The New York herald., 1877-02-04
The Docks and Transit Lines OF
New York.

! History recounts so many instances IN
which the genius and energy of peoples
have conquered physical conditions antago-
nistic to their happiness and prosperity
that where such exist only in modified
! forms there is no reason why any civilized
community should suffer even inconven-
fence in the mechanical management OF its
| commerce. Where difficulties arise which
can be removed by the exercise OF intelll-
gent energy the people who submit to
burdens created by their own apathy
deserve no sympathy In their misfor-
tunes. The city o. New York. by
virtue of her geographical position
and the unsurpassed natural faclh-
ties for commerce which surround her.
should be by an undisputed title the COM
mercial capital of the country But through
the unaccountable supineness of her citizens
she is in danger of losing her trade, which IS
seeking in other and more enterprising ports
the accommodations denied 1t at its old GEN.
tire. The requirements of o seaboard city
whose inhabitants aspire to making 1t the
sea, OF commercial supremacy are readily
recognized. With an easily approached,
safe, expansive and navigable harbor, nu-
merous lines of communication with all
parts of the country in which it is
situated, we'll located railroad termini
adapted for the cheap and rapid transfer OF
freight to and from the ships and the cars,
wide and we'll paved streets and an ample
dock accommodation, prosperity and COM
mercial supremacy over less favored rivals
must follow as matter Of certainty. New
York has the singular good fortune to pos
sess some Of these advantages in the fullest
degree, while she lacks the others only be-
cause her people have failed to avail them
selves of the simplest means of securing
them. 1t is with these wants that we pro-
pose to deal in the present article.
The improvement of the water front OF
this city has been for years an absorbing
topic with her business men. None Of the
features of the problem have escaped discus
sion, so that it is the best understood sub
ject that enlists the attention Of the public
at the present time When the plans for
the new dock system were adopted by the
Commissioners of the Sinking Fund and
out in practical manner we were
promised a work which, when COM
pleted, would be perfect in detail and
magnificent in it's entirety. With mer-
chants as Commissioners of Docks, and
an eminent engineer in charge Of the opera
tions, ample supplies of money at the dis
posal of the department and public con-
cko1
great things to be accomplished. But
beyond splendid parade of preparation,
costly experiments that proved what was
already we'll known to engineering science,
the commencement of stone pier near the
Battery and the building of boat stairs
and few wooden piers nothing was accom-
plished toward the realization of the hopes
of the people of New York. From this false
start may be dated all the laundering in
activity, extravaganza and absurd preten-
sions to extraordinary merit which have
marked the history of the Dock Depart
ment down to the present day. According
to the accounts of the Comptroller the issue
of bonds to date for the purposes of
the dock improvements is equal to five
million four hundred and fifteen thou
sand dollars-a sum that is now bearing
interest which is chargeable to the city
revenue. During all the time that this
money has been expended the public have
never seen an ineligible report of the dis
bursements. True. the figures have ap-
peared in municipal financial statements,
but never accompanied by information that
clearly indicated the character of the expen-
ditures. We demand from the Dock Depart
ment an account of its stewardship, and
until we get such appearances justify us in
condemning its management Of the peoples
money.
We do not wonder that the merchants of
New York should call for an absolute
change of plan and the substitution of crib
work for the durable materials with which
it has been attempted to construct the bulk
head wall. Perhaps, being unaware of the
fact that solid concrete and granite wall
can be built at the rate of from one to four
miles per annum and at cost per lineal foot
but little more than that of o line of perish
able crib work, they deem any change that
promises economy in time and expense
beneficial one to the city. But in this they
are mistaken, as can be easily demonstrated
if they take the trouble of inquiring into
the matter. There is no difficulty what
ever in the way of building solid wall
from the Battery to Sixtieth street at the
rate of one, two, three or four miles per an
nun, except financial one. If this does
not arise then the work should proceed as
fast as is required.
The relation of such a work to the i'm
provement Of our intermunicipal lines for
freight transportation is very close. Indeed,
it is impossible to perfect the latter without
the completion of considerable length of