New-York tribune., 1872-08-01
THE RIVER WALL.
THE AUTHORITY OF THE DOCK COMMISSIONERS
TO CHANGE THE PIER AND BULKIIEAD LINES
QUESTIONED BY THE CONTROLLER GEN
ANis


QUESTIONED BY THE CONTROLLER GEN.
M'CLELLAN's DEFENSE.
The Dock Commissioners approved last
Spring Gen. McClean's plans for establishing pier and
bulkhead lines from SiXtiehst North River to spuyen
Duyvel Creek; and thence through Harlem River to
Grand-st East River. Controller Green recently raised
the question whether the Department Of Docks had
power to change the exterior pier and bulkhead
lines of the city, as these plans propose to
DO At q meeting yesterday, Of the Commits
sioners Of the Sinking Fund, Mayor Hall said that
it was the iopinion of the old Sinking Fund Commis-
they merely appealed to by the law to
see that the establishment of pier and bulkhead lines
city property was not unduly nfrnged upon that they
had no right approve reject plans Tor such hnes,
and that he was OF the same opinion. .. ,
Controller Green contended that the Department OF
Docks had authority prepare plans and TO build piers
and bulkheads but that, according TO his construction
lines as its plans propose 10 do; and that that Depart
ment had such power the alterations as they appear on
s plans are detrimental to the commercial interests OF
this city. Iu conclusion Mr. Green produced an opn-
ion of Engineer John j. serren, which comedies with his
II the powers Of the Dock Commission sufficient to
authorize them to lay out new streets around Ihe cl
alton of the effect of doing on the general plan or
Streets avenues and public places the city, and such
is moi Shown on the maps submitted for my cOnsldera
tion and until Is done the Commissioners OF the SINK
ing Fund cannot, my opinion give an intelligent as
sent dissent TO the plan proposed by the DOCK Com
mission. 49, ,-
Gen Mcclellan submitted the following grounds OF
superiority the Dock Commissioners plan for pier and
bulkhead lines 10 that OF the Park Commissioners
adopted about four months ago, ana sanctioned Dy
The lines as recommended by the Dock Commissioners
preferred TO those of the PARK ior he
following The principle OF DrOad river street.
bordering the river wall and afording ample space Tor
railways maintained for other portions OF the city
The OF the section OF the rVer is not diminished so
much, and the existing regimen is more nearly man,
tanned The location Of the river wall should De nXed
not only by soundings, but also by bOrlngs, which
determine the depth OF water tGat &C can 1h,s De
most important 10 keep the line OF the rlverwan as
ne near Within the narrowest limits large
number bOres made within the limits above mentioned
prove that at these places where the bukhead lines OF
Honers differ the bukhead line OF the Dock DOCK
On feet and upward can be obtained with
and without dredging and about one mile with less than
points so that If the portions where the lines of the two
Commissions coincide had 20 feet throughout. there
miles, with feet depth OF water, and about one mile
with less than 20 feet For reasons already gwen the
construction OF the river wall recommended by the
Dock Commissioners Will he much more economical
than that of the Park Commissioners The line
of the Dock Commissioners is more uniform and affords
freer sweep 10 the water with less liability 10 eddes
regarded advisable to depart as little as possible
from lines of 1851 determined after mature deDera
ton by Col Totten, Prof Bache, and Admiral DAVIS ex
cept when some object OF vital is 10 De ged
and the purposes TO which 1t is devoted, II Is Improbable
that this locality can for many generations DC re-
large vessels. IL is thought best, therefore "
retain the Derhead line OF 1857, which VIII have
y
vide for larger vessels by using portions OF the ryer
wall as quays landing places. BY this ARRANGEMENT
the carefully considered line OF 1857 Is preserved the
area of the water In the deepest part OF the river Is
affected little possible, and the heads OF piers
are kept in reasonable and suhclent depth
OF water That system OF long piers VIII
not for many years DE required along TINS POT
ZION of the river front Will appear from the
tact that In 1854 the harbOr OF Liverpool possessed only
"a 10 miles quay 'front.' while under our new system
we shall have from Fifty yirstst, East River lDy the
Batteryl 20 sixty rst-st, North Ryer-about 81 miles
~ ouay Accommodation from yfirstst, East River,
10 Harlem Bridge, "a miles from Harlem Bridge 10 the
nouth of Spuyen Duyvel 6t miles, and from the mouth
Of spuyten Duyvel TO Slxty-nrst-st, North RIVER
1without counting the piersl, glO mies;
making a total OF about "a $40 miles. beal,
ing In mind, too, the large present ana
Brooklyn IL is impossible that longer piers than those
provided will be required ana qGlte certan t.,
Tor many years, this portion OF the iVer loht WIN % p
only Tor local purposes Upon the request OF tho
Chief OF the Department OF Parks these sght
of the bulkDead line are recommended IOr
adoptiOn These render II practcaDle 10 cOnstruc'
necessary communicating streets with easy gfade anu
the advantage thus gained ls nol coun'oi""'"" ~ Vs.
resulting disadvantage. . .,,,,, 90 ,ho nock
Controller Green replied that, according TO the DOCK
Commissioners map, large part Of the Dukbeau my
had moi enough 10 float vessels OF any size anu
that the proposed line would be very S ~
the nrosrtss of the West Side by disturbing grades Oh
streets now settled and that would sci aslde the Pio
vision for the rapid and cheap unloading O az
stOrehouses provided for IN the plans o INC r"A 'o
InissiOners. ---.-. =. o.u,o.a
Prtchard objected. the part OF proPertyowners
the west side, the change IN Tue M
on that side, and the matter was nnaHy Postpo"ou VII
the nrst Monday In September ~, ,,.,s
An Application was received from the POnce Coinins
sODeTs tOS the use OF the Eighteenth WafPmhfAoss -