AS the surface was cleared the dock build
ers went 10 work ripping up the old planklng ana
very short time there III be here arst class oct
The residents or the neighborhood are loud In thcjr
praises Of the promptness eyinced by the Commis
soners In responding TO their appeal and they
wonld be highly grattfed If the street approaching
The dock we're so promptly attended to.
THE PLASTER PAVEMENT STUFF
nom Fiith avenue was dumped the street, and
there 1t yet remains IN places fully ten feet deep
Elk Marshal Tooker, Inspector Of Encumbrances has
had an opportunity TO show himself, as this flthy
cncumbrance s positively detrimental to health
and destructive OF property The stuff was found to
be 80 on Fifth avenue, but Is much more SO In its
present condition. A short dock will be built sf
Twenly-second street for the dumping boards, and
In few weeks, as before mentioned, the dock viii
be cleaned and In good order.
In addition 10 the bulkhead already mentioned
the department has completed q new one be-
tween Twenty. fourth and Twent y-ffth Streets ana
workmen are now engaged on similar one between
Twenty,hrd and Twenty-f0urth streets.
ON THE NORTH RIVER SIDE
Gne dock has been completed at pier No. % and
workmen are now engaged at pier No. SS, at the
lnoNn of kOrtu oflih fooA