New-York tribune., 1871-07-28
THE TATER FRONT

MEETING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DocKs-A
PETITION TOR TIE LEASE OF THE RiNEh
FRONT DFNIED-COMNERCE NOT TO DE
TAXTD BY ulGH RATES OF WHARFAGE.
Tho Board of Docks consented, yesterday,
n, hud pier 900 at the foot Of Thirty si1S
n y for the ManhsttanMarkct Company, when agrees
10 nav rent equal 10 seven per cent OF t'e eh''o
cost with interest the value of the l"hu, anu
40 make all repairs. Permission was given TO william
posrctt 70 erect bulkhoad in front of his property
s,aen sxtv-second and Sixty yfourth-sts., n. r. and
40 the New.York and Brooklyn Ferry Company to
,roct a ferry-house between James ana hoose-
velt-sts orders were given 10 the ois-
tTict superinteudents 10 remove oostIuouons
NV covering the bukhesd between Piers Nos q ana "a
- o,5 from bukheads at the foot Of West Fifteenth
:, West 1pirty-fourth and West Elcyenth-sts pier
- ordered TO be built az the foot of Thirtethst H. X
The National Steamship Company was gwen inc use oI
pier No. a., " r., at an annual rent OF N2'"V'
xhue Pier No. A., now occupied by the company Is
,,r,tr,rc The Auditing Committee reported In favor
n ,avnent OF bills amounting to S75sOG 90 including
- ~. "a f,r lumber $3.50 90 for the ot derrick,
A. -oo 70 for TOOLS 5000 for ting, S1l75o for propeller
-, e. 55o for tools and miscellaneous materials The
saU f Pier no OF the foot Of Broadst. was ordered
9NT 15ie ~ lie slip, there being many complaints from
is in the vicinity OF the nolS9me smells emanaG
i,r from H. The petition Ct Cen KuIus IngaiIs -. ,,
~ ,srri5,ter for permission 10 Keep supply barge
-, Pier. Nos Al sud q, n. r., was denied:
Tie EXeGatyS ot t6e SewYorF Pier and Ware
house Company for lease 0I ne water on'i d9e % Toh
many Lad 1pplcd 10 the pepRrtnelt Tor Iahu uh1cd %
Sfeit for The construction OF 10 piers, each 100
feet WIDE and extending nom oe t DNe9u m t 5o Se tb
line with The intervening ,dVS vi ~ ~ dn0
,jr or docks and slips. The land was TO extend 5000
onC lie North River and was asked on the following
,rns: A sea-Vail and street must be constructed by
fbe Dep8rfmcut and 5000 feet must be leased to the
cel9y . l0r es a1e the Whole term 50 years the
prrptity being on taxation For these privileges
and 10 Increase the amount by 600 for each successive
decade. TIE Company reserved the control and man
r ahs.t taf.r non hu
snd promised 10 deposit $4,000 OF its own stock with
Tic Committee estimates the results as follovsi Con-
Etlucou of bukhead ,420454 54 valuation OF 20 PIERS
70 he bought OF private owners OWest essmaSI I'm M t1'Ooy
pual rent deposit proposed Ivy the Company S06G
toance in interest account against the city III 10 Years
Tie report closes rs follows: Your Committee are not
pttrcI 10 say IL would be unwse TO make leases
Of the piers and bukheads but on the contrary are OF
the opinion that leases may be made directly 10 steam
,lip lines both in the foreign and domestic
trade, as well as TO steamboat Companies carrying
passrnCc and freight ulon the rivers ana inland
persuaded that wharyes and piers may be constructed
suitable the wants OF commerce, and leased TO steam
aud, tridins with York with the exclusive right to
the piers ard slips thus leased for telr own vessels
and that they can be made sef-sustalnlng Inc same
principle may be carried out with respect to seloon-
srs, siuOps and canslbOats. At the present time,
Department OF Docks have applications from parties
interested in commerce to pay very remunelauve
price for wharf facilities If they can have the aceOmmO
oston. Under these ercumtanCes your CSinmttee are
unwilling If they possessed the authority which
lU
IN the hands Of company, with power TO regulate SC
large a proportion Of the commerce OF the
ety. NOGr Committee would favor large
snj liberal policy in relation TO the river front. II
the whaves and piers be so constructed ss TO Toe
made seltsustaning and at the same time afford the
requisite accom- mediation to commerce, would improve
me business Of the city and reduce the percentage
taXatOn by Increasing the amount OF property TO b
taxed But should be found necessary by experience
n order 10 compete with ncghboTing cities, TO reduce
TIE tax on commerce by reduction ia wharfage, OF II
difference between the receipts and expenses 70 th'
Snnual city taxes anu thus Increase commerce, add u
thereby charging the basis of taxation without lncTeas
ing the perez Btage. This, under the circumstances
might appear to be WISE orK Is t S
therefore be the the Pohcy or the authorizes e
W foster commerce 10y reducing me charges
thereon 10 the lowest possible point Nearly
trds of the entire imports OF the country are land
ed and sold this city, and more than ohetnru on tne
exports is put into ships aud sent 10 uerenV PaI'e "
M world Therefore il is the true interest OF TINS C
20 Induce commerce 10 come toit by ali the means within
control For the city TO build Wharyes ana peIs iol M
the purpose Of making money oy taAus "
q high rate of wharfage would, lh lhe esuua-
tion OF your Committee be running IN opposition 70
the true interests Of the city. Philadelphia supplies her
citizens with water and gss at cost heW-10rK supIneS
!O NewY0rk TO furnish WhaTYes PIERS ana sps a cost
so ana thus invite ships from all parts Of the world 70
land and take IN cargo at our WharNes ana piers az te
lowest possible raesi II this be the true policy OF
the city, your Committee uIlnly DtAeVes,
II would appear the part OF wisdom to re
tsn control Of the entire waterfront, and lease 10
1hiI-oWners the bukheads piers, aud slips for their
exclusive Use, strictly for commercial purposes, leaving
those desire 10 lease the waterfront "a the city Tor
purposes OF gain upon terms far less than It's true value
sud those who seek derive profit by exactons from
u the shape OF high rates Tor wharfage, 10
have to other specuatons less Injurious ~ the
lie report was accepted and the petition OF the New
NeIE Per and Warehouse Company was denied.