The New York herald., 1877-03-06
THE DOCK DEPARTMENT.

SECRETARY LYNCH DEFENDS THE COMMISSION
xRs AND THEIR MANAaEMENT-DocK RENT
AIS CLAIMED TO BE vERY PROFITABLE TO
THR CITY.
10 vNw Of the recen. proposition to abolish the
Dock Department OF this city HERALD reporter yes
tcrday interviewed Mr. Eugene Lynch, Secretary Of
the department. what reply the Dock De.
parlnent could make to the charges so frequently
them Mr. Lynch stated that the expen
diurcs OF the department in the control OF tho
SINKING Fund Commissioners far regards the
amount TO be spent The latter Board could limit
them If II should appear that they desired 10 spend
more than thought advisable. The Dock Depart
ment had spent one-thrd Of the limit mentioned
IN their charter The bulkhead wall that they are
building for the piers cos. s45c a foot instead OF
ST. 200 US has been stated.
the simple TACT that the department, although
limited under OF incorporation 10 cxpend
S3 900 year, has during the seven years OF It's
existence expended only $500. 900. shows that its
officials are not disposed extravagancc. or the
above $780, 600 represents the amount invested IN
floating propcrty--tugs, dredging machines and other
necessary machinery tor the prosecution Of the work.
A large amount o. money expended for the pre-
lninary WORK o! surveying and sounding, which once
done forever and VII! never need 10 be rcpealcd
TIKI DOCK KskTALs
The presont rentals received from wharf property
have beer and above those which were
1917, 20 I'm amount WniCD Us cQua! 10 s'S per
cen, OF the whole amouri expended BY the depart.
mens since It's organization TINS work has been done
during time OF depression, when the rentals TO be
derived from wha.! property are not as great a. they
w0uic have been IN more prosperous times The most
important water ron; OF the city Is that which extends
from West Tenth street around the Battery 10 the
iou OF Catherine street. and OF that the North River
front Is the most important With regard 10 the por-
manent work undertaken by the department OF the
North River between Canal anu West Eleventh Streets
the piers built under the new system produce an
annual income OF over twenty per cent OF their cost,
~ thA aA,o httE EbnoA
There Is great demand for renting those PIERS most
OF them being engaged before the work on the III is
completed. The plan under which the work rs being
constructed was adopted last year The cost will not
exceed S225 a nea fool TINS rate is but slight ad
vance on the cost OF the cribwork ouikhoac recom
mendcd by the Committee Of The Chamber Of Com
mercc
On the question o. salaries Mr.. Lynch sah.-A
great sac about the expensive salaries
.: officers $500 900 beng the amount currently re-
ported PAID Tor such purposes The rea: iact OF the
that the salaries now are only $751; 100 and are
beng constantly decreased IN 1873 they were $65
In 1879, $4447S.
The average amount received in rentals ior the piers
Is twenty per cent OF their cost Allowing seven
per the outside limit winch Is 10 be paid on
the bonds issued Tor The improvements an annual In
OF thirteen cent ON the cost OF the piers can
be savcd. TINS can be applied rs sinking fund for
their reconstruction when necessary. The average life
of the pier or time Of its endurance is twenty-five
years In that 325 per cent OF the cost would be
saved enough 70 rebuild the pier and pay the oonas
claimed that these results can be accomplished
around the entire water front OF tho city but
they be arrived at i0r the greater
porlon OF the valuable water front district be-
tween West Eleventh street, on the North River.
around BY the Battery 70 the vicinity OF the loot OF
Market street, East River. IL Is not the policy OF the
department to construct new piers except in such 10.
cations as arc demanded by the commercial wants OF
the CITY, That the work of widening tho river streets
should be proceeded with rapidly as possible any
one engaged commerce can perceive. Wide and long
piers will be OF but little use in the transaction OF com
merce the approach TO them Is not ample and COM
modl0uS