The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-27

ever'1 n in 1855. when New York appointed q
commission Tor tne preservation OF the harDor,"
New jersey had also appointed COMMISSION
both bodies TO act together. he says that ths
New York Commissioners on 1855 were sensible or
rats TACT aud endeavored o procure the accept
ancs by New jersey Of their lines Of piers and
Dulkheads. Governor Price, Ol New Jersey an
swered the commissioners that the lines could
not be illegally fixed or accepted without being
confirmed BY the respective Legislatures or New
York and New jersey and the Congress OF the
"Here the matter rested. The New York Har-
Dor Con missioners laid down pier and bulkhead
lines for both shores IN che hudson River and
New York Bay but they we're never accepted by
New Jersey. In 1865 q report was made by
Commissioners appointed BY the Legislature OF
New Jersey, which contained survey OF the land
lying under the waters Of the Hudson River and
New York Bay, with proposed pier and 0ulkhead
this Commission are the governing lines, be-
heVe, at tue present date Whether they were
the capacity OF the Hudson River a tidal resers
voir, and thereby Keeping the channel At sandy
Hook the same, or whether tne more narrow pol
! am unable to state: but should think the
subject Important enough TO warrant the APP
poIQilAL OIL a JOINT commission D potn states,
AN their report snail have been made,
TO M matter before Congress for hnal con-
drmStloL lust as was done Ia the boundary ques-
ton in 1854 1t seems not little curious that
such an important question, In Which Doth
States are equally interested, shouid nave SUM
bered SO long; ana not only New YORK and New
Jersey, but the FEDERAL government llsell, ~ IN
terested 10 preserving the best maroon OF the
country, when lleIus Dy lar inc lAIBtSb lSN~
enue. The most thorough and Intelligent rep
resentation OF the whole subject was
mady bv the Harbor Com missiOners, In
1885, to both State governments, and 1t is to be
much regretted that IN neither state have thelI
lines been adhered TO in the controlling sections
OF the Hudson River. me gradual but constant
advancement OF Sandy Hook toward the channels
from the ocean will. at some future date seriously
AFFECT the commercial supremacy OF the port.
Within a century 1t has increased mile anc o
quarter and in the twelve years from 1874 TO 1896
h advanced a quarter OF mile. Various causes
han haa QGgiUna1 alarming OFOQreSSlOn
but while no one OF them seems sufnclent TO pro-
duce the result, 1t probably arises from several
Among the principal OF these are the indiseriml<
nate dumping OF ashes ana other solid material In
All parts OF the harbor and the extension OF the
pier and bukhead lines at points where the river
should not be contracted and which has resulted
in the partial exclusion OF the tidal waters.
a., won,d resnectInIy suggest in connection
with the proposed Improvements on the East River
water front, that TINS work should not be entered
upon by the department. until the modlncatlons
and changes IN the existing lines, as recommended
in my letters to the Board oil February IL, ano
March l6 1875, shall be authorized by the Legis
lature These changes contemplate. nrSt re-
duction In the width OF the river street rom the
Battery to Corlear's HOOK, and In the length o.
omit al oge Their the precise Location OF the new
piers establishing merely the pier ana DulK
head lines. Determining the ioGaslon a ,ns
demand for them Is productive OF serious
embarrassment TO tue department., and | am
firmly convinced that all tnat Is requlreu IN IeF
erence 10 these PIERS at THIS time, is the estab'
llshment by the city OF pier line or limit OF en-
croachment beyond whlch no structure should be
permitted. IL should ny no means, however, De
made obligatory on the department. TO carry al
their pie out to this line; ON the contrary, spec
inc Dimensions should be left to the discretion o.
the Board of Commissioners, and should pc de'
cided from time TO lime, by the demands OF com
merce in eacn locality, as well as by the ascer'
tanned confgurailon OF the shore and river bed.
1he width OF the channel in the East River upor
winch the calculations of General Mcclellan
were based, for the lines proposed in 1870,
mas been materially reduced since then by
the extensive and unrestrained construction Of
soud bukneads and projecting works on the
BROOKLYN side. This shows the necessity OF the
Legislature fixing the limits on botn shores stimuli
taneously, ana with reference TO the preservation
OF the haroor.n
Speaking OF
THE CONTRACT SYSTEM
General Graham says:-"ln my Judgment derlyec
from my experience In the construction OF the
several works described IN tins report, the con.
tract system cahnot be economically or success
fully applied in carrying out the plans OF THIS de-
partment.n
lie then details the reasons that have led him to
this conclusion, and they seem TO be thoroughly
good ones.