New-York tribune., 1871-05-30

c,,ctTnqinccr George b. Mcclellan of the Department.
of Docks regarding the establishment of now and
niform system sca-wa and DOCKS, is herewith pre-
scnted:
DEPARTMENT OF Docks. EvGINEURs BUREAU,
NEw-IOBR, April 9G, 1871.
y, nc Honorable Commissioners or Docks GENTIT-
MEN The slstem OF construction best adapted TO faci
a;e The rapid and economical handling loading. aud
unloading of vessels and the transportation of freight
in any particular harbor win depend upon the nature Of
that har9or and It's approaches as well as upon tne
accr and extent OF the commerce 20 he accommodated
Fora veisheltcred port where the water front Is eN-
tom shelves rapidly and the daily variations oi the ude
not great simplest and most appropriate FORM OF
construction Is quay river wall so located That the
largest vessels can float alongside OF it at extreme
low water Where the bottom shelves very gradually
be %oeS ne 6e ends viii be- deep enough to oa
sells Piers also Necessary in cases where even when
the water docpenS rapidly 1t s necessary TO accom-
modats large comneTee con m & along ~ frd pro
water front, as wen rs Wheh II + . % ~ "u pr ~
lection against "a rapid current noatlng zee, &C. IN
cases where the and fall OF the tide is very great
and where the front is limited in extent large
commerce can he advantageousy aecommoatcl onig gS
such system as the wet or tidal docks so extensively
used Europe and OF which the docks of Liverpool ana
London are the best examples. =,
In arranging a system for the City of New-YOrk il Is
proper examine the systems that have been adopted
In other ports of corresponding commercial importance
The magnificent docks OF Liverpool and London, cor
Telford Hartley and Others accommodate the largest
of the world, and therefore naturally sngsSS,
proposed system suoh comparison VIII pb poinb Uo W me
extraordinary advantages which the hydroefapS crre
And and viii at the same time show tLa iaI
In ms ev GV YnTch more simple and far less eXpen,
siye ~ stem than that which has Deeh ~ si0"''' ~
in the cases OF Liverpool and London
TIE DOCKS AND PIERS OF LIVERPOOL
IJvcrpool Il situated lust within the mouth Of the
River Nersev deep and naygable stream, which has,
opposite the city, width OF about S9N leet'
and depth varying from IS TO GO feet at low wafer the
se and ian Of tho tide is from IS to 80 feet The river
wall within which the docks located, occupies about
five miles in length Of the bank OF the MerSey Inc
great variations the tide render it impossible to load
ana unload vessels adyantageousy abreast OF ordinary
0uays pers in the MerSey the somewhat exposed an
that frequent the port ana, were IL large enough Wy
heavy expense delays of the system OF loading ana
unloading by means OF lighters have been found unen
durable by commerce. There Is then hut one system a
plCable such pOrtthat OF lncloSed wet uOcks Win
fshr"nST EN- seS out in IiveTpool Commenced as
carly 1902 docks have at this time attained colos
other additions since 1854 they GlO obtained
from the shore Of the Mersey between high and low
water mars the wall projects from 500 TO i2O rect
beyond the original shore line the length OF quay 'front.'
% within be docks Is IA miles and l9 yards the docks
are bounded side by wall 80 TO so feet high
with aggregate length Of nearly five miles As RUE
The time for entering and departing from these docks
l. limited from u to hours each tide, and as te ss
az tie docks are above low water there than 100
days i'm tbe wear when vessels drawing feet cannot
enter them many days when only l6 feet can be car
ried good deal of difficulty Is experienced III Keep
ing these docks free from mud and silt
THE DOCKS AND PIERS OF LONDON
The port London may be said to be confined within
Bridge TO the lower end OF Bugsbys Reach. Along this
portion of the river averages about 2lO feet in width
Al high water and almost s74 feet at low water, leaving
fraction over Is feet The spring tides rise at London
Bridge from to 20 feet the neaPs from Is to l6 feet
Considerations similar 10 those which determine the dock
system of Liverpool have created corresponding sys-
TEN for port Of London. In the latter case, as Ia the
former the insufficient river front and anchorage god
the great daily variations Of the tide, the necessity OF
providing the cheap and rapid handng of freight
have led the able engineers 70 whom the problem M mas
been utrused 70 construct lnclOsed wei eOchs snEir
in principle TO those OF Liverpool nu m 9in9rnS III i sOIs
details OF constructions C. g. as rule the LONDON dos &
are surrounded 10y extensive warehouses the s 0t the
gates are below The water mark and the docks have
been excavated inside the shore line.
