New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-18
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
THE WATER FRONT.

THE WA1Eh FhONls
ANSWER OF THE DOCK DEPARTMENT TO THE CoUN-
GIL OF POLITICAL REFoRM-PLANs OF THE DE-
PARTliENT.
A meeting of the Conference Committee COM
posed of the representatives from the Produce Exchange
ths Association Chamber OF Com
merce I'm orcrs and Grocers Board Of Trade ana the
Council OF Political Reform met yesterday al the Ohain
her of Commerce, Lawrence Turnure presiding DOCK
Commissioners Wales and Dimock were present. ana
Commissioner Dmock read the answer OF the DOCK DC
partment the statements and charges presented on
behalf of the Council Of Political Reform at the ias'
meeting of the Conference Committee The answer states
among other things the following:
The first point which the Council endeavored To make
IN their paper that no stone bknead wal con- w
system OF cofferdam was resOrted to- This they an,
nounced as theoretically true and claimed that tue wan
West Eleventh-s and tine condition of new pier NO AZ
the Battery demonstrated that their theory was
The Commissioners declare that these theOretca
sons based upon au entire msconcepacn 81 t nv
actual facts OF the problein-of the actua Ie6 IN
be overcome and Of the means actually employ ~ IA
overcoming them The numerous iuld 7,t
engineers, at different times cohstsu Dy t e mn
ment have been unanimous in the opinion thal pulh
head wall constructed OH substantially the T1u "uolo"
for most Of this work wond DC entrey i,v untor
tunate in their statements OF the actual eond on o. e
wall referred to by them as 70 Jew b ws had shown
some OF the features described III the report OF inc NOu
eli TIE Tenort of the Council would lead to the suppo ST.
lion that m was the condition of the whole wall The
Of the weakness shown this point given III de
tail and in fact had been published in tho department
enrts Tor several months and declared to be OF such
character not TO raise tne suShtest t
AGAINST its general durability. Pier No Is also SHOWN
10 be in an entirely satisfactory condition s. lar as
strength is concerned. .,
The next point which the Council had tried TO MAKE
was that the cost Of the wall far as already Du
about 81, 1873 per lneal foot They used also, some
Bgures calculated TO produce the Impression that
he city was in danger of having some hundres OF mt
ions dollars OF this wall constructed or distance o.
between 40 and so mics The Commissioners show that
instead Of 81 1885, the cost OF this wall was iOo OF nO
quite per cent of the sum claimed anu ina! py no one
any times far as they know mas the seehe Oi
more about four miles OF Ibis wall neen enleIalneG
The wall at present under cOntenlpia'lol'ls W
DOT exceed S225 per nneal 1901 III cost; INC eos' ~
wooden crib bukhead stated by the Council 70 ne
$40 so per lnea foot The Commissioners show that on
the places designated suitable cib Wouid cost q1 PER
lineal foot that recently but on large scar ny
contract by private parties cost $1l3 "A per mea oot
The difference between wooden CID anu $50 e. ~
masonry wall is thus shown to be probably about %lOV
per hneal foot. Allowing the usual amount OF uAheau
for pier, this wOuid only adi ABOUT S%V'OVV ~ ~
over the cost OF wooden bulkheat. A comparative
statement then made of the advantages OF the two ana
is shown that the masonry would ne uoh 'ie cc"pei
and possess many other ADVANTAGES. -, -,,
THE Commissioners state that the practical questions
presenting themselves in the Immediate future aie very
ample. The city owns every pier between Saidai anu
was entered upon long before tine present Commissioners
came into office, and large portion OF the Whole OF is
has certainly gone so here that IL cannot retreat II
sannot remain stationary either, for very much valuable
buEhead property is now entirely WITHDRAWN I.o' Ion
commercial USE and the wateT-basBs between the wall
and the whole bukhead liue confne largely the sewage
heath OF the city The DcpariIne t, too, has already
negotiated leases for nearly all this section which Will
Weld very large return the whole amount winch the
entire completion will cost. 1t is therefore not to be an
exp nse 10 the city, but the most profitable operation
which could entered into. This section, THEN, ING
Department proposes 10 finish al once
Alter this is done the city cannot enter on any d;'rct
for imprOv cement without the purchase OF large
amount OF valuable water property. TINS certainly
cannot be done until the citizens shall wish to maze
large Investments that purpose and at present the
Commissioners convinced they 40 not WISH 10 90 ts
Tie Commission close by invitation 10 the confer
ence Committee representing the great commercial
interests this city, to appoint committees To carefully
investigate this whole subject IN cooperation with tne
Dock Department, and with the aid OF all the valuable
material gathered by 1t.
In accordance with the suggestion of the report sub
committee Of Investigation appointed, to begin
operations Immediately. Tho committee consists OF
MessIs. Sper and Philips Of tine Produce Exchange
William H Guon and Gustav Schwab of the Chamber OF
Commerce. Messrs. FOgg and Booth of the Importers
and GrOcers' Board OF Trade and Messrs webb ard
Potter OF the Council Of Political Reform The Confer
ence Committee then adjourned and the subcommittee
resolved TO meet Wednesday for the purpose OF be
ginning the investigation.