The New York herald., 1871-06-13

apooemsn Is IN sight, ubiquiy being impossible, activity
qualities The a@o L ons Of the reat Do
Detection 10, ot crime i after represson mos, important
outside Of the platter e
81 ns and na S me people must s Lett
e. am mo5e sn 'ssn s proportion Of crime
The number OF arrests STAGED in the police report
seems great. But IT must he remembered that these
son during rhe year Tor vagrancy drunkenness,
disorder and the lighter offences But the report OF
/ waste OF time to indulge IN comments.
Indeed the same may well be SAID OF the reports
OF all the other departments. All OF them deserve
| the most attentive perusal. They would each and
all be here summarized II 1t were not certain that
the reporters for The press win discharge that duty
~ the pubic better ana more disnterestedly.
That from the Department or Public Parks will be
found peculiarly interesting The citizen who walks
| or drives about the island however, may Witness
for himself how materially and favorably this de-
sark o s s s to the pI
places, eladn They have discharged their re.
spOnsibiity with taste aud economy. When
the old Board left Central Park. US a legacy
to the new one the advocates OF the former claimed
widened roads, Its new paths, its improved drain.
age, Its newly opened landscapes, It's universally
preventing disorder It's museum and It's new plans,
carry with them many reasons Tor the pre-
set 7 Of men sn'' who nave done well. but It. must s
give place unto Others. 1t Is natural TO indulge
IN appreuenSlOnS ABOUT SUCCESSORS. Few lnui-
viduals encounter even death without wondering
how will the world progress without them. But
even copy books inform US that what man has done
man can do, M0riying as such u reflection may be
TO one who hopes TO best keep his memory green
by preventing Others from sharing in or emuatng
his own greatness
FIRE AND HEALTH.
Not a suggestion Of complaint has been made
throughout the year against the Fire Department.
| 1t Is universally appreciated.
The Health Department lwarrng as 1t peculiarly
does and must against personal liberty and property
/
WORKS.
The Department OF Public Works is just now
costly The foresight OF Its eminenty executive
chief last summer prevented great disaster TO the
city from threatened insuhciency OF water supply.
IL Is absolutely necessary that he should III thls year
acquire oil the water property possible In the coun-
ties tributary TO New York IN order to provide not
so greatly for the present as Tor the future ana that
not only Of Manhattan Island, but as well OF West
chester county. when the metropolis shall absorb its
II IS also necessary that he should make large ex-
| penditnres Tor repairing sewers ana reaying and
claim cTt for but tnev v receive the "n
While there Is great debit TO their foresight II is
due to the eminent engineer in this department Mr..
Edward IL. Tracy, that the Mayor should emphasize
i'll an olilcial document the popular verdict to Mr.
lracy's asuteness skill and practical ability IN his
great profession.
The repor. OF the Department OF Docks and that
OF its renowned engineer, General Mcclellan, has, III
obedience to popular demand, already been made
public to the press; and 1t has been us favoraby
| mands. AS this department. is a new and very I'M
| portant one, the Mayor takes occasion TO make
especial comments regarding It's operation.
For u long series OF years the wharves and piers
| of the city OF New York have been inadequate
to accommodate the commerce of the port This
| Legislation to ENABLE the local government to
inaugurate broai and comprehensive wharf
and pier system. Although the attention or the
| Legislature OF the State mad been called often
to tns subject, and although. year by year,
more clamOrous for the introduction OF wharf and
per system commensurate with the mag ntude Of
recton until the year 1870, when the whole frame.
work OF our local government was remodelled.
Among the most prominent reforms IN introduced by by
the Department OF Docks with full power
to improve our river :, irc1 'front.' lmme:
the work Of thoroughly repairing all Unbiased cor
poraton piers and bulkheads was commenced, and
they now present an appearance most creditable TO
the efficiency OF the Commissioners OF Docks. But
by far the most important work Of the department,
work In which every person aud every
the preparation and adoption OF plan
ton the department has been engaged in making
the most extensive and careful surveys or the whole
river front: IN recording the phenomena relating to
the action OF the tides; IN making soundings and
borngs TO ascertain the character and contour OF the
bed OF the rivers around the island; in examining the
effect of currents ana In making such other general
surveys necessarily preceding the adoption OF plan.
All the surveys and examinations have been made
Supervision Of General Mcclellan, the EngIneer-in.
Chief OF the Department OF Docks: After the most
careful consideration Of the whole subject the fol-
lowing general plan for the improvement OF the
river front has been adopted
permanent bulkhead wall Of masonry will be
constructed and the bulkhead line carried out so
.hat on the North river street of $50 feet in width
Thirty.drst street, and from that point
of i75 feet, except that around Corears
river street viii be only $50 feet wide. From this
DulKhead wall, at distances giving slip room for
the largest ss per win n be w5 IN
nTs from s &c &c sst Sa e eS Various ss ma,erss aass
either either preserved wood, stone or IRON IN order 70
test the question OF cost and convenience; and
whichever material should be found most desirable.
taking all circumstances into consideration Will, Of
course, be adopted. All the piers Will be so built as
TO he capable OF sustaining two three four story
warehouses, at the same time leaving clear pas
sage for The now and wash of the ude. The most
modern conveniences for the quick and easy handling
| Of freight will be adopted.
New YORK city possesses an anchorage area OF
l15h square miles, OF which twenty seven aud one
half square miles are safe and available.
The whole front Of the city that be used
for commercial purposes Is about twenty-five miles.
The number OF piers at present Is lG6 Of Which
siXty-one are owned by private parties ana los by
The wharf facilities OF the city at present are as
follows:-
North river, from the Battery to Sixty.frs street.
bulkhead with an aggregate length Of 23 lo3 feet
pier area Of 800, ,024 square eet.
East river, from the Battery 10 Fifty first stree,
bukhead with an aggregate length OF 26,494 feet and
aggregate engln OF piers or IL, l3s leet, with
pier area OF 7lG,6 GA square feet.
Thus the bulkhead and piers give a wharf line Of
twenty eight and half miles, with pier area Of
2,322, COS square feet.
The plan Of bukhead and piers as adopted oy the
Department OF Docks, gives from the Battery to
Sixty first street, North river, line of bulk
head OF 26,7lS feet and pier length
OF 37,529 feet, with a pier area of 1926 900
square feet, and from the Battery to Fifty
first street, Eas; river, line OF buikhead OF 27,9)5
feet and pier length OF about g. 600 feet, with
pier OF about 100000 square feet, thus giving
altogether wharf lines at which vessels can lie of
about thirty seven miles, with pier area alone OF
a r.
wharf line OF about nine miles and In pier area Of
about three million square leet it the increased
facilities that viii be adopted for the handling,
storing and shipping OF goods the bulkhead and
pier area Will easily accommodate whatever amount
OF commerce shall seek our port.
Tne plan adopted reflects great credit upon the
Department Of Docks II Is simple and yet compre.
henslve.
INSTRUCTION.
The Department OF Public Education was formerly