New-York tribune., 1871-05-30

scT"n Of the board when the question comes up for
solution in each particular case @g p,a pol u nurDosa
a., @ o. se he changed 10 100 feet or % 1ect ana vice
80 too amy 10 the best advantage the
the adjacent efS Sheds ARE mot IN
yaTy with the use TO which they are to be put
| COMPARATIVE CHEAPNEss oP EEwroRK DOCKS.
II may be interesting call attention to facts in
the cost Of the Liverpool and London docks
The Liverpool docks. up to 1884, according to Sir John
Renne had cost about 100000 in gold, and the quay
line obtained by this expenditure was IA miles, ll9
yards that Is about Sj,5C00O IN gold, per mile; or
bearing in mind the low cost of labor and material at
the time these executed, should think it
not unfair TO say that similar work could not be exc
London docks (not the dock system of London have
capital Of s2oOoOOo gold, and this is believed was
wholly expended in the docks warehouses, &c. These
docks have quay line of 9570 feet and hence accord
ing TO the above statement cost at the rate OF M 10000
Tatherines docks Of London with quay line Of 5llO
feet cost at the rate of s1OGOOOOO per mile. In word
tho nature OF the water front Of NewYork Is such that
dock facilities equal to those in Liverpool be obtained
under the arrangement proposed at cost ncomparaby
In terminating this report, 1t may be proper 70
to apply the new arrangement of river walls and piers to
the entire water front OF the city at once or IN the I'M
mediate future, but only TO provide promptly for the
requirements OF the existing commerce. and then to
extend the construction as that commerce increases
and requires additional facilities so that the expenditure
shall be distributed over considerable time, ana the
burden imposed he in just proportion to the commerce
|
| .. GEO. b. MCCLELLAN Engineerin-Chef.
| WHAT IS TO BECOME OF NEw-YoRK HARBoRi
| To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: After years organization, an expendi-
urc of $500 900 naccounted for to the public although
the law required that statement should be made in de-
tail before the st Of January 1870, and call for loan
OF Al 900 900 more the Dock Commission has made re-
| port OF its plan.
Before speaking of the scheme will refer to the per-
sOnne Of the Commission many attering notices having
been published Of the members, that the public may
Judge of their qualifications. Mr.. John T. Agnew, the
President il tobacconst. Mr.. william G.. Hunt, cloth
seller is the Roscoe Of NewYork, according to Mayor
Hall Mr. H. A. Smith do know, only that Mayor Hall
| spoke OF him as one that would receive instruction
from his brother, who had resigned from the Commits
| sion. Mr. James NJ Kenny is lawyer, whose knowl-
edge OF docks acquired engineer OF the C1t
zens Association. Mr.. Vim. Wood has believe some
knowledge on the subject and il disposed to Use II I'M
partially. The engineer-inchef is Gen. George b. Nc
| Clellan These are the principals TO whom the public
look for proper action Now for their plan. The eng
neering part il is not to speak Of as the D
irg piers is well understood but the plan OF the Com
mission diminishing the water surface Of the harbor Is
an act OF vandalism than the destruction OF the
Column OF Austerz by the Reds of Paris The scheme
proposed is widen SOuhs 70 feet wde 200 feet
Montgomeryst taking 25 feet from the width OF the
East River I'm place where it is only 1260 feet wide,
increasing the current already too strong for safe
naviC alton at all times of the tide SOuthst is wide
enough for all business purposes If the Commissioners
would use their power to the shantics from the
bulkheads and keep them clear Westst on the North
River l5 feet wide by law, but occupied by buildings to
the width Of 45 feet, which the Commissioners have e
power but to Ii il to be wdened
TO 200 feet What the of that widening Is TO be- ex-
cept to permit political friends Of the Commissioners
10 squat on cannot understand. The North River Is
now so narrow from the Battery 10 Eeventhst.-rang
ing from $500 TO 1900 feet-that diminution OF the
width will be serious impedment to safe navigation
These encroachments the harbOr will stimulate
New-Jersey TO move. When I have demonstrated with
Jerscymen against these encoachmens the answer has
been: "You OF New.York have taken all you wantod
we mean 10 have something" My reply that there
never has been an encrOachmeut the NCwiOrk side
of river since 1851 when the harbOr line was liked
Perhaps the names Of the Commissioners appointed
under the law of 1866 10 establish the exterior lines OF
the harbor with those OF the advisory council may en-
able the public to make comparison OF me qualhea
| tions of the men then and now: James Bowen John
TalcOit, Preston King, Geo W. Patterson, Senator MUIR
phys partner, by the State of NeWIork The advisory
council was: A. ID. Bachc, superintendent United states
Survey Gen. Jas - TOtten, Chief United States
Engmeers both dead; and Admlriil Chafes n. pa's H.
my opinion the ablest OF any harbor In the world ana Is
my New Testament
ton of the plan of the Dock Commission is that the
| change of the harbor lines passed by the same
means that the alteration of the code was ana Dl u,
passed in that way all honest men are interested IN
having repealed or course, any act passed by te las
Legislature the most corrupt body of men ever gathered
together began in fraud by the rtJecOn Oh lWoihDS
the majority lost by ITvng's punching OF Necd, ana
brought back by the reported purchase or Wlnans, mas
hold upon the honest men OF the eoniviy ny ana
| should be repealed. uEo W. DLoNi'
| Ne,c- York, May a. 1871.
1