The New York herald., 1879-08-03
THE NEW BARGE OFFICE.

PREPARATIONS COMPLETE FOR COMMENCING
WORK ON IT To-MoRRow-How 1T WAS OBJ
TANNED AND WHAT ITS ADVANTAGES WILL BE-
pile of timber is expected to arrive tomorro at
the stone jetty Oft Whitehall street aud lot of
will Immediately set about inclosing its from
the public view. This time 1t is not . sinking
wall q crumbling pavement that is to be
hidden. but inside the wooden quadrangle
will bo sunk the foundation Of much
needed public building Time and again the
community has heard of the proposed Barge
Office. Sometimes it has been tossed about in Con-
gress. and seemingly been on the point of being
utterly disposed of before stone was laid;
again. it has been dragged into the Board of Alder
men, where the City Fathers doughtily refused it
standing ROOM but Congressman Muller, of the
First district. vino first suggested the edce TO the
national representatives, has persevered in having
it made reality and locating 1t on the
spot where. above all others. it ought
to be. 1t is in consequence OF sue.
cessful wrangle with the city Aldermen, In
which he caused them to relinquish the contested
portion Of it's site that the Barge Oce is on
the Of erection. The asphalt which formerly
covered the has already been broken into and
the wall facing toward the bay ia in of de-
moliton. Superintendent Jackson. who has
see the work. made survey Of the site
couple Of days since and prepared o report upon
the best methods Of carrying out the plan in view.
As the structure Will be of size and weight the
expediency Of having very solid foundation pre-
sented itseall the more strongly. too in the face
of the contiguous wall and paved surface of the
Battery, which have in several places sunk beneath
the old level Investigation has shown that 1t was
the portions erected on piles driven into the bottom
of the bay that proved unable to stand the action Of
hat and thR twain
were employed to lay the foundation on solid bot.
tom. as was the case with the work the
has remained stanch throughout. Now the
work Of ascertaining at what depth solid
piles driven into the surface. which formed the
mainland. have penetrated to depth of thirty five
feet. and still lower stratum must be reached
under the jetty as it is built on made ground When
the conditions are pronounced favorable for the lay
ing of u foundation. the requisite space will be
dredged. and the supporting masonry once in place
the structure will be carried to as speedy a compile
ton possible.
The plan of the building is already familiar to
many through prints that been in circulation.
1t is to be elaborate edfce OF Philadelpha brick
with facings of stone and trimmings of the same
masonry inlet for small boats one side
and on the other touching the Staten
side will present elsewhere straight 'front.' divided
into three sections. 1t will be two stories in height.
except the central section. which Will rise up tower
fashion, and terminate in a light which will be
serviceable to pilots in coming up the bay and
guide to all craft navigating 1T at night This
ing light which tipped the venerable barge
office %hs a that ao of yors stood on Pier /;
to be divided into waiting rooms for employees of
the national government engaged in the customs
cies, and who have hitherto had regular rcndez-
vous. The upper stories are set apart Tor the cer
cal force and for offices. In the rear will be an en-
closure of iron and glass covering space OF SO. 900
square feet In this the luggage of passengers
vessels coming into New York will be submitted for
examination and adequate means are TO be provided
congressman Muller, who has fathered the scheme
all along took look at the preparations yesterday
morning. and was later on accosted by HERALD
reporter reporter, H., - .. ,n..,... vnr.o,, s,.. =, a..
erection of the Barge Officer asked the latter.
why" SAID the Congressman. 1.-The evident need
of it. Down here where meet people who have
made ocean voyages time aud again We have an op
portunity OF hearing much about the annoyances
they have suffered in having their luggage examined
on open docks with the hustle and stir
of business going on about them and stran-
gers standing around and ogling them Besides
most foreigners and all Americans returning home
glad to be rid Of the harassng delays in BERTH
ing vessels and the like which they would escape
had we building such as the proposed barge
Office"
'rhat induced you to bring the matter before
Congress?"
.'Yes. it was that and the lack Of q place to
rendezvous for the customs officials and others in
the service of the national government who attend
to kindred duties There has been some place
wanted where they could be properly organized and
where they could be reached at once in Of
need"
OBTAINED.
'What measures did you take?'
"Oh. 1t is an old story, said Mr. Muller, reluc
family. 1T has been told several times over.
don't think 1t needs retelhng"
The reporter persisted, however, and the Con-
gresham went on to say that he had frst brought
the proposition to erect new Barge Office be-
fore Congress in the shape of reso,
meet serious opposition. and he had it
framed in bill which went before both houses, and
at last passed on the 18th of June, 1875 under
suspension OF the rules. By It an appropriation Of
S2l00O0 voted to defray the building expenses,
but II made conditionally strip Of land lying
between the part OF the jetty owned by the govern
ment and the slip for small boats belonged to the
city, and it was to be given part of the
the new structure. The Board of Aldermen seemed
to scent something occult in this cession for they
resolutely refused to make The strip of land ad-
sold to the government for $4,000. At expense
OF S2O00OO sea wall was erected about 1t and the
land which up to then had been covered with water
was raised to the surrounding level. II formed
the easterly side Of the pier and the westerly side
made up of only thin strip, built up by the
city. and very badly. too. 1t proved Consequently
when the site for the Barge Office this
strip became u bone OF contention. Congressman
Muller. however. went to the front again, and the
Aldermen Withdrew their opposition. The contract
for building a now and stronger wall about tho
newly ceded portion given to the lowest bid
der, and work Is begun.
After the completion OF the building the cabin
passengers OF steamers coming up the bay will be
trans erred to barges at quarantine while the vessels
undergoing the Health Oflicer's examination OF
at other more available point II such be found
They VIII then be conveyed to the Battery office
direct and al ter submitting their luggage official
scrutiny will be ut liberty to depart s'There IL no
better location for 1t in the city, said Congressman
veyances all parts within reader reach than at
any other point
ASSAULTED BY A WATCHMAN.