The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-31

nscscu STATE line and TO the point called Oyster Pond
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the Hudson river a. iar northward as nayigabe;
y: % :aS 80 e s
ind e aaGB and and zig
and bay. tributary thereto the northern shore Of the strait
n ans a or
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Official rssSrd seS the and Of Gos
Der which contain foreign merchandise and domestic dis
THE TRUE PLAN FOR NEW YORK.
Bearing IN mind the relative tonnage OF the ports
as shown In tins statement also the extremely mo-
derate variations OF tide here as well as the fact
that our rivers and bays AFFORD excellent and spa
cious anchorage ground and natural water front In
comparably superior to that OF Liverpool Lon
dom 1t Is evident that there is no necessity for
resorting to the English system Of enclosed DOCKS.
1t Is safe TO say that without reference TO It's exces
sive cost, such system would DE absolutely pernci
oushere From what Ia salready been stated clear
that the arrangement best suited to our wants Is
widen the river street very considerably with ample
piers projecting from 1t at sufficient intervals, and
covered as TO AFFORD security aga inst the weather,
fire and thieves, whenever necessary. This Is the
simplest most convenient ana by FAR the most
economical system that can be suggested 1t brings
Into play all the extraordinary natural advantages
OF the port. and 1t affords every facility for the
cheap and rapid handling OF vessels ana their car
goes.
Aware OF the importance Of locating the river
wall and pier head lines so us to avoid any injury
whatever to the harbor, while afordtng all possible
most important point to DC determined before COM
menclng any work OF construction, ! obtained your
Of General A. A. Humphreys Chief OF En-.
glneer, United States Army, as q consulting
o 70 s me IN as u%
phreys on account OF the weight attached to
his reputation in and harbor engineering, and
also for the reason that his position renders him
entirely Gislnterested In the matter. Tho question
OF the location of the river wall and pier head lines
OF the new arrangement has been very carefully con-
sldered by General Humphreys and myself, III view
OF Its effects upon the harbOr. We have acted with
all the light Afforded by the data in the possession OF
the United States Coast Survey as well as much new
and useful information obtained by the surveying
parties Of this Department.
THE NEW RIVER WALL.
We IND that the proposed location nowhere re-
duces the cross section OF the river to an area
tons Of the two rivers SO that The new ocation viii
not diminish In any apprecable degree the amount
Of the tidal wave. nor consequently the securing
condition OF things from the probable re.
suits or various proposed changes On the Jersey
on the East river, and between Eleventh ana
Eighteenth streets, North river be thrown further
out WtnG1t injury 70 the narDoT but i believed
the North river. and on the East river 200 feet IN
width from the foot Of Whitehall street to Thirty
first street, and thence l75 feet In width win afford
ample facilities for all future requirements OF Dusi
ness. while an increase Of that width would mate
rally enhance the cost OF construction.
On the North river, from the Battery to Eleventh
street. the proposed pier head line has been thrown
out 80 lar as to give the new piers the same gen.
menl The same rule ls followed In the lower paft
OF the East river, carefully avoiding any oDstruc-
HOOK. On the North river, above eleventh street,
there are no piers proposed until Eighteenth street
Is reached where tine piers begin again and grad
reached, where they attain the length OF 800 leet
and preserve that length a. fur as Sixyrst street.
yet been laid down. In no case Will they he eX-
tended so far as to interfere with Navigation.
has led to the conclusion that t Is not desirable 10
recommend the construction of a longitudinal sewer
adjacent to the river; but wherever sewer pierces
the wall 1t should be SO located that Its outlet may
be at or near the pier head instead OF at the foot Of
the slip. The volume and currents q the North and
East rivers are great that, with outlets on the
pier heads no dcuty can arse BY pollution OF OBJ
struction Of the rivers from the sewerage matter;
hence the system SO ably carried out IN London finds
no application here, even did the topography admit
In regard 10 railway alena the line Of the river
OF the river street affords ample space Tor the con-
structiOn OF any railway that may In the future be
the practical construction Of such railway until
considerable portion OF the river wall Is completed,
it would be premature to discuss the subject at
present further than to say that such road can
be easily built TO afford all desirable facilities
for the handling and transportation OF freight and
the TRANSPORTATION Of passengers whenever the
PLAN OF CONSTRUCTION.
With reference to general sections and materials
for the bulkhead walls nave with your permission,
procured the aid OF General q. A. Gilmore United
states sta USrps OF angneeIs ss consulting engineer
ough examination OF this most important subject:
The river wall should be constructed Of Beton and
masonry, or OF masonry alone, as may be best suited
tom along the river front varies to such
any plan Of wall or foundations applicable TO all
cases. Along those portions OF the river wall where
wa er should be 20 feet when possible ana the wall
should rise about six feet above mean nigh water.
With the exception Of half piers adjacent to ferry
less than 60 feet wide, except where some special
case requires 1t. There should be reasonable num-
Der 80 feet ana 100 feet wide.
The dimensions Of each pile as well a. the charac.
ter OF Its construction must be decided In each par
rcular case by the purpose to which II Is TO be APP
piled and the nature Of the bottom. 1t Is proposed,
tor instance, to provide on the North River pro-
per number of piers specially adapted to the grain
ton Of suitable grain elevators and storehouses
Others Tor Hour; others again, IN different parts
lumber business. &c. It Is also recommended that
in every section OF the water front suitable num-
Der of piers snail be reserved for the general pur
poses or commerce and not confined to the use OF
any particular lines OF vessels, for under the exist
ing arrangements merchants are often subjected to
great difficulty and expense nom the lmpossibilty
Of finding accommodations for transient yes
sells near their warehouses. Under the
new l. seems Obvious ST, that mat
1t most convenient and economical to locate their
buildings along the line Of the river streets. The
structOn OF piers, with supports OF such nature
to offer the least possible obstruction TO the water
The wide practical departure from this principle
is one Of the most serious defects OF the existing
system.
nave examined all the plans submitted to you
for consideration. The only information which
these contain are general ideas which the projectors
think should be adopted; but the want OF knowledge
of the ground. which ID matter involving the
labOrious surveys now In progress deprives them
OF practical value, except rs suggestions for gene
raj system.
THE NEW SYSTEM IN BRIEF.
In brl Ell, the general system proposed Isl
FTSt--To construct permanent river wall OF
Beton and masonry, or OF masonry alone, 80 far
outside of the existing bulkhead as 10 give river
street $50 feet wide along the North river 200 feet
Wide on the East river, hom the Battery to Thirty
first street. and l76 feet wide north OF that point
SecOfd-To build piers projecting from the river
wall OF ample dimensions, adequate construction,
and, so far as possible, af1ording an unobstructed
passage for the water
Th,fd-Whenever 1t Is necessary to cover these
piers with substantial sheds suitable to tile require
ments Of each case.
In carrying into execution the proposed improve.