The New York herald., 1878-12-19
"YE GREAT CITY DOCK"

A RELIC OF ANTE-REvOLUTIONARY DAYS UN-
EARTHED AT THE FOOT OF WHITEHALL
STREET
For some time past the New York Elevated Railway
Company has been making excavations the foot of
Whitehall street for the purpose Of driving spiles i'll
order to secure support on which to construct a
general depot. These excavations consist Of num-
Der of holes twelve feet square and sunk to depth
of about fifteen feet below the surface level. The
engaged in the work found it easy enough for
the first eight feet, but were several days
ago, surprised at finding the way obstructed by a
number of heavy timbers. In four different
places these massive beams and logs discovered
along the edge of the sidewalk that bounds the Bat
terry Park. The timbers red and black oak and
white pine. After cutting through the upper Of
logs heavy supporting beams met with,
and had to be hewn apart with All the debris
hoisted to the surface and found to be very
much decayed. The appearance Of the wood proved
that 1t belonged to dock which had been built prior
to Revolutionary times. Underneath this old pier
found heaps Of rocks. which had evidently been
placed there to weigh down the pier and prevent the
tides from carrying it away.
A few Of these rocks were removed. and. although
the spot is fully two hundred feet from the water
line the tide began to flow into the trench rapidly
that steam pumps had to be called into requistion
This discovery proves. in the minds Of many. that
the dock brought to light the original site Of the
old Dutch water front. and that the sinkage which
has destroyed part Of the beautiful Battery stone
pier for government boats is due to the imperfect
filling in OF the site reference to several old
histories and maps shows that the pier must have
been either the first dock of the city. built in the
seventeenth century. the '.Whitehall Battery"
HISTORY OF THE DOCK.
The original Battery ground was occupied by Fort
James, afterward called Fort George During the
seventeenth century the Common Council of New
York bnlt large wharf connected with which
q number of piers. This wharf, which was known :
eye great city dock, ran ON Coenties slip to the
foot OF the present Whitehall street ending the old
Whitehall Street Battery of fifteen guns. Ii
was used general city harbor and was
leased to shipowners at stated dockage.
AS the ground the water front be-
longed the State of New York ut the termination
Of the Revolution. the Dutch City Fathers were
the State. On the 18th day of March, $780, was
passed by the State Legislature giving all the excepted
lands and water front at the Battery to the city.
The direct southery portion Of this land then
built appropriate shade trees planted and the
whole surrounded by massive but tasteful iron
fence. As the park small application was made
to the State Legislature to have it enlarged and
the result that on the 9th of March, 1921. an
act passed giving permission to extend the Bat
terry into the Bay and the East and North rivers dis
tance not exceeding 600 feet This act by provision
took away all right of the city to sell any part OF it,
to use II for any other purpose than that OF pub
lie park. on which to erect public buildings. 1t
at this time that the old dock just discovered was
buried out of sight. The act also authorized the
ing of q sum of money by tax. not exceeding $500UO,
for defraying the expense of the extension
Although the covering over of the old dock is
toned In the city records account is given Of the
fate of the old Whitehall Battery whose fifteen
had often thundered out a salute Of welcome
to ships carrying the British coors. 1t is believed
that the timbcrs resurrected by tho workmen must
be that part of 'ye great city dock" which Joined the
whitehall Battery, and that, ii holes dug d few
feet southwest. the would reach the historical
ruins.