New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-26
TIE DEPARTMENTS RECORD.

THE DEPARTMENTS RECORD.
For long time previous to 1870 the docks
bs city we're included with streets under the Depart
rant OF Public Works. Subordinaes Of this Depart
pent from time to time made desultory inspections Of
he water front collected the wharfage Dues and
and then effected some trfing Improvement In all this
tlere was no intelligent and comprehensive policy;
everything was shpshod and hand to-mouth; and small
Irregular, and unsubstantal piers were the inevitable
consequence. The need of some Improvement early
discussed by the Citizens Association and in 1896
O 1867 @ bill TO establish Department OF Docks was
framed but failed to pass the Legislature. Here the
natter TO have slumbered till the Charter of 1870
vas drawn up when tins became one Of its features
Tie law provided that the Department should be con-
uoed by five Commissioners who should hold office for
term Of Eve years, and their salary fixed by the
Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund at $4,000 per annum
The original appOintees were Wilson G. Hunt, William
Wood John T. Agnew, Hugh Smith. and Richard NJ
Henry, and the Board organized on May 1870 The In
Euranee building at LeOnard-st. and Broadway was Sc
ksted the Department headquarters, and it opened
it, books on May 20. Mr.. Smith resigned from Sept l.
pnO, and was succeeded by Henry A. Smith. who in
turn resigned from Nov l. 1871 and ywas followed by j.
Grenvlle Kane Jan. 8. 1872. Mr. Agnew is now Pres
dent and Mr.. Wood Treasurer pro tenn.
PLANS FOR WATER FRONT IMPROVEMENTS.
Two orders OF plans-the ultimate and the temporary
were considered.
l.
reasoned the piers and bukheads had been built in
too hap-haEard and defective a 70 be q Ut model
for permanent plan It's chief objections fol
l. II left the river streets altogether tooinarrow
Tbis especially noticeable at the lower end OF the
city. but true almost far the piers extended,
and likely be true piers built. 1t
ted in the great and tear OF water front thorough
fares aud rendered 1t almost possible keep them in
srder; it hindered and endangered pedestrians;
constant injury 70 teams. vehicles and goods rendered
necessary long delays and great Inconvenience in trans
porting merchandise; and was the most trying because
needless. a. The piers were generally OF made
tuate dimensions. All were too short to accommodate
ssean steamers TO which fact part due the ten
Seney of transatlantic companies to find berths
1t Jersey City and Hoboken. Many OF the piers
we're also too narrow 70 admit Of large vessels
unlading at either side, which was poor econ
envy soI far space went. 8. The construction Of
piers and bulkheads irregular, unsubstanal, and
sngainy. This state of things might satisfy the tenn
perary occupant but it at best penDywlse pound
foolish policy. great cty's system Of piers and bulk
heads should be fixed and regular as its system of
streets it should be substantially built for both safety
and the truest profit and 1t should at least be neat
Finally, the existing bulkheads, largely OF wood and
last going decay, and the wooden piles which were
constantly entangng and retaining refuse, an in
uy the health Of the city, especially IN view Of the
mass Of sewerage which Is poured into the rivers and
which rottng wood absorbs and retains TO greater
hs extent
The Board accordingly decided to fix upon a uniform
plan Of construction which should obviate these Official
possible embrace the best features OF wharf
architecture and form suitable model upon which the
system could be extended the increasing commerce Of
the port might demand Gen. George B. Mcclellan was
therefore asked 10 act Engineerinchief and all In
ieested In the improvement Of the water front were in
ved 70 meet with the Commissioners and present their
Vews Meetings for this purpose were held on June %,
Ty-n IsrIv Vba
Board advertised for plans and estimates on wharf in
provement limiting time for the reception Of these
70 Bept Is and finally Oct !. Plans also asked
which should contain provision for the especial accom-
notation OF steamers aud vessels engaged in foreign
trade. In domestic trade In the coal trade in the trade
In lumber and building materials, in the hay
and grain trade, in furnishing market supplies !;
hso for the accommodate OF steamboats, plying TO
places on the Hudson River and Long Island Sound for
the canaboats arriving in this city, for the railroad
and other commercial interests and It was required
that said plans should be accompanied by all necessary
documents estimates, and particulars" In reply TO this
request plans received from 60 persons and firms
Many Of the ideas suggested by these plans we're excel
lent Due consideration was gwen then, aud the En-
gneerin-Chief having consulted with Gen. A A.
Humphreys Chief Of Engineers, u 8. A. upon the Ques
ton whether extension OF piers and bukhead lines
would damage the harboT, and with Gen. q A. Gilmore
Us Corps Of Engineers in regard TO sections and mate
ras Tor bulEhead walls, nxed upon genetdl Plhn Vi
permanent improvements, which, with the necessary
specifications and estimates. submitted to the Com
moners the Sinking Fund, April 49, 1871, and On
April n adopted by them. The general features OF
The plan were follows
l. To construct O permanent river wall Of Beton and
masonry masonry alone, far outside OF the exist
ing bulkhead 10 give street $50 feet wide along
The North RIVER feet wide tho East River from
the Battery to Thirty 6rss and 17s feet wide north OF
that point.
To build piers projecting from tae river wall OF am
pie Dimensions adequate construction, and, 80 far IA
possible afordng unobstruotod passage Tor the
water
Whenever necessary TO cover these piers with sub
santiAl sheds,
ARcHED PIER WALLS.
BY this plan the present wharf line of iso2ss feet s
miles, would be increased 10 about 900 feet aud the
present pier area Of ASA Ss square feet to about
square feean increase Of 27ssS2 square feet more
than double the old 1t was estimated that the
total cost OF this Improvement would be ooo
per mile Of wharf line Of $685. III The relative
ehsspDess of this Improvement shown by the fact
that Liverpool docks 1884, had cost $50 100000
gold, though q quay line Of only Il or Is miles was
ned and by fact that the London docks (not the
dock syste) had cost q 900 in gold per mile Of quay
line.
The piers built upon this plan in general to be
800 feet long and 30 feet wide The depth required
~ get solid foundation was TO be ascertained
~ bonngs; the bottom was to be dredged ~
lar 90 necessary; q foundation OF np-rap (broken