New-York tribune., 1874-06-11

must sIso have been established: In l72s the dock
system s shown by map Q, az .,,t aetna, suryey r,
and broad "kegs or moles, only four wearyes. as We
bad them On s sse map ys un ,sre o
nearly mile. on the North River only four whsrves
s srt sSas Hi ne Tor t6s S
occupied account OF the distance between me SHIPS
s ss M s.y appsars pSw ro% map By % the dock system
has been entirely changed .,o,, a.,
1870 eontded t".tbe Street Department of the city In
that year the Legislature organized Department o.
reSnston Of the water front of the city The Engineer
nChef OF this department was Gen. nahorats
aud carry out plan q ans 70 kee IN order the
old system until replaced BY the new 1t required put
little examination to prove that the expensive docK ys
tenn Of S or aa shsre .as Of from w 70
feet made necessary expensive docks mere the tiie -
scarcely noticeable and the cheapest OF systems pos
ble
THE PRESENT DOCK SYSTEM.
In regard to the general system adopted there can
hardly be a difference Of opinion among engineers who
have studied tho subject In regard to the detas-thss
k the peculiar class OF constructions which should bd
adopted-there must be various opinions The river
wall recommended ny Gen. Mcclellan and adopted 6y
the present Department composed OF beton oiocss
foundatisn to within two feet OF ow-wster mark and
above level concrete land In mass faced w,th %
granite masonry The idea OF using Deton blocks or TINS
arch is due. believe. entirely to Gen, Mcclellan.
and the late Si s nd cnSsp
on the Christopher st. section now being built oy tno
laid IN enc day and 100 blocks Weighing $500 tons.
loaded TRANSPORTED and laid In is DAYS OF IRON anndoo
captain and engineer Tho total cost Of loading trans
aySs SaSo Yard " The
soe 70 Of the s seps psr S the material sSnc
city, considering all exDenses over se per euo,G ys %
e.tae aa as SaSo %s By GeS Mcclellan Of $4,000 per mile
including the cost Of filing. ..o,.
is likely much greater diversity OF opinion than
there is in regard to the type Of the main wall Theirs
factory PLAN for erecting the main street OF thus city
to construct river wall OF masonry nrn ,en' mo
porary satisfactory Our present wooden SniReaas sn
ins up the river. and besides they rapidly decay aud
and very unsghty They IN very rev yesrs Goo o
wharf construction, however, Is quite another one:
Thus main question Of financial economy hos
There are conflicting opinions concerning the durao
ny OF iron in salt water ID regard to wrought iton' -
the Bolts rods anna masn
the iron in lines parallel with the hOrs In regard to
SaGn Sas % may very Se rsms1ea that there
rumors that our cast.iron Lighthouses , are
raD VIII nead Tue tho
application Of paint The Master Mechanics OF tue
Union Ferry Company OF tbls city Niis uio snot NV
withstanding painting OF three iron houses Twice
year in some cases. they rapidly corrode away inls
statement have frequently confirmed 0y personal u-
specton Wood well taken Of Outasts the irou by
many years IL is very doubtful whether any type OF
iron wharf will pay. by its increased durability for is
greatly increased cost
THE PROPOSED PLAN OF CONSTRUCTION
The Departments now building four large wharveS
OF wood on the CnrstOpherst section OF an improved
quality, and have nearly completed three Of them.
Another Is built at Canal-st., North River In these
structures they have not found possible to allow tho
engineers to introduce any artificial preservaves. ex-
cept external coatings OF fish oil and pant but In tho
general character and strength OF the wood work and
iastenings every has been taken TO make them
complete and Of the very best quality The pile heads
structed OF buup columns In section and rs feet
length placed 1875 feet apart and about VI feet
apart In the rows The rows are sheathed or low water
up to the grders both sides with 6inch pankng the
ends Of which protected with boiler plates Tbo
heads Of the columns securely passed into the caps
and girders The piles use1 In the pier some OF which
feet apart in the row. The square timber Is 2Al1 ia
section.
mend itself the proper for the Improvement OF the
Improvement Of the water front OF New York Is to
construct quay wall along the main street OF granite
masonry. increasing the width OF the street consider
ably, and wall to throw out piers OF the
quality OF woodwork. preserved against decay Dy
possible means. and at establish broad main
street and have good piers built and taken
cording settled plan, and 1t will shortly follow that
all known Of facilitating the handling and trans
pOrtatiOn Of freight Will be introduced by the inter-
esed persons then under certain general restrictions.
These public works should go slowly on, say at the
rate OF half mile per annnm III 10 10 years the wall
cover be completed In East River West Eleventh.
st. the North River its progress would be all that
could desired The city would then possess the finest
dock facilities In the world. New-YOrk Is radidly tut
will her established on her commercial throne a.
queen the commercial world.