The New York herald., 1879-03-13
DEPARTMENT OF DOCKS.

ypEhlOuS CHARGES AGAINST CHIEF ENtilNEEh
Observation-Disclosures, IGNORANCE AND
cARELEssNEss- SALE OF PIERS TO-DAY.
The regular meeting of the Board of Dock Com
missioncrs was held yesterday afternoon and after
the transaction OF routine business something Of
sensation created by the presentation Of written
charges by Mr.. Felix Armstrong against Chief Eng-
neer Greene The Board authorized the Corporation
Counsel to see Mr.. Cornell White for back rent of
pier 81 North River and to dispossess him or its
The sale of ten piers the North River and twenty
Ave on the East River, for from one to five years.
will be held to-day at noon at No. Ill Broadway.
MR. ARArsTnoNG's CHARGE n
Mr.. Armstrong. who appeared before the Commits
sioners accompanied by two lawyers and number Of
friends presented paper. of which the following
the substance:- M
GExrLEMEN-My sense Of public duty compels ~
although with great reluctance, to bring 60 yo0$
notice certain matters which relate to great iutox
in your department, and directly concern .Ge0rf n.
Greene. Jr, engineer-in-chief. chaF4& Ills XSter
in ~sn f pss and q s
an opportunity, time and place following
charges - ,4S$ N
Specifications 1.-The Canal street esctnp Of tho river
wall; the alteration OF the plans f ~ Predecessors
and the result. He objected to III mode of con-
structi5n 1t that point and stoppdd tho work. and
that portion OF the wall then petcd pro-
norncsd insecure by himself and body Of experts
driving piles in tho OF said wall and constructed
platform. intending to secure the front wall by re-
pelihg the pressure of the filing behind said wall
Thiaexpcnsive proposed remedy proved valucless.
Thouchciency III construction caused weakness Of
theIront part and base Of the wall.
Specification 2.-From tho commencement of this
construction of the river wall he began series OF
experiments. He departed entirely from the plans
ofhis predecessors. and with no apparent settled
phn OF his own. He recklcssly caused the expendi-
tdre OF vast sums Of the public money. with no
beneficial result. &.+r
Specification She commenced section OF now
work near the foot OF Morton street He drove down
rows OF piles which were to DO cut of at upi-
form height OF about twelve feet below the mean
low water line but before cutting them Oft he
filled the intcrstces with intermediate stone neces-
situting the employment OF divers and assistants to
remove them so that the machine used in cuttingpf
said piles could work. thereby involving great delay
and expense. He further experimental and adopted
proved entire failure and resulted in great loss Of
time and money for the department
in progress 1t river wall south Of French pier. g. -
.Spccifcation a-Lonstruction OF stone pier NORTH
River. in completing the last Two ARCHES.
SECOND DCHARGE.-Incompoteucy and neglect.
SPECIFICATION 1.-Rcpairs and hniahing stone pier
/ North Riyer. The entire structure 10 In danger.
from its inception to its completion. owing to the
incompetency OF the engineer and superintendent
SPECIFICATION 2-Reckless extravaganza in the finish
ing OF pier North River.
Specifcaion 3.-Through his system of expert
Inents in driving piles and drawing with large
derrick he uselessiy wasted large sums Of public
money
.specifcatisn 4--Greene carelessly and ignorantly
made the opening outlet OF ut foot of Clark
street two feet smaller than the sewer, necessa
tatng its being rebuilt ut an expense Of $4,000.
LAsrLy-Thcro numerous other defects in tho
construction OF work too numerous to dilate upon
this communication. which upon the examination Of
the plans and the work readily point out, show
ing his utter incompetency and neglect. His whole
management of the work and its general deficiency
in construction demonstrate his utter incapaciy
a civil engineer or practical mechanic to conduct
works of such vast magnitude, upon the durability
of which the commercial interests and prosperity of
this great city 80 much depend
Then follows affidavit OF Mr.. Armstrong alleg-
ing that his charges true to the best of his
We and belief. The charges will be considered by
the Commissioners.
MIR. GREENE's REPLY.
Mr. Greene was visited last night by HERALD re-
porter. He SAID that he had. as matter OF fact
adopted some Of the modes Of procedure which the
foregoing mentions. But whether he had adopted
them wisely or unwisey o point on which he
was not going to defer to the opinion Of q mason
like Mr.. Armstrong He also stated that Armstrong
an ignorant, uncducstcd man, who had been dis
charged for drunkenness in 1876 whom he had him.
self reinstated upon promise to reform, aud who
had six weeks ago, made claim for extra wages
which Mr.. Greene had declined to approve.