The New York herald., 1876-02-01
PURCHASE OF PIER A.

ALDERMAN GROSS, DOCK COMMISSIONER WALES
AND Mr.. II. N. BEERS DISCUSS THE NAT
TER.
A meeting Of the Finance Committee OF the Board of
Aldermen consisting of Messrs John Reilly, Gunizer.
Cole and Morris was held at the City Hall yesterday
afternoon consiGer the proposed purchase Of pier
"A North River by the Dock Department The mat
has been up several times before the Commissioners
of the Sinking Fund Pier ~ is at present owned by
the Inman Steamship Company. In 1855 1t was sold
for some $4,000, and few years subsequently was
purchased by the present owners for $l5OOO0 The
company claim have expended considerable amount
in improvements and $4,000 Is considered
by them fair price for the property. The
Dock Commissioners agreed to pay this price and TO
expend $50 900 In the erection Of new pier The
whole structure thento bc leased for ten years
from the city, at $50, 900 per But In order to
egaze this purchase the sanction OF the Sinking Fund
Commission is necessary. The commission consists Of
the Recorder, Mayor, Comptroller City Chamberlain
and President OF the Finance Committee OF the Board
of Aldermen. Al the last Two meetings Of this Board
the whole subject discussed speeches being made
by Dock commissioners Wales and Dimock
Comptroller Green representatives, OF the Council of
Political Reform and others. Considerable opposition
TO the whole scheme developed Tho board OF
Aldermen next took up the proposition and resou-
tion was offered requesting the sinking Fund Commis-
soners declare against the purchase This rcSou-
tion was referred to the Finance Committee Of the
Board OF Aldermen, and yesterday afternoon dcsE.
mated as the time to hear all IN opposition TO or in
favor Of the purchase
Mr. Magnus Gross, who introduced the resolution in
the Board OF Aldermen, first addressed the committee
He said the pier originally sold by the city in
1855 for $50 OS1 &C. The bulkhcad line the North
River al that period did not extend far into the
river now. The State had subsequently ceded
to the city some Of the land under water
Therefore in 1855 that part OF the properly
could not have been ccdcd 10 the purchasers Ii was
consequently doubtful as to the title Of the Inman
line to any part OF the land which this pier was To-
Gated Ia lew years the value OF other piers on the
North River would considerably deprecale value
Hell Gate improvements would bring nearly all the
steamships and other large vessels TO the East River in
the ncghb .rhood of Finyeghth street. The debt Of
the city would be materially Increased by such pur-
chascs, aud the speaker particularly opposed 10
this proposition on that ground The money could not
be raised except BY the issue Of bonds
Mr. Henry N. Beers said that he represented the
Council OF Political Reform and also opposed 70 the
purchase The ground which the pier was built
belonged 10 the until 1870 when IL was ccded TO
the city The lnman line would not 20 any expense
IN improving the pier because they knew that tlNr
title not good. Their plan was TO sell TO the city
and then lease from IL In 1887 the pier had been
built or $4,000 and It's present value with the struc-
upon IT, did not exceed $25 900. Last year not
more than one. e.iourteenth part Of the clty's dock
property had been used. The steamship companies
had need OF additional accommodations. Mr. Beera