New-York tribune., 1877-03-10
RAILROAD TRACKS ON CITY PIERS.

APPIIC ALTON OF THE WHITE STAR LINE TO CONNECT
us PIER WITH THE NEw-YoRK CENTRAL RAIL
RoAD-OPPOsITIoN FROM THE ERIE.
A meeting was held in the rooms Of the
Dock Commissioners yesterday to consider the appca
ton of the White star Steamship Company for permission
to lay tracks upon its pier III connection with the New
York Central and Hudson River Railroad. This is the
first application the kind that has been made and has
attracted much attention. The Central represented
by Clauncey NJ Depew and superintendent ]. NJ. TOuccy
the White Star Company by r. ]. COrts, and the Erie
Railway by Col II. o. Stebbins. Mr.. Cortis opened the
discussion by saying hat it the intention OF the
White Star Company advance not only its own inter
ess but also the interests Of the public by bringing the
railroads and in close connection as at Boston
and Philadelphia In this way the enormous expense OF
hterage and OF breakage from frequent handling would
be avoided.
Mr. Toucey explained that the intention to
single track from Christophers upon the per and on
this the ears would be backed by q dummy. The ears
weighed eight each, and the freight would average
from six TO ten President Wales of the Dock De-
parment then letter from Receiver Jewett Of the
Erie Railway who wrote:
Before the precedent Is set of laying tracks the
North River piers it seems to some general pro-
gramne should be determined upon The consent 10 lay
such well be extended TO the occupants Of
pier without being. EXTENDED TO the occupants or
II the street wide enough and the docks eX
tended far enough into the river they might possibly be
put such without detriment 10 the use OF the
street or to the property abutng thereon but in the
present condition of the street the OF consider
Of the piers III the way proposed, aud the
necessary OF the tracks in the street by stea would
seriously embarss II destroy the general business Of
the and OF the railways and steamers delivering
traffic on the piers be handled by trucks. Ia object
ing the granting Of the privilege In the in CUES
simply because OF its general eject,
cause 1t would be regarded precedent which might
be binding upon the board IN all cases OF applications for
similar of the piers, which, II cniZcd would III
the present condition of the piers aud business Dc de-
structiye Of the interests represent.
Col Stebbns said that lie had in view only the general
question: and the application OF to the White Star
line He was familiar with the difficulty of movements
in Westst 1t plain that the plan could not be
tcrtaned all unless Wesst should be made 80 feet
wide The use of freight the upper part Of West
ST. caused much delay II the principle should be once
established it would have TO be carried out the other
piers and this would render Westst impossible. Even
il permission should DO given to freight through
that street during the night only the Commissioners
would be compelled to grant the same privilege
during the daytime. He believed that the demand would
have TO be met at not far distant nc but before this
privilege should be granted the plan Of widening Wesst
to 80 or 300 should be carried feet The gem
era of the city and Of that street present de-
mandcd that such privilege should not be granted
Mr.. Depew favored the application of the White Star
line lie claimed that there would DC obstruction To
the street. the Ccnras tracks by the pier and
the freight would be left there by the had
to be carried trucks from the ST. Johns Park back TO
the White Star pier The privilege was asked only for
certain hours when there would be little travel In West
st. The Central had its the pier at the foot
OF Thirty-third-st and had complained although
the business there carried on at all hours OF the
night and day. -
The Dock Commissioners will consider this matter
again Oh Wednesday at $50 p N.