The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-29
DESTROYING THE HARBOR.
History Of the Entertainments on the
Waters Of the Port Of New York.
The Damage They Have Done
and Are Doing.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION DEMANDED


cilfries that the city has risen TO the highest i'm
portance as commercial port. 1t is possible. how
ever, by unwise legislation to far affect the har
Dor OF New York that its natural commercial ad-
vanages may be- II not destroyed entirely, ar least
10 iessened as to lose us the proud preeminence we
have enjoyed, and reduce the city, as shipping
port to a third or fourth rate harbor. Time and
again warning has been given that the encroach-
ments permitted on oar water fronts were working
much injury TO our commercial interests; but the
warning goes unheeded. In order that the COM
munty may know how great has been the damage
already DONE and how severe VIII be our punish.
ment II precautionary measures are not adopted,
we give below historic summary OF the
PRINCIPAL ENCRoAcHMENIs
on harbor IN the hope that effective Legislation
may be had to prevent their further increase
In 1880 King George ii. gave TO the city Of New
York the land, 400 feet under water, extending
from point on the North River side Of Manhattan
Island, where Is now the foot OF Charlton street
ehen called Bestavers KIltJe) to the foot OF what
Ia now Houston street, the East River side, ex-
cep,mg from this grant only the lands under water
opposite the soulnernmost part of the island, or
what Is now the Battery. BY the terms OF TINS grant
'tlre Mayor, Aldermen ana Commonaity oil New
York" might build upon or fill IN the whole OF the
water covered area--about two hundred and nine
acres in all. Sixty years afterward Q790 the
State OF New York transferred to the city all its
right, title ana Interest to "Fort George and the
Battery adjacent thersto;" and in 1921 the grant
was further extended TO the lands--6oO feet under
water--adJoinIng the Old Fort and the Battery.
Meantime the city had acquired, by further grants
Of water covered lands both on the North and East
Rivers two miles long by 400 feet wide nOrthward
from Houston street, on the latter, and four miles
by 400 feet northwardly from the present foot OF
Charlton street, making about ve hundred acres In
ali thus taken from The harbor. Afterwards 1880
the city acquired. by Legislative grant, the right
TO ALL LANDS UNDER WATER
within four hundred feet OF low water mark from
the extreme northernmost points OF the previous
grants 10 Spuyten Duyve Creek on the North River
side, and 1882 to the Harlem River on the East
River side. Thus the city became owner OF belt OF
land 400 feet under water all the way round Man.
haitian Island.
In 1907 commission, consisting Of Gouverneur
Morris Simon Dewitt and John Rutherford, was ap-
pointed by the Legislature TO set on foot plan OF
public city improvements, and was empowered
"ro LAY OUT STREETS. ROADS
And public squares" Their action was TO be final
and their maps to be of record In special terms
she act OF appointment gave power 70 this commits
mon TO lay out streets on the then water covered
lands thus practically divestng the city authorities
Of the absolute rights they had acquired over these
lion even then manifested itself TO extend the city
INTO THE WATER.
the natural water lines were disregarded in
strengthening the shores. Avenue ID was laid out
and made the exterior line Of the East River 10
Eleventh street. Beyond 10 Fiitieth street the ex-
terror line was First avenue. ana from Fitch TO
Seventy-thrd street 1t was avenue A. On
tire Hudson River Tenth avenue was de-
r,ared to he the exterior line to Thirty fourth
street; then Eleventh avenue to Seventy-seventh
street and Twelfth avenue to l55tn street. The ex-
teror lines were afterwards changed oy the Legls-
lature, East and Tompkins streets being created
out OF the water and afterwards West and South
streets became the permanent exterior lines Of the
southern part OF the city.
The most damaging encroachments upon the har.
Dor and river areas
BEGAN IN 1850,
when on the east side the whole shore was run out
from los TO 400 feet beyond the original belt of 400
feet. On the Hudson River SIDE space was usurped
from Iherver, between Vesey and Dey streets, to
extent SUFFICIENT to furnish dock accommodations
for 80 900 tons OF Shipping while on the East River
owners OF shore property filed In between Thirteenth
and Eighteenth streets exterior To the 400 feet aud
beyond the legal line established by the State. Not
only this, but the Common Council In December,
1856, laid down an exterior line from RivlngtOn
street TO Thlrtyeighth street. East River FAR beyond
tied and directed the owners OF the adjacent up.
lands 10 ill In TO
THE LINE DESIGNATED
by the LIST or January, $780, This action the Board
OF Harbnr commissioners declare In their report
Of 1857. was IN direct violation OF law and mar
yowed the channel between the south end OF Black
wells Island and the pier mead line originally es-
tabished by the commissioners from lOOl feet TO
blS leet. II the idea Of solid filling authorized by
the Common Council should be carried out there
would be reach OF four miles without any ade-
quate accommodation Tor vessels The exterior line
Of 1907 came at last
TO BE UTTERLY DIsREGARDED,
merce, the Legislature passed an act entitled IAN
preservation Of the narbor OF New York from en-.
necessary navigation thereof" THIS commission
succeeded, In 1851, in getting passed an act estab
PIER AND BuLxHEAD LINR,r
which, for the first time, put an estoppe on the
ties and by private individuals TO push the city
into the water. The gentlemen composing this
King, John Vanderbilt, John l.. Talcctt and James
Bowen. who called TO their and, "a an Advisory
the following notable scIentsts:-ProfessOr A. d.
Bache superintendent OF the United states Coast
Survey; General Joseph q; Totaen CHIEF Engineer
raD Charles II. Davis, United States Navy. These
eminent gentlemen, after thorough investigation,
declared that beyond the permanent pier and bulk
head lines thus LAID down, the city not be
tended except To the complete ruin Of the harbor.
ever, as Will appear below.
One OF the most serious encroachments on the
harbor was the usurpiDg by the city authorities
from the North River area OF the site about five
acresl wbereon
WASHINGTON MARKET
now stands that Old cyesore 10 every New YORKER
winch FIRST used as q place for the deposit OF
earth and refuse and the greater part OF which
tends hey Ond the original 400feet line embraced IN
the legislative grant. Another encroachment was
u pier which
CORNELIUS VANDERBILT
had begun of the Battery In defiance OF law, but
winch he was subsequently compelled 10 remove
OWING 10 the persistence Of the Pilot Commission.
ers, who, alter pressing hun heavily IN the lower
Courts followed MIN to the Court OF Appeals and
succeeded ID getting the refrom final decision con-
nrIning the judgment oil the Supreme Court in CIR
cult and General Terms vice given IN their favor.
Tue decision OF the Court was that ANY encroach
ment upon public stream was DUrpresture-tbas
il, the making VI that private which ought 10 be
common 10 many; ana an obstruction in u public
river Is nuisance, and may be dealt with as sucnn
RILxOr COMMISSIONEKn