New-York tribune., 1874-06-11
THE WATERFRONT OF NEW-YORK.
BY JOHN d. VAN BUREN,, JR,

Three hundred and fifty years ago, short
time In the history Of nation, the site of this great
city was unknown to the civilized world. 1t the
wild. uxuriant land Of the red men, who found plenty
for their wants IN its rich forests prairies. and
streams. Now 1t Is city OF o million white men
ond third on OF great cities Of the world rich in
its palaces churches. banks manufactures and
all the countless arts Of civilized man and countless
fleets its beautiful bay bringing rich csrgoes from
distant lands and bearing away to them the wealth Of
this There is, perhaps, no city in the world which
possesses fine q harbor New-York. It's situation
is unrivaed 1t island city and the majestic river
which flows into its bays forms broad highway leading
back $50 miles through valley Of marvellous beauty
and richness to the great canals and lakes, through
which pours the wealth Of the vast West,
seeking at its mouth transportation across the
Its expansive bay is landlocked by
two great natural breakwaters-Long Island and
and Staten Island and includes within Its area more
The city has nearly 25 miles OF 'front.' whole Of
which can @ be made q, ayala6ie for quay or wharf pur
the shore bold The average rise and fall Of ITS tides
It's outer bay an anchorage area oss square
miles proving proving grand harbor OF refuge II has two
Gate and the Sound The lower part Of the island is
generally formed of sand and gravel overlyng granite
Ss The 1oSRy ss h On the s,as
mica. sch,st and 2 few blue powders. The stone
aacns depn Of Ssef mud Hr ovsre:
the sand and gravel along the shores Above Eleventh.
st. the North River the mud rapidly deepens, until
in places depth Of feet 10 reached over
lying shngle aud rock. Its consistency varying
from that Of soft past at the surface
to that OF blue clay at depth Of from
30 to 50 feet The ground Ia generally good for
pile foundation. Nature has thus given New-York
all the natural advantages possible In o commercial
port, and expensive difficult engineering problems
stand In the way Of making its water front the most
available In the world
The necessities OF the past have established the proper
dock wharf system for New without the inter-
vention OF any peculiar engineering skill.
THE EARLY wHARvEs OF NEw-YoRK.
New-York was discovered In lSO9 by Henry Hudson,
sailing In the ship Half Moon the employ Of Dutch
East India Company, and the first regular settlement
was tradingpOst established by q. Chrstiapson
In the southern end OF the island in 1915.
In 1915 the water part OF New-York in
the shape OF Its natural shore line-a sandy
beach. aud perhaps one or two small vessels from
Europe visited 1t annually In 1886 the town had In
creased from 209 to 5000 people, and brisk trade In
furs and tobacco was established with Europe II then
possessed at least wharf appears from sketch
taken from map by DIR. Andreas Van der Danks pub.
lshed In that year In 1917 the province OF Newfork
owned six ships Of 100 tons burden trading
with Europe, and dock system has been INTRODUCED
In 1876 learn from the city records new wharf was
built, aud paid for by taxlevy ON JO merohan.s aa
1878 tho city owned three ships. seven boats; ana
eight al0ops n i69S they had Increased to % shps
boats Snd u sloop- aud the houses q VIZ f.I Al