The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-01-04
The appropriations for 1875 sos, 900; for 1876
they are SIS, 000 reduction of $4,000.

DOCKS
The Board governing the Dock Department has, since
Nay last been reorganiZed and is now in condition Of
efficiency.
Many important works OF construction or OF repair
are in progress and some have been completed in 1875
Several months ago the new Engineering Chief
ported as the result of a preliminary examination
made by him. that the condition of the bulkhead wall
then in process Of construction on the North River
front at King and Canal streets such to excite
grave apprehension The work there and elsewhere
that front was, therefore, suspended to await
the report OF commission OF eminent civil
engineers appointed TO ascertain the precise facts,
and 20 advise with regard to 1t and TO the plans of
srucon 70 be hereafter pursued in building the bulk
head wall They have conducted careful Investigations
but have made yet only preliminary report which
just6es soctude in respect TO the work under nvesti
CATION, OF which the original cost, however, was only
about 500 600
Notwithstanding the present dulness Of trade It is
not now possible TO provide adequate accommodations
for the traffic which seeks an entrance TO or outlet from
the city by shipping steamers, railroads and
craft on the North River front and within the limits of
the region in which such business is done. Improve
ments there will be Judiciously prosecuted, and the
construction of terminal facilities for moving the
freghts OF commerce should be provided encouraged
rapidly possible TO reduce the extraordinary
emulation OF charges now made At this port for hand
ling freighs
The amounts collected by the department from
OF wharf property paid the City Cham
berain and placed TO the credit Of the sinking fund
Those amounts are steadily ncreasing-in 1865 they
were but 1912 AIS in 1875 they were considerably in
of 5000 600, and larger than before The
difference between the revenue derived from those
in 1870 and that received in 1875 is
whole amount expended by the department during
that time in improving the water front In 1875 the
Board leased by public sale and otherwise on the East
River twenty piers tweny-one half piers and fifteen
bukheads, and on the North River thirty piers two
half piers and nine bulkheads The rents for which
those leases made believed TO be the full value
OF the of the premises
Since May last the Board has made larger reduction
In the salary account-which is now at the rate Of
$50, POI per annum-lut previous 20 May last was at
the rate of $780, 800 per annuma decrease Of nearly 10
per cent
And while the amounted expended by the depart
ment during 1874 was lin round numbers) 81 1000,
the expenditures during 1878 have been only about
500 COO
Those and all other expenses of the department are
payable under the present law not out Of taxation but
from the proceeds OF bonds which must be issued by
Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund upon the requis-
ton OF the Board governing the department That sys
tenn is altogether wrong and though not likely TO be
abused at present, should be changed
II may be stated here that for years. the Union
Ferry Company has had the Of valuable franchises
and dock property belonging to the city, at nominal
20 be prepared, which adopted by the Commis-
soners of the Sinking Fund requesting tho Counsel
the Corporation for opinion TO the legality OF that
lease HIS opinion indicates that tho lease IS illegal
The Commissioners of the Sinking Fund have there.
fore directed proceedings TO be taken TO have IL an
nuled, and proper return for the property may be
cured for the city treasury The revenue derived from
that source PRIOR to the present lease, over
500 600 per year and, with the of travel by
an increased population the franchise and property
should yield the city an income larger than that
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
The number OF teachers in 1875 was 8, 257. The
whole number OF scholars taught in 1874 PSI 5S2 in
1875 II 1853 S94. The actual average daily attend
of III 231 scholars 1874 and 49, s53 IN 1875
There class for ISL S14 scholars Those figures
include the Normal College and Training School and the
Saturday sessions for teachers which, IN 1879 were at
tended by students than BEFORE and ad
mrably maintained at cost of about ss5, 900.
The whole amount Of the expenses OF the Board OF
Education in 1875 $3.50, 9l2 the appropriations
for 1876 So $50 500 this being the only respect
which the amounts allowed for the current year exceed
the sums expended in 1879
RAPID TRANSIT.
AT least one line of elevated steam railways TO be
constructed possible, making the circuit OF
the city, upon route convenient OF access, and
pleton OF the sections most urgently needed IS prom
ised during the year Provision has been made
for frequent special trains which to be during
the hours OF the morning and evening when the labor
ing classes are gong 70 or rom WORK AZ nan tne low
rates Of fares allowed TO be charged on the other trains
and IL Is hoped that those who depend upon daily
labor here may thus be enabled TO place their families
IN salubrous homes near the city, away from crowded
tenement houses, but within convenient reach OF the
workshops and other places Of business TO which they
must 20.
The burden OF taxation IS expected to be ghtened by
rapid transit-by approaching property now nearly or
quite unavailable for use by those who nave daily occu
paons IN the city, and thus distributing more equally
throughout the area 10 be covered by the population
which affords taxable fund-and by attracting
within the city numbers who now add wealth TO neigh
boring localities only because such places have hereto
fore been more accessible than the upper end OF Man
haitian Island or the new districts Of New York.
IL IS TO be considered also that the construction OF
railway Of the kind prescribed by the Commissioners,
along street viii deprecate only temporarily II at
ALL the adjoining property, and will ultimately enhance
It's value The owners OF premises upon any Of the
selected should regard that result aud their
share Of the benefit to the city at large as satisfaction
for what they may present feel disposed consider
a local disadvantage.
CONCLUSION.
The centennial year upon which we have just entered
Is TO be celebrated the city whcro the Independence
OF these United States was declared and their union
under the present constitution OF government cstab-
lshed BY an Exposition collecting The best producs