The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-31
Our New Water Front-esner.I mcuelIan's

Our New Water Front-General McCIeIlanss
Report.
New Workers. win probably be able to realize
what magnificent city for commercial pur-
poses they have in this metropolis after read
ing General McCelIan's very able and interest
ing report upon the proposed new system of
wharves and piers. He shows that our city is
unrivalled in its position as a great maritime
and commercial mart, having far greater natu-
raj advantages than either London or Liverpool
as seaport These latter ports both suffer
from contracted river front and from the great
daily variations Of the tide, while New York
has total available water front Of twenty-four
and three-quarter miles, being washed on all
sides by deep, navigable rivers, which expe-
rience only extremely moderate daily variations
of the tide, besides possessing an incompara-
bly, greater area Of anchorage ground in our
lower and upper bays. With these facts in
view he comes to the conclusion that the
London system of enclosed docks-necessary
there on account of the rapid and great tide
variations-is not only unnecessary here, but
would be expensive and pernicious. He,
therefore, dscards that system, and proposes
q solid river wall, widening the Riverside
avenue two hundred feet on East river and
two hundred and fifty on the Hudson, with
piers of Beton or masonry projecting there
from at the requisite distances from each
other. Outlets at the pier heads will be made
sufficient for sewerage purposes. In brief, the
general system proposed is thus summed up
by General Mcclellan himself
First-To construct a permanent river wall OF
Beton and masonry, or OF masonry alone so far out
side OF the existing bulkhead as to give q river
North river, two hundred feet wide on the East
river from the Battery to Thirty first street, and
one hundred and seventyve feet Wide north Of that
point.
Second-To build piers projecting from the river
wall OF ample dimensions, adequate construction,
and, so far as possible, afrording unobstructed
passage for the water
Tnird-Whenever 1t is necessary TO cover these
piers with substantial sheds suitable to the require
mentS OF each CASE
The report in general is one that will prove
highly satisfactory to the business people Of
New York. There Is no reason, with the i'm
mense wealth of our metropolis, its great ship
ping and its magnificent water front, that our
system of docks and piers should not be made
the most commodious in the world, especially
as they can be arranged more simply than
those Of Liverpool, and, consequently, much
more cheaply, with greater attainment of the
conveniences most requisite for great ship
ping mart. Indeed, as regards the expense,
the report states that dock facilities equal to
those in Liverpool can be obtained under the
arrangement proposed at cost incomparably
less than that Of those superb construc-
tions. In addition to all the evident ad-
vantages to our shippers and merchants
the widening Of West aud South
streets will greatly relieve those crowded
thoroughfares-a consideration which, although
the least of all, is yet of vital Importance. The
great cutlery Of the compressed humanity Of
New York has been for relief for Broadway;
but the immense portion of our population
whose ways Of business lead them to the lower
ferries or about the docks, or who in person
visit Washington or Fulton Market for their
household provision, the great need Of relief
for the river side streets is fully as pressing as
for the relief of Broadway.