New-York tribune., 1875-09-25
THE COMMUNICATION TO THE MAYOR.
DEPARTMENT OF DOCKS.
NEw-lORk, Sept -, 1870.

NEw-YoRK, Sept -, ls75.}
IN. Hon W r. WICRHtM Mayor.
SIR: The undersigned, Commissioners OF the
pcpartment OF Docks have the honor 10 transmit mere
with a repOr; OF the Engineern-Chief OF the Depart
meut in which is detailed the result Of examinations
made Of sections OF the sea-wa now nearly competed
at Canal st and KingSt. North River We invite your
careful attention 10 this report and 10 the following
brief narrative:
Tho original plan for the construction Of the seawa
devised Oy Gen Mcclellan, the then En9neerlil-C mel
j. Known - the beion block system wlch Sonsstr VI
fhc formation of massive con Tec blocks formed I'D
moIs and manufactured in the open air ID sicn SlIeS as
the nature OF the Work ceinahds ihcs pioShs, th
properly hardt ned. were lowered Dy the ad Oh tne
driven. and then sawed of SO as TO form al, an
bed. An example Od tnlS sIS'oin IN ~ VI
In The mon OF July 1873. Gen. Chas X Graham wes
anioned Ineiaeern-Che. of the Department in place
The records Of t9e Department tha in the of Oc
tober, ls7i with aNicw to move ecOno,ny ~ sne com
mcDded 10 The bOard as substitute 1or oetoh biocss
that concrete should he formed upon lounod
lion OF piles in wet caSSOn, the concrete being lowered
TO pace wiz the casson Inappropriate machinery
in tihing buckets and then left 10 harden into q sond
mass Toe hc piles were not cut on aiter "lng
driven In tho month Of November following. our pede
ocsrs by f-ns rcsoiution adopted the
which WIS done. and about 347 feet we're constructed
For particulars concerning tins system OF Danneau ~a
with inclo~ed. The new Board OF Co1nmisso15ers on rs
wa organiz,d on the 2d OF May last and on tne "a OF
Jnne following Gen Graham resigned tho once OF In
inser in cf and practicable his successor
orsos. Greone jr., appointed TO MI The vacancy
Tine attention Of the Conmis- -oncfs being called 10 pos
e de fec.s in this method Of construction, the SUBJECT
was referred fc Investigation 10 the Executive commit
tee who directed the EngineernChicf to make care
fu examination Of te wOrG. and report the result Inc
difficulties attending the examination in tlrh1 water
and results thcr Jf eXpained Ill the ErSDcCrlh
Chiefs report The examination has proceeded lar
enough excite ia minds YER! grave apprehension
e to The safety OF tnat portion OF the wall covered by
k.e report. y
II jlir appreEepsi q should he well founded we desire
TO avail ourselves Of such remedy as the combined Wis
don al highes. authorities suggest THIS is not
only thc great int rests Of the city, hut il seems
aso lust that individuals who be considered re-
spcsb,C fl O.. work Should have the ADVANTAGE OF the
fullest and .1irtst examination Oi it, BY body OF men
OF snci capac.ty and character that their decision
shal accs pied by al. We have therefore though,
Sy ns report IT. mad b. three crs OF the first e
acnce aud invite er suggestions as 10 the remedy to
D. applied, il any s thought sary by them That
may the utmost imlartalitI III TINS invtstga
On have deemed il proper request your Honor az
tno chief Magisira,c Of the city three suitable
persons for a. 3 purpose.
Very respectfully,
=. II. WALES.
II. +. DIMOCK. Commissioners.
JACOB a. WEsTERvELT,)