New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-01
A DILAPIDATED PIER

A TRIBUNE reporter made inquiries at the
Department OF Charities aud Correction recently to
Twen;y-sixth-st whence boats run TO Blackwe's
Wards. Randals and Harris Islands. repaired OF
THE duty of keeping the pier in good order rests with
the Dock Department SAD H. II: Porter. me pres,lo
to then-ahd appeal pretty freqnently-tho nyari-
able Is that the Dock Department does not see
the of spending money on altering that one pier
when there arc now before the Commissioners Of the
sinking Fund plans for the entire alteration and I'M
prOveent OF the whole wa ter front FROM Grandst up
TO Eighty fourth-s They say That they recognize as
well the necessity OF repairs but that Is very
poor consolation TO when the pier threatens 10 col
lapse every day. Besides these plans before the Sinking
Fund have been before the Sinking Fund-with some
alterations IN them for Twelve years now, and If
they were approved We should have 10 oppose them
with all our strength because they Tonld ruin the Belle
we Hospital They include street and wall all along
I'm front OF the hOspital but the hospital Is the property
the poor aud It's WAGER front the greatest blessing
the poor OF the city have and must not be taken away
The rrportcr then saw warden ORourkc o. Bellevue
Hospital and with him look the pier IN lues
ton which Is in a condition OF the utmost dapdatlon.
BAH the pans are worn ont ana rottng; IN some places
the supports have sunk that the surface Is all ups and
downs: toward the end II becomes so runous that the
water stand, foot deep over Its southern SIDE for
space OF some five yards and In high wind sweeps
completely over the pier and the entire place Uttered
with sapped and spntered timbers fragments OF piles
and broken bOarshe whole conveying the Idea OF not
There's a pretty pier for the City of New York to
have!" said Mr.. OlOurkc. d" We did all the patching
could to IT, but il Is long past mendng now II one Of
tons coal lost by the breaking IN OF that part
where YOU the water washing over and nothing has
been douc 70 II since
Pat sou would not consent 10 purchase q new pier
M the loss ot your hospital frOntagci"
Not II we can help H. cerIinly; what docs anybody
want with road and onr lines ef rails along herel
Somebody might make fortune out Of T.. but the whole
people OF city would suffer IL would sweep
bali OF our wards aud large section If the Wood
Museum. besides that dead house Ga poor but the
only the city has and that small building thcre
which the only decenty available crysipcas ward in
The city. No al want IA pier. and seeing that
the proceeds Of the traffic from the piers bring In about
- 900 year 20 the Sinking Fund II about time we had
something less disgrace nj than that rickety old thing
John T. Cummings, the secretary OF the Dock Depart
mcn said that the department. had no intention p TAX
ing any stops while tine plans Il hal submitted were
still under the consideration OF the Commissioners OF the
Sinking Fund.
And when were those plans submittedl"
Well submitted .n 1871, hut as no action
made some alterations in them last year.
but have had 10 answer 10 orr last request made in
january, that attention should be given them
Deputy Controller Richard A. St0rrs spoke rather
cheerlnlly yes" he said. have had plans here
snce l77l but the present FOR only six months.
Aud have no doubt that something will be done
will take series OF mCetncs 10 settle IT, but the ques
ton may mp nj tho very next meeting. Oh some
thing will be done soon"