The New York herald., 1874-11-08
DEPARTMENT OF DOCKS.
Progress and Cost OF the WOrks-Two Millions
Of Dollars To Be Spent Every Year.
THE STAFF PLOYED

The condition OF the water front along both the
North and East River shores has ioEg oeen re-
proach TO the Empire city, and under the adj
ministratlon OF the present Board OF Dock Com
nissioners there seems 70 be but little reason to
anticipate any speedy arrival to better state OF
tMhgsi for when any remonstrance or inquiry
is addressed to them on the subject the Inevitable
reply is that all possible progress Is being made
anu that the works looking toward an improve
ment OF the system OF docks and the bulkhead line
IL peing pushed on as fast as the peculiar interests
lnvoiVed, ana which have TO be considered, allow.
The old Board, although frequently hampered by
the want OF the funds necessary to carry on their
works simultaneously at the different points
along the two lines OF water front, yet managed
TO push on their works with vgor which prom
ised, at no distant date, to give the city q
system OF docks which could be pointed
to with pride instead OF shame. as at
present. The present Board, while they ad-
init that they have no difficulties IN a monetary
way to contend with, s:ill protest that they are
using their best endeavors to carry on the work
with every possible ceeriry. How far such Is the
case can be judged from the particulars given In
Ute following account OF what Is now being done.
The Commissioners estimate their annual expendi-
ture at 81 o0o 600, although this year the amount
disbursed win fall Short II 10 thought, OF this sum
by s4oo 600. They admit that there has been no
obstacle thrown In their way by the Board OF Ap-
portlonmenr, from whom the supplies for carrying
on the works are drawn, and that so far as any
demand has been made on them for funds 1t has
been promptly met. 1t Is, therefore, somewhat
difficult TO understand the slow manner
in which the work OF repairing and rebuild
ing Is carried on, and why it Is that
instead OF the $50 men now employed on the diff
Ierent works this number should not be SO far in
creased as TO allow OF the general plan of construc
ton being sooner completed. The excuse, how
ever, appears to be that 1t s impossible to obtain
possession OF the piers, on account Of their being
IN some cases owned by private individuals or
held under lease from the city. The Commission.
ers however, admit that they have the power to
acquire possession OF these pers but afraid to
dispossess the present occupants for fear OF their
bringing action against the city for heavy dam
ages The Board contends, too, that there are no
worm-eaten piers to be found, for the reason that
tOredO cannot live in the water that nows around
and through the plies supporting these piers, on
account OF the ioul gases and sewage, which
say, some years ago in immense numbers, buu
have on the New York shores entirely dlsap-
be stnl found on tho Jersey and Brooklyn sides.
THE WORK NOW DOING
Among the works now being pushed forward by
pier known as No. North River, which Is, Is IL
said, rapidly approaching completion, although to
the eye OF novice in engineering affairs this
desired result seems to be a long way on. Tha
engineers assert, however that the pier. as well
as as the oulkhead, WIZ De ennrey completed @ @ oy o
on the work.
which extends from the south side Of the loot OF
Barrow street to West Eleventh street, 1.l50 feet
~ IS Seng as
head has been completed. The dredging and
driving OF piles, which act as . base Tor the con-
crete blocks OF the Oulkhead wall has also been
done along distance Of go feet more and o con-
siderable number OF concrete blocks land down.
The space between the buiknead line and Wess
street is also being flled IN, which, when inisheh
win give to the street width OF $50 ieet. the
s sooSs ea w ara ss e
granite similar to tnat now seen at the battery.
THE CANAL STREET SECTION
shows but little progress, the work there consist.
ing Of the building OF pier "a, occupied BY the
Pacific Man line OF steamers. The pier proper ID
| The approach 10 the pier Is merely a temporary
affair." The WORK OF dredging and driving piles
being proceeded with the Commissioners say,
with all the energy the department. can urge, and
the whole ls expected to be finished early next
year.
During the winter the work on this section is to
be continued. beginning atresh at some point be-
tween Canal and christopher streets. With the
exceptions above noted no other work is being
done by the department Several necessary
works, In the shape or
REPAIRING AND EXTENDING OLD PIERS
have been done during the year. For instance,
the old piers at the foot o 152d and l55th streets,
Carmansville, have been extended and repaired,
affordng increased facilities to the steamboat and
freight traffic which has u location there. several
other piers which needed repairs have, It 10 re-
ported by the engineers, also been attended to
and secured. The piers built this year are Nos.
iows-Sos. as and 20 retained BY The Commission Isl on
ers for the temporary docking OF vessels removed
from other piers. Nos. "A and As let to the White
Star line at o rental OF $4,000 per annum. No ~
not yet let. The space between piers 43 and "A Is
let to the Christopher Street Ferry Company at .
rental OF $l5, 900 per annum.
The FINANCIAL EXHIBIT.
The receipts and disbursements OF the depart.
ment since January !, last, Is as follows-
Disbursed for salaries, materials &c. 49,. 800 900
The working star is as f0ilows:-Three Commits
sioners. engineer .in-chef three assistant en-
gneers one secretary one chiel CLERK four assist
ant clerks, one messenger and $50 lab0rers.