The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-17

these bonds when they become due. Such in
many and they varied in their character. Its
responsibilities are heavy. In addition to the gem
era supervision Of the entire water front it is in
trusted With the management of an estate which is
worth many millions OF dollars, and 1t is empowered
to carry on great work OF improvement, which i'm
plies the handling of many millions more. The
present Commissioners are Jacob A. Westervelt,
Henry +. Dimock aud Jacob yanderpoel
PgoGIEss
We have thus seen what the Dock Department is
and what is expected to do. 1t is time to look
at the department. active agent ascertain
whether and how fur it is in satisfactory manner.
performing its duties. And here inquiries will be
pointed mainly in ono direction The public not
by any means Indifferent as to the manner in which
the Commissioners discharge their duties general
overseers OF the water front. We are more
anxious, however, to be assured that they
are managing with wisdom and Judgment the
city property under their care, and that they
are making satisfactory progress in the work OF re-
building and improving along the water front. AS
the latter of these two points seems to us tho more
important, and it does, in certain sense involve
the other we shall givn it attention FIRST Has
tho Department in the matter of reconstruction boon
making satisfactory. progresss What has it done?
these questions are answered very differently by
different persons It would be strange. indeed it, in
such case, where there is much and such varied
work to be done; where so many persons are
employed where so much money is spent and where
also many interests stake there should not be
found persons disposed to complain. There
those, therefore who tell us hat the work pro-
crosses slowly. 1t is the everlasting complaint of
delay. AS compared with certain recent improve
mentsr the progress made by the Dock Department.
nounccd slow. 1t is to be borne in mind that the
new plan for improving the water front, devised
when the department was organized, does not mean
isolated reconstruc ton-the improvement OF one
dock here and another dock there--but con-
tinuous reconstruction. the improvement OF many
contiguous docks-awork which. carried on for the
present in sections is TO be continued until the var
| GUS completed sections united and until the
entire city is encircled with solid WALL with
magnificent system of docks and piers projecting from
the same. II is manifest at glance that to carry
such work the Commissioners must have absolute
| q
docks This brings us face to face with some OF the
| only in part by the city of New York. More than
onehalf is owned by corporations private parties.
This, however, is not all. When the Commissioners
OF the city property held in lease by other par
ties for longer shorter terms. or the law
gave them authority to make suitable arrangements
with leaseho!ders, and to secure by purchase or pro-
cess of law such private property as lay in the way
Gated work cannot be completed in day.
! 1t may be unwise, for business reasons, to
disturb certain leases and in the case OF
private property. even when the owners are not I'M
willing to sell and there is no need OF process OF
law, difficulties may arise necessitatpg delay and
thus impeding the work. One example may be given
to illustrate the spirit Of opposition which stands in
| the way of progress. There is old pier No IL. The
! improvements have been completed north and south
of it; apd there it stands like relic Of an almost
forgotten age The Commissioners unwilling
for The present at least to have recourse to pro-
| of law; and, the owners will not yield up
their rights for less sum than $3.50 900. the wall
at that point remains unfinished
which has been made regarding the work carried on
under the direction and superintendent of the Dock
| Commissioners. Most people familiar with city
affairs have listened. willingly or unwillingly. to
nlurmurs of dissatisfaction regarding the work
itself.
OLD PIERS MADE NEW.
1t Is q long distance between Canal street and
West Eleventh street. yet along that entire distance
the bulkhead wall has been all but completed aud the
| ground filled in. The workmen IRE row busy
with the. wall between Warren and Canal
streets. and in few months it is believed the
territory leased to the Erie Railway will be
completed This improvement will yield to the city
annual rental of $4,000. Pier lold) 43 has been
improved and heightened and is now pier IS in the
new plan. Pier (old) IS has also been improved and
heightened 40 feet and is now pier 81 Pier lold ~
has been entirely removed. and pier new IS has been
built on its site. This pier, which is oS7 feet long
and 10 feet wide. has been leased tor $4,000
last year. and which is $50 feet long and IS
feet wide has been leased for $4,000 per annum.
long. been built the foot of Fiftytourth
| street. In addition to the work which il now
| going on in the neighborhood OF Warren and Cham
bers streets arrangements are being made to con
struct series Of docks in the upper part OF the
| North River front for the accommodation Of those
who complain the high rates in the lower OF the
city. The improvements between Canal and West
Eleventh streets. when fairly completed will give to
West street width Of $50 feet calculated that be-
tween these two streets--Canal and West Eleventh
there will be ample room for all the foreign lines
of steamers running to this port; and with the
greatly widened streets along the docks facilities
will be afforded for connecting by tracks the railroads
with the different piers. rms railroad i.r conneS,
Of the White Star line. The improvements now going
J on below Canal street contemplate q similar widen
ing 1t is thus that New York has adj
vanced somewhat the way of solving the question
of cheap terminal facilities for the transfer of
chandse. There is pressing need for the widening
OF West street below Canal: and 1t is to be hoped
that work in that direction will be hurried on with
| plete the dock improvements on the new plan must
necessarily involve large expense. Considerations OF
cost however. ought not to be allowed to hinder the
progress OF work so fraught with advantage 10 the
| future of the metropolis
| THE COMMISSIONERS AS MANAGERS.
With regard to the manner in which the Dock De-
! partment is managing the city property under its
| care have found, upon inquiry, some difference
of opinion There are those who claim that tho high
rates charged for dockage and wharfage are ruinos
to the shipping of the port This opinion is not con-
fined to a few. About the middle OF December last
it found free and full expression in the Board OF
Aldermen in this city. In q somewhat protracted
conversation with Mr.. Dmock, one of the Dock Com
mssioners and man Of large experience rs steam
ship agent your correspondent adverted to this sui
| ject. Mr.. Dimocks answer was:-
"As board organized under the laws of
the State We must obey the laws; and the laws en-
join us to lease the docks and piers to the
best advantage possible. We cannot do other than
Referrng to the oft-repeated statement that the
rents III competing cities we're merely nominal. Mr.
...rhe facts are not as they arc commonly put Tho
rents in Boston. Philadelphia and Baltimore rcla-
lively high in the business centres they in
New York. The cheap rents in those cities
paratively remote from the business centres. Steam
shin companies are contented with the cheap ac-
conmodatons they get in those cities, because their
business is almost wholly through business. and
all that they need is location near railway ter
minus TO meet the wants of those who desire
! cheaper accommodation propose TO develop some
OF uptown water property. We shall build on
cheaper principle to be than doing down
town; but we shall give them good and satisfactory
accommodations for sufficiently cheap rents
The last returns show the following state of
afars:-
The revenues of the department for the last finan
cial year amounted to $71O6SO o.
The entire expenses OF the department amounted
to s4S6,934 Co.
the receipts thus exceeded the expenditures by
$223.7 81
OWNING ALLEGIANCE
There Is . standing difference between the Dock
Commissioners the hand and the CITY Hall
officials with the Council of Reform. on the other
This difference OF opinion hinges on the conduct OF
the Dock Department. and on the special privileges
which as a board the Commissioners enjoy. 1t has
already been stated that the department is the one
department connected with the city which does not
under the control of the Board OF Assessment
and Apportionnent and have explained tine reason
why. The revenues of the department.. as has been
said. all paid into the sinking fund. The ex