The New York herald., 1874-11-01
OUR ROTTEN DOCKS.

Worm-Eaten Piles, Mouldy Planks
and General Dila Observation-Disclosures
ored Piers as Seen by the Dock Conn
missioners.
1t Is generally admitted fact that the docks
or, as they ought more properly be called, the
wharves-of New York. are In anything but good
condition. Merchants and shippers who have
been abroad and seen the magnificent stone
wharves OF Liverpool, London, Oherbourg and the
Otner leading cities Of the Old World, have indeed
reason for being disgusted with the ram-shackle,
barn-lke appearance OF our docks 1t has been
stated that there has been marked Improvement
in the condition OF the piers since the present De-
partment OF Docks was created, but 1t Is none the
less true that much remains 10 be done to make
them In anv sense worthy OF the great and proud
metropolis Of America. On1cials, OF course, are
always wont to look at such matters in se-col-
ored light, and the Dock Commissioners seem to
form no exception to the old rule. A reporter of
tine HERALD who called upon those gentlemen at
their magnificent Office at the corner OF Broadway
and Leonard street. in order to ascertain their
opinion Of the present state OF the wharves, was
assured by them
THAT EVERYTHING WAS LOVELY
and that the goose hung nigh. Not that those dig
nified onicials used these colloqual terms; but
they seriously declared that there was, not q pier
condition. Some OF them, President Westervelt
said, might be unsightly" but they were all sound
and sale. The reporter asked about rotten piles.
..Oh, none Of the wharves were rotten,n was the
reply OF all the three Commissioners, and they
added that never in the history OF New York had
the docks been In such good order as they were
now. Mr.. Budd, on being closely questioned, ad.
mitted that some OF the docks should he rebuilt,
bur he declined emphatically 10 state (which ones
he referred to. The reporter Jnereupon expressed
his profound thanks for the information and SUBJ
sequently conversed with various shippers, who
seemed to entertain very different opinion of the
wharves.
sThere is no doubt that the Dock Commissioners
have done good deal to mend and patch some
OF them but, upon the whole, the docks are In q
disgraceful condition. Some OF them are rotten TO
the core and ought to be entirely rebuilt.n
This was the view expressed BY one who had a
deep personal interest In the soundness OF the
wharves, and Others cOncurred In this censure.
SCENES OF DELAY AND NEGLECT.
A walk along the two river fronts Is fraught with
some DISAPPOINTMENT to the good New Yorker who
would like TO see his native city equal TO the
proudest capital Of Europe. Not only are South
and West streets dirty crowded, obstrucled by all
sorts OF encumbrances which should be removed
by q good city government, but the wharves-
which are always objects Of great interest In
commercial metropois-are totally inadequate for
the requirements OF this great city. They are,
quite apart from their 'unslghtly" appearance, as
one OF the Commissioners calls 1t, altoget ether too
small, too narrow, and hence productive oil great
inconvenience to shippers. What even wooden
wharves can be is demonstrated by the two new
magnificent piers and s. belonging to the Penn
sylvanis Railroad Company, which form striking
Of m ia m mia
longing to the city. 1t would be mere waste OF
space TO 60 through the entire list OF our wnarves
public ana private, in order to snow that the ma
jority OF them have b1n so neglected or built
badly from the start, that they nothing better
than public eyesores few Of them. which were
visited yesterday by q representative OF the
HERALD, may serve as spectmens-aud they are
by no means the worst-of the rest.
PIBR NO. 20 EAST RIVER.
Pier No. 70 East River s the old piers OF the
city. It's appearance, IKE that Of most OF the
wharves, Is anything but prepossessing although
it has recently had the benefit OF very elaborate,
II not very thorough, 0vernauling. The piles and
Cross beams nave rotted, more especially the lat
ter, whicn are perfectly worm eaten at the water
in the water The occupants say that during the
twelve or fourteen years that the dock has been
occupied nothing has really been done to put the
structure into perfectly sound cOnoItlon or even
to materially strengthen the piles. the dock may
not now be In absolutely dangerous state, but if
all the piles are suffered 70 decay completely some
accident Ia likely to happen, which Will be q serl-
Gus warning to the authorities
PIER Is EAST RIVER.
Pier Is belongs 10 the same category. The only
cause for allowing II to remain In It's present dis
graceful condition u most probably that 1t Is
likely to fall Into pieces this or next week. "It
Will last for some time" said the occupants, .sbut
1t viii ultimately crumble down." Ii Is one OF the
numerous piers which ought to be compile etely re-
piled and thoroughly overhauled regardless OF
cost. The piles are so rotten that they have set
tied to considerable extent and when Q heavily
loaded cart passes along them the entire struc-
ture shakes perceptibly, and nervous person.
luckily, tearusters generally sare not afcied with
sensitive nerves--might indeed tremDle lest the
whole concern should come rattling down. The
planks, which were evidently badly laid and not
sufficiently stout lOr the extremely heavy carRoes
which they must constantly sustain, have given
way In some places; In others they are " orn into
deep ruts. Altogether the dock Is not a GLADDEN.
ing sight, and should be completely renovated.
PIER 35 EAST RIVER.
This pier Ia private property, and, as piers in
this eity co. might ne considered In fair order. IL
IL by no means perfect however although It's
piles and planks are not so rotten as those oil pier
26. II Ii an old pier, which was rebuilt eight or
ten years ago, and gives yet evidence OF good
workmanship. Like many other piers, both pri-
vate and public, 1t sadly requires sheatning, and
When this u done. and done In thorounh and