NATURAL ADVANTAGES OF NEw-YoRK HARBoR.
Having briefly called attention to the Photographed
features and the dock constructions peculiar to the ports
of Liverpool and London, will now, in very few
words mention the Datural advantages of the port OF
NewYok and the general character of the system best
calculated to develop these advantages at the least cost
of and money. The City of New-York perhaps un-
% b uJ 3ion m t chief in youme and extent; this
river washes Is miles shore line of the city
foot of which distance easily be made available FOR
100 miles above the city and by its connecting canals
a1ords water communication with the western states
and the chain great lakes. Through the Upper
and Lower Bays the Hudson communicates directly
with the aOrdng safe and convenient passage
10 the largest steamers as well as TO the smaller
COasting vessels
affords river frontage of 81 miles most Of which can be
made available for the largest vessels gives good
and tlroug N the latter brings NewY0r into close
Inunication with the manufacturing states OF New
England while IL affords q second approach 10 the AT
llutc ocean. The Harlem River would alone in many
parts OF the world be regarded as sufficient IN ltse Tor
the reOuirements Of respectable commerce. ~ gives
miles good front 10 the city, and presents tne
,1eans Of obtaining at reasonable cost second ana
convenient channel OF communication 0r small vessels
between the upper waters OF the Hudson and Long
Island Sound. - -.
The area of the portions of the Hudson and East Rivers
immediately opposite New-fork, available for anchor
age amounts to l2t square miles and this Is per
fecy SAFE being rendered dangerous by the winds
ur waves. the upper bay Of NeW-1Ork presents an
available OF IA square miles OF perfectly safe an
,hOrece The lower bay possesses an anchorage OF 50
square miles. The total available water front OF the
city is 24 miles The rise and fall OF the tde
along our front is $40 feet, VIII thus De seen
1hat omitug foreign 10 the immediate purpose OF
This report the Sreat commercial fachtes OF BIOOKyh
and The JeIcy snOre localities which are, however, in
Cis-olully connected in interest with NcW-1OIk ana
between which and this city rivalries ought ever to
exist, NewlOrk possesses advantages when need only
be developed to enable IL To accommodate all tue cOl-
Iuercc that the future can concentrate here.
70 requires demonstration 10 prove that commerce
the very hebOOd OF New York. affecting not only the
aSses directly engaged in it, but all others OF the pOpu
ltiOn well II is evident that money JudiclOusy
exueDded in creating facilities which viii cheapen
pciitc and render the work OF loading and un
loading vessels will be well expended, and will yield such
abundant returns IN the general prosperity OF the com
uny as tOrendcr il wise TO reduce the charges upon
commerce, least 10 the lowest point compatible with
having the interest upon the cost of the necessary
urOyeineuts tie water front and making good ineV
lille deterioration In commercial mart like this, all
mort and dock charges OF whatever nature upon shipping
Should be reduced 70 a minimum The preeminent ad
N,ntares of such port New-YOrk should never DE
sacrificed by the shOrt-sighed policy OF imposing unnec
cs.ary burdens upon commerce.
M Will now well call attention to the following
statement il regard to the tuunage OF Liverpool Lon
"'" ''-1 STATISTICS OF COMMERCE.
LondgR LirapOOl and her- York compared.
LONDON AND LIyftiOOi. -
Nsav Ss ss.