The New York herald., 1877-03-18
COMMERCE OF NEW YORK.

THE WHITE STAR PIER RAILROAD QUESTION
REMoNsrRANcE FROM PROPERTY HOLDERS
REFERENCE TO THE CORPORATION ATTORNEY
AS TO THE LEGAL POWERS OF TIE DEPART
MENT OF PuBLrc DOCKS.
further hearing upon the subject OF the applica.
ton OF the White Star Steamship Company tor the
privilege OF laying tracks for the OF freight cars
upon their pier, was had yesterday afternoon before
the Commissioners OF tho Department OF Puolic Docks
President Wales IN the chair An unusual number OF
counsel appeared on behalf oi the several interests
involved.
RxMoSsTRAScE PROPERTY HOLDERS
Hon. John McKeon appeared behnlr OF the prop
crty holders West and read the following re-
monstrancc -
To rHs COMMISSIONERS or THE DEPARTMENT or PUBLIC
Tho undersigned, the owners OF property. and beng
engaged IN business the line OF West street. notice
with much alarm the attempt made to that street
Tor The transportation OF freight In cars moved by
steam power They regard tho present proposition.
laying OF tracks on tho pier known ms the White Star
PIER TO and IRON which cars are TO be moved by slca
the 1rst step 10 tho occupation OF West by
other piers and warehouses located the entire
length or that street and tho front Tho under
signed now, because OF the crowded condition OF the
street, suffer serious cmbarrassmcnts in the con.
ductng OF their regular business To occupy the
street with ordinary burhen cars. movable by steam
would not only increase their advertisements, but
would IN the judgment OF the undcrs gned substantially
destroy their business and the value OF their
ties. It would not only have TINS effect upon their
business properly, but II would substantially destroy
the river 'front.' Tor n purposes Tor the receipt and dis
charge OF freight only as the same could be received
delivered from cars so moved, ana instead OF contrib
Itng the commercial advantages OF The city. the
economical handling OF It's tralc. would Impair the
former and largely tho expenses Of latter
contributing to tho benefit OF the railroad company
only which, because OF It's location would occupy
tracks with its cars and steam power.
The Undersigned therefore, demonstrate against any
action the part OF the Dock Comm mssioners extend.
e Of tract the ia liar
pier or any other pier on the North River, TO DC
pied by cars SO TO DO moved by steam or the doing OF
any other act which will increase the difficulties they
already encounter In The transaction OF their business
upon such street.
holders and Others representing the grocery forward
ing. trucking. OYSTER boat and other interests and
dustr:es
MR.. M'KEoS's REMARKS.
Mr.. McKeon said the rcmons,rants represented very
important interests industries on the whole line of
tho North River front, from the Battery up thr
teen miles in extent, over which tho Dock Commis-
sloners claim Jurisdiction. lie contcndcd that the
Commissioners had right grant the franchise ap
Piled Tor, and II they had, they ought not to exercise
It. He quoted the law defining the powers
OF the Board, aud said that they pro-
hibited from doing anything that would in
terlcre with the free aud unobstructcd purposes
OF commerce. He submitted that the proposed track
would seriously interfere with commerce. and urged
long, they had power grant tracks over tho whole
thirteen miles of their Jurisdiction. He protested
against any particular road having this privilege. He
foresaw the time when the OF the people would
submit the continued OF railroad
other monopolics.
VOICE FROM EAST.
Mr. Niles stated he represented no steamship rail-
road or property holding interests West street. He
requested 10 come here by persons who were
OF properly east OF Broadway, and to protest
against the application being granted being an IN
itiatve step calculated to damage the general CONNER
ciai interests Of the city. wnen he examined tho
question he Tho Vanderbilt interest pretty near
hc ioresaw the when the people would
longer submit TO the encroachmcnts OF
Of blood ensue The New York Cen.ra road was ss "o'
ting round and round the city, and in time the whole
metropolis would DO in It's grasp. Tho speaker took
WIDE range IN hts remarks historical anecdotal and
commercial and otherwise, including tho tenets OF the
Mohammcdan religion.
Mr. Miller appeared behalf OF the New York
Cheap Transportation Association. and advocated tho
granting Of the application, as calculated TO improve
The commercial prosperity OF the city.
TIM CHAMBER or COMMERCE. HAND.
Mr. Seth Low appeared as tho representative OF
application. He stated that New York had lost
S22S, 100000 in Its commerce., and said, from
tho peculiar situation OF the city and It's
bring the railroads and the steamships together
as possible lie hoped TO see ths samc thing done
!
would cheaper terminal facilities In the handling OF
merchandise. Only tho carting interests West
street would be damaged
MR. DEpEw IN REPLY TO MR.. JEwmrr
Hon. Chaunccy NJ Depew. on behalf Of the appli-
cants took up the letter Of Mr.. Receiver Jcwcti OF
the Erie oad read at the last meeting OF the Board
and proceeded TO answer ts objections IRON Central
aud HUDSON River standpoint. The New York Central
was the only trunk road that had q terminus In this
city, and II was natural that II should have
privileges granted II which could not be granted to
other roads having their terminus IN other and rival
r. % 10 II m
OF Nr. Mckeon, Mr. Niles and Others contcnding that
the proposed application could no, be regarded tho
70 switches aud dummy engines TO and from their
stations.
strous doctrine that the Central road has tho power
TO erect stations wherever u plcascs
Mr.. Dcrcw-On the line OF our tracks and under
charter.
years ago By resolution and referred exclusively to
dcpots then in existence
sIr Dcpew concluded by reicrating points made at
former sittings OF the Board In behalf OF the appca
LEGAL POINTS TO Bg SUBMITTED
President Wales suggested that counsel should sub.
nit points for legal investigation 1t was mutually
agreed that the OPINION Of the Corporation Counsel
Mr. whitney should be asked in regard 10 the legal
questions involved
WHITE STAR rv THE yRoSr.
Mr. Corlis, behalf Of the whitc star line stated
that the project was Initiated by that company. ana
tnat the Central road had nothing to do with IL org
nally.
Theodore +. Lees Of the Cheap transportation Asso-
cintou. showed now the proposed pan bad been
successful operation IN Boston, Portland. Philado phia
and Baltimore and figured out the disadvantages New
York laborcd under in consequence OF not having
terminal facilities IN handling freight Ike tho cities
named II virtually placed tho city $50 miles mt sea-
SO far as Its commerce was concerned
JERSEY CENTRAL DoN'r oBjEcr
IL having been stated during the argument In resist
ance Of the application that the New Jersey Central
Railroad would be nconvenienccd by the adoption OF
the plan, u was authoratvcy stated tnat that
pany had no objection whatever TO intcrposc to IT,
POWERS or rmE CoxMissioNKRs
The whole matter rests the hands OF the Cor
poration Counsel, who Is to decide upon the legal
points Involved aud define the powers OF the conmls
sioncrs III the premises. II Il Is decided that they
have not the power 10 grant the appcation that set
ties question II IL bc determined thai they have
such power then the Board will consider whether II
be proper or judicous to grant II not
A RATHER HARSH HUSBAND.