New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-27
A PLEA FOR THE DOCKS.

parment bureau and to eopsolidate il with the Depart
ment OF Public Works. One Of these bills known ~ the
WOOdn Charter undertakes to reform the metOds Oh
managing all the departments; and the other IL the
Omnibus" bill which was introduced In the Assembly
The latter merccs the Department Of Docks nto the De
partment 4 Public Works. a bureau, under suDor-
dnate officer who is 10 have charge OF the construction
and repairs Of wharf property 1t transfers the coec
ton OF wharf property TO the France De
parmen and gives the power Of making leases to the
! Sinking Fund Commissioners. reporter OF The
TRIBUNE recently called upon Henry H. Dmock, one Of
the Dock Commissioners and agent Of the Metropoa an
Steamship Company ascertain his views as TO the pro-
posed changes and the following conversation was held
Reporter-Mr. Dimock what have been the total eX-
penditurcs Dock Department since its organiza-
ton, and how Ia the money raised for it's suppoui
MI. Dimock-There Is much misrepresentation about
he Dock Department and the work il IL doing that few
corrections viii proper. Its total expenditures since
its organization IN 1870 have been something above
S55OOOOO. when ID organized the wharf property
OF the city inca very dlapidaed condition ana the
slips needed much dredging large expenditure was
required for these II is often stated that the
department spends $3OOOOOO yearly only because the
law limits the possible expenditures 10 that sum- Its
expenses have thus far not been Onehd of the amount
limited by Law The department has no power 10 issue
bonds Bonds be issued for tho purposes Of this de
rartmcnt only the authorization OF the Commits Oners
OF the sukng Fund who thus exercise sort oil super
yisory action all its expenditures.
ReportcrWhat proportion do the revenues bear to the
expenditures
Mr. DImock-The revenues from wharf property which
the department has collected aud paid into The sinking
fund Tor the redemption of the city debt amount TO
50 900, within about 100000 OF the entire eX-
pcndture. Large sums have been expended In the per-
maucnt improvement OF the water front, and property
for the work of construction has been purchased costing
over $500 600 The expenses Of the department for the
year ending May /, 1873, above %1,j00OO0; the
EXPENSES for the year ending May 1877, VIII be about
1928 OOO or 22 900 less than the revenue for
the year. OF the present board only m Office
prior to December, 1s7 appointed at that tlne
and another IN May. 1875.
RcpoItcr-IIaye the revenues increased materially
since the first yen Of the departments exis'cncel
Mr. Dmock--Thc revenues from the wharf property
in the first of the departments existence were about
S5jOOOO. The revenues for this year are something
over $500 900. This increase has taken place nOwiti
standing general depression in commercial business
causing great reduction in the amount collected from
large parts Of the water front While the revenues OF the
city this have nearly doubled, it is believed
that real property generally have diminished by
at least % per cent. to speak moderately.
Reporlcr-What the plans Of the commission in
providing suitable dock facesl Do they intend to
continue the binding of stone piers or crib bulk
heads considered sufficient
Mr. DmOck-It Is often said that the plans Of the Com
m>siOners contemplate surrounding the city with eX
pensye stone piers. AMI eXtrayagan stone bukbead
The facts are these: There never any intention Of
building than two stone piers For a long time
there has been no intention OF building more than one
The present Commissioners practically finished
tie which they found in an advanced stage Of con-
stucton but have shortened il 80 feet from the original
pian The plan for building the wall has been entirely
changed since the present Commissioners came into
Office. The wall is being constructed at 4 cost OF
about 225 lme foot and ii Is believed that ills plan
lttt t4i1 aItu he DIIp
more lapliy cor structci than the old one while It's cost
is no. very much more than Tor tirsciass crbwork
Duikacgd
RepOrIeThc report Of the conference suggested that
all work should he done by contract. What il the Gus
Sic Dmor,:-Ihc new piers are all being b1lt by con-
tract and the commissioners cXoect soon 70 De able 10
Raportcr-lt vas suggested that it would be more
profitable Tor the ely sell the wharf property. 80 that
IL mi-t be owned by private Individuals 10 3ou THINK
IL wUEi Dc financially beneficial 10 the city TO dispose III
SIR H!moch-All The propcIy which is a present being
improved cased, usually before complcen al prices
which viii yiru upward o! 20 per cent Oh te entire IN
vrsincnt and the he contain covenants requiring
The secS to keep the peers ~ repair There ARE r0Da-
bly, low oppoi"niii' sor investment ~ THIS country
which COMPARE with tIis ana al the same time nc
city is developing IT'S conIucrtal laei Ii!es and indi-
rcrty securing an d'atase mir greater man is iuas
ured 10y the immediate urn II t' property continues
TO he MANAGED - i Is az pc'rni enc bonds OF the sy
slor; PERIOD from me sn.pu: niue wtih MouH re-
fund which would rebuild tlc piers when necessary
Rcporicl-l H. una 'rsood toai tho steamship AGENTS
ling tie Dock Department. Is tits true
Mr. Dmock-hlmoSt a'l that PORTION OF the CONNER
iront j. heartily n iavor Of r.ihhit tius department
under three commissioners. Nearly every regular II am
the Legislature To this end ana 50 la, thc railroads
using te waterfront The reasons by they desire s
are OBVIOUS ana result from the nature Of The powers
which must be exercised by whoever manages tbs water
De termed executive be safely, ana perhaps Often
ill.,, interests are To e Of necessity Entrusted 10 he
ion DT II
Tor the exercise of power not properly described as
executive Il il more nearly allied to the legislative
power. what have unIcr the present system, and
needed, * Publicity, the dcberaye method -es.
TO Know WHIT * Proposed gnd for ail to heard. n
there work OF construction and nothing that was
properly 10 br Described rs executive DeS' 10 &c doho
by Ills department. even then thrle wc!ld arts" an IN
peralivc necessity for commission 10 deai WIN the
HdrUns comm. tcil Questions colHs p,loie sohe one
for decision The following, ~ way OF example, may ne
named as among such duties: The power 10 prevent
what would be injurious ENTERTAINMENTS on our
alerirOn and the power to permit what are really
which head any proposed change belongs or piers are
considered puoc streets and yet certain O ta=n must
larger part ii present commerce wod he impJs-
sDle. The erection and maintenance O each OF these,
special use must be passed upon. All sorts OF
coded terminal faculties, such as elevators nid
lodged somewhere for existence; all set ing aside aud
admiration OF particular parts Of the water front To par
ticGdr needs Is az Instance 0i the sane Kind ut power
large discretionary power as TO the making OF leases
both in length Of lime aud In price must be ieft with
SOME one which shall permit our great enterprises 10
safely enter the very large expenses needed 10 make
particular places suitable to do tner business When
In The past any OF those kinds OF power have been
exercised ~ Individual ii has invariably followed
that everything had its price No cncrOac.mcnt was
30 injurious that sufficiently large sum could not get 1t
SANCTIONED and nothing simple and necessary
10 receive CONSENT NthOut us price, III ~ hoI Sli,hEt
that commercial community, having suffered so
much the past from this application Of purely
executive methods 10 what really discretionary
and legislative subjects are now most unwilling 10 take
TINS dangerous step backward. Another way 10 -
dan seruIs tJ this method again Is that te conditions
make 1t in the Tcdt majority OF eases that IL would