The New York herald., 1879-09-05
PLAYING AT INVESTIGATION.
The Dock Commissioners Trying to
Hoodwink the Public.
HOW PUBLIC BUSINESS IS TRANSACTED
An Expert on the Danger of
Dumping in the Harbor.

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The exposure of the outrages perpetrated in New
York harbor made by the HERALD short time ago
has created SO many side questions that the matter
is assuming national importance. Every day new
item is added to the history of the destruction OF
the port. until it seems as though nothing could
arrest the evil but general reconstruction Of the
harbor authorities. A few years ago number of
citizens and merchants. with this end In view.
petitioned the Legislature to abolish the Dock
Department unnecessary and detrimental to
the practical government OF the harbor. By
great effort the department saved. This
fact.Inade the present Dock Commissioners fearful
that some such effort would result from the late
exposure of their negligence and culpability The
promises and penitence of the Commissioners was
most encouraging. A full investigation OF the evils
was to be made and the guilty parties brought to
Justice. Yesterday the day appointed for the
investigation At eleven o'clock the Board of G ,m-
missioners met in the large room of the Dock De-
partment. Representatives of tho press were
present and Mr.. Greene. chief engineer of the de-
partment. The meeting opened by Commits
sioner Dimock who said:-
Its very hot"
"Close atmosphere" was the profound answer of
Secretary Lynch, who thus cinched the weighty
discussion Of public affairs.
After this nothing was said for few minutes.
when Mr.. vanderpoel. President of the Board
dered the Secretary to read the minutes of the last
meeting. This done in great haste. and finally.
after reading himself out Of BREATH Mr.. Lynch sat
down and awaited events.
"why don't you read all the communications to
tho department. said Mr.. vanderpoel, with the air
Of an injured man.
Numerous documents were then read. while the
two Commissioners, who did not seem to under
stand q word. looked though they were bored
One document was an application from Jersey
railroad company, who wish the use of the depart
ments sounding machine for the purpose Of testing
the depth of water in their docks. Another was o
complaint Of the hlling up of dock adjoining
East River dumping station. "This" said President
vanderpoel ..must be investigated" Several other
communications treated in the manner.
Then every present waited for the subject of the
day to be opened. Mr.. Lynch solemnly closed the
books of the Board and nodded to Mr. Vanderpoel,
who turned to the reporters and sad:-
HOW OFFICIAL WORK IS DONE.
''Gentlemen, the investigation is over; that's all
we shall do to-day; the meeting is adjourned
This announcement was received with astonish-
ment by the reporters who asked why the question
Of dumping in tho bay had not been considered
. 1.-The engineer and the pilot OF the Aanson Sum-
ner are not present. consequently we cannot pro-
but did you not take precautions to have the par
ties hereY' asked the HERALD reporter.
has just returned with the Information that they
cannot be present to-day. answered Mr.. yanderpoel.
Of sne the o tie e Is
and the manner in which important matters are
dealt with by those whose duty is to assist in
tecting the harbor and commerce OF New York.
After the meeting Commissioner Dimock said to
reporter;-''There is no doubt that the docks
being ruined by the solid sewage Of the city. But
over the main harbor question such dumping
garbage and mud. we have little jurisdiction. This
belongs to the Pilot Commissioners"
\ investigate
'For our own satisfaction.'
general impression has been current that the In
vestgation by the Dock Department would prevent
any further dumping in the bay Tho last statement
Of Mr.. Dimock dispels it. The department being
for the prosecution This department, accord
ing to gentleman who hae studied the matter "is
relic of the dark age in which Tweed Co. ruled"
In order that no side of the trouble should be neg
ected. Mr. Charles Haswell, the marine aud civil
gineer was interviewed by reporter yesterday to
ascertain correctly the scientific points. Mr.. Haswen
found in his Office in Bowling Green.
You appear. Mr.. Haswel. said the reporter Ito
have taken great interest in the harbor question;
what have been your opportunities for observa-
tionY ft.
"As boy andman have rowed and sailed over every
part of Fort Lee and He'll Gate to Sandy Hook
have also done duty in the harbor for two periods
of two years each."
Upon what does tho bar at Sandy Hook and the
harbor depend for the maintenance of its integrtyY
THE INFLUENCE OF TIDES IN HARBoRs.
1.-The depth OF bar and tho maintenance OF q
marine harbor depends upon the volume of the
tidal within it. That is, the volume of the
utaries above the low level. All the filing
out of bulk head lines and solid piers below this
level OF low water reductions of the tidal vol
umc. The effect Of this is to reduce the volume of
the how and ebb ut the bar. and the lessening Of
their detrital action"
Does the dumping of dredgings and street sweep
ings of the Dock aud Police departments in loca-
tons below the tide level the navigation chan
nels or the bar ut Sandy HookY
"Very materially.
.As said such Is not the case please state
your vewsT' '
'AIthough the deposit of solid matter into harbor
below it's tidal level does not mediaely reduce the
tidal volume 1t ultimately Affects 1t, and in this
wise:-The dminu ution of the depth of the water in
harbor reduces the facility OF its how aud conse-
Quently the rise of the flood tide is decreased in d
rect proporti with the decrease of its velocity
its period OF duration Is liked. A reduction of the
tide level ut Sandy Hook means reduction of IL at
Throggs Neck aud at Waterford. the head OF navi
CATION in the Hudson River. Consequently there is
SO much less water to pass over the bar ana main
'What will. in your opinion. be the result Of tho
present practices OF the city authorities. IL
tnuedY'
..rhe continuance OF the present system will in
evitabiy result in shoaling or the bar at Sandy
Hook and q restriction or stop to navigation in the
bay. and that too. at no very distant period. When
tuaily shallow the bar, this Swallowing will
advance in Increase in ratio, and how
It Is that the Chamber of Commerce. our
merchants and the authorities, including the
Covernar LEGISLATURE and state engineers, take
heed OF the city's danger. In a problem to me.
Their neglect is almost crime. Why. to show how
fifty years ago when the aood tide reached sands
Point. II IL arrested at Throg's Neck and IL
tho practice of dumping In the harbor Is continued
II will soon stop at He'll Gate
In answer to another inquiry Mr.. Hasweu said
that IL the harbor was once nlled or shoaled. it
would take years to open navigation again. No ref
use should be dump ped at point loss than six miles
seawurd from Sandy Hook.