New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-18
no LENGTHEN THE PIERS.
THE DOCK BOARD AT WORK on PLANS.
IMPROVEMENTS on THE NORTH RIVER

..r.r IMPROVEMENTS on THE NORTH RIVER
vroSr-wHAT THE COMMISSIONERS SAY.
preliminary steps are being taken by the Dock
c.rar,mcnt for increasing the length Of the piers on
80 North River. A bill which was passed by the
Vac, legislature provides that the existing piers from
a, Battery 10 seventieh-st may be extended TO the
"a, une recently established by the United States Gov
.nuent This will give an increase of from seventy
ave to loS feet 1t will make some of the piers be
,n the Battery and Tenth ST. over 700 feet lonG and
-, 10 accommodate any Of