The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-17
Commercial Advantages of
New York City.
NEEDS OF THE HARBOR And WATER FRONT
The Dock Department, It's Consti-
tuition and Revenues.
WORKS ACCOMPLISHED AND Projected
Initiation Of a Legal Contest and Its
Happy Settlement.

Few cities In the world favorably situated
for purposes of commerce than is New York. Occu-
plying advantageous position the Atlantic coast,
lying between two great rivers arms of the sea.
having in front noble bay which for extent and
security is absolutely unrivaed. and connected by
railroads canals with the fertile and productive
regions Of the South and West it is possessed Of all
the primary requisites of first class commercial
entrepot, and needs but care, attention and well
directed enterprise to make it another and even
greater London. AS yet young compared with most
of the commercial centres of the Old World it has
nevertheless already attained proud and even
enviable position Wanting in. many of the attrac-
tions and not a few of the convenences which
conspicuous features of older centres and which
many generations Of wealth and culture alone can
produce it yet possesses attractions and
which the other centres might envy, and reveals at
the same time youthful vitality. energy and lofty
ambition which promises well for its future pros
perity and greatness
NATURAL ADVANTAGES.
The city of New York undoubtedly owes much to
the genius and enterprise of its native born citizens
and to those who, from. different parts of own
Qpuntry and from abroad, have sought it ont and
made it their home In the first instance, however
the marvellous development. growth and material
prosperity of the city must be attributed to
its superior natural advantages Without brains
and hands the city could not have become what it Isl
but brains and hands would have been less useful
less productive of great results, if Manhattan Island
had been otherwise situated. II wealth and popula-
tion have been attracted to New York it is because
the has found suitable field and the other has
found satisfactory employment and If genius and
enterprise have been conspicuousy revealed in the
midst of u.s. it is because the former has found ample
scope and the latter adequate reward. Among these
natural advantages the first place must be
corded to magnificent harbor. 1t is but
truth to say that the harbor has Seen the
nursing mother of the now great city. It
is not less true that If New York is to maintain her
proud position and to fulfil her high destiny it must
be by leaning on the same arm and by drawing
ishmcnt from tho same source which has made her
what she is Gratitude and sef-interest. therefore,
equally and imperatively render it duty to give
our attention rst last and always to harbor; to
spare neither labor nor expense to make our water
front equally source of wealth and ornament to
the CITY, and by superior docks and wharves and
other related convenences offer to foreign traders
aud especially to the great steamship companies,
such temptations as shall make it necessity for
them to prefer the harbor of New York any other
port on the American shores of the Atlantic
OUR NEGLECTED WATER FRONT.
Much, however, as we owe to our harbor and all
important that hsrbor is and continue be to
the city it hardly be said that 1t has received the
care and attention which 1t has deserved and which
o wiser and more considerate policy would most
surely have accorded to it, 1t is not too much say
that the river front of New York has been, and in
still is. standing disgrace to the city, More
rickety, tumbledown structures. called by the
of piers and docks and wharves, are to be found
where else in any of the great seaports Of the world
To any accustomed to the magnificent and in every
way convenient and comfortable docks Of London and
Liverpool, not to speak Of other harbors both in
Europe and America, the wonder Is that, In the
presence of much enterprise skill and good taste
the water front of New YORK should have been
allowed to remain So long in SO wretched and neg
iected condition. In the external features of New
York city-in its almost unrivaed Broadway, its
wide and extended avenues its elevated railroads. its
Central Park its churche its theatres, in the paatsl
homes of its merchant princes and of its pub
lie buildings-there is much which willing the
stranger should and admire; but. aside from
certain recent improvements, have no desire
that he should too closely inspect piors and
wharves. It is however too late to mend and
is gratifying to be able to state only that efforts
being made to improve the water front and to render
the harbor what it ought to be- but that these efforts
are already making themselves visible in cncourag-
ing and satisfactory results IL would be wrong to
imagine that the New York public have been ndiIcr
ent either to the merits Of the harbor
or to the duty which they to it..
1t is now many years since consultations
held, and since concerted measures were
adopted by our leading citizens. looking generally to
the Improvement of the water front, but more
especially to the providing of suitable piers and
wharvos for the accommodation OF native and foreign
traders. There has been no end OF suggestions.
lie To
the sublime. Again and again attempts have been
made: put with almost unvaryng non-success, to
Dor improvements. 1t Is only, however, within the
last few years that anything substantial in any
the scheme OF dock improvements we are now be-
ginning to see that money spent on tho harbor OF
New York is not necessarily spent in vain.
THE DOCK DEPARTMENT..
Tho Dock Department is organized under section
80 1873 being act to rcoganize tho local govern
ment OF the city OF New York, commonly called
"Thc Charter" and section of chapter 574 of the
Laws OF 1871, passed April h. 1871. amended by
chapter 73s OF the Laws of 1S72 May 16 1s7i
Tho management of the department is vested in
BE- '' resilient sHA1 in New York city These com .
and they hold office for the term Of ys
the management OF city affairs which does not come
under the control of tho Board of Assessment and
Apportionmcnt, circumstance. which. from time to
time. has been the occasion Of not little wrangling.
II owes Its allegiance rather to the sinking lund
commissioners, being provicuD y law tnht tpe JOCK
Department "shall possess such power ana perform
such duties and receive such compensation as shall
be established and defined by the commissioners OF
the Sinking Fund of the city OF New YORK..
10 prevent niisconception It is proper at
this stage to state that tho commissioners
of Docks arc by law charged with the
management. rs property, OF the many miles OF water
front aud piers owned by the city: with the general
supervision over all the water front and piers not
owned by the city; with the duty of seeing that the
whole watcr property. both public and private, is
properly dredpcd and kept in suitable repair; with
the duty OF making rules and regulations rs to tho
OF tho water 'front.' with the duty OF passing upon
all ercctions, structures and supcrstrcturos, and
upon all proposed notifications increase of every
kind OF terminal facility; and above all with the duty
Of carving out the work of the plan
which has been finally agreed upon. the whole water
front property. The money raised from the renting
or leasing of tho property IL paid into tho sinking
fund OF the city and tho moneys necessary for carry
ing on the entire business OF the department are
raised what called dock bonds of the city OF
New York" These bonds the Comptroller Ia bound to
issue from time to time. when directed by the Com
missioners OF tho Sinking Fund. Not moro than
xsoo0.oco OF such bonds can be issued in any
ono year, can thoy DO sold for less than
Al..l~ .l., llr kt,..