The New York herald., 1877-07-12
ORGANIZED AT LAST.

THE COMMISSIONERS OF DOCKS ELECT JACOB
A. wEsTEgvELT PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD
when the Dock Commissioners met yesterday Il
announced that Com M ssioner Jacob A. wcstervc
had been elected President 0t the Board Comms
s,oner vanderpoel made Treasurer IN his stead
The business transacted was OF merely routine char
acter Permission WIS accorded the National Steam.
ship Company erect q two story shod iorty-ihrec
feet high upon its pier the details OF the plan TO DO
subject to tho approval! OF the Chief Engineer OF the
department. TINS will be tho first structure OF the
kind erected in this city. The statement Of
period between June 26 and July 10
shows So PCS 90 disbursed payros, and So s7 to r.
A. Walsh fourth instamcnt for the construction
pier 39 North River. leaving cash on hand to the
credit OF department Of $ll6 500 90 During the Same
period the Dock Department collected rents for SHIPS
aud piers amounting 10 $6357 ", which paid uo
the SINKING fund 10 20 toward paying the cy's debt
Mr. jacob A. WcsterveIt, the new Presd dent OF the
Board, Of the Oldest ana most highly respected
residents this city. He boru in Bergen county,
n d. III the first year OF this century, Is there
fore now seventy seven years old When he was four
years old MS family moved 10 New York and settled
upon The west side. jacob was put TO school, whcn
he steadily continued TO attend until he was fourteen
AT that time his father died. and shortly aiicrward tho
shipped bUurd vessel as a common sailor. Re-
turning alter time nc was thoroughly cured oil his
nautical passion and apprcntced himself IN Inc SNIP
yard oi Christian Bergh. iather OF the now famous
champion vi the brutes. When he was twenty years
old gentleman ollercd to let him buid Two schoOhers
Tor him ut Charleston. Although the young ship.
wright still apprentice his employer per.
mtted him 10 accept the oher and reicved
him from his engagement to him The
scbooners we're built In due time and gave
such that when jacob returned to
New York, IN 1922 his old employer TOOK HIM into
partnership. so successful The new firm that IN
1885 Mr. Weservet retired and spout nine months 10
making the tour OF Europe with his iamiiy In 1887
he found impossible TO 1--we inactive lifc and re-
sumcd his profession. In lS4o he became Assistant
Alderman from tho Thirteenth ward. ana IN 1882 was
elected Mayor Dy large majority. In 1853 he surren-
dcred the active management OF mis- business 10 MS
son, Mr.. Daniel D. Wescrvc but he continued TO ad-
aud suggest Just before the war Mr. Westervelt
models and plans Of three steam trgacs Tor the
Span sh government obtained the contract TO build
them The breaking out OF tho war. however. rem
dered IL impossible 10 fulfil the contract In recogni
ion OF his services In preparing the models the gov
ernment conferred upon him the order OF Isabel la
Cdtoiicd the emblem OF whch Is stiil IN his posses
SION. Among the famous clipper ships built by Mr..
Westervet were tho n. b. Palmer Contest and Sweep
stakes. He also constructed vessels Tor the Greek,
Japanese aud Spanish governments and built the
sloop- Of brooklyn for the United states. In 1870
Mr.. Westcrvet was appointed superintendent ol Sup
plies OF the Dock Department. and three years later
Mayor Havemeyer made him commissioner, In which
capacity he has since continued 10 serve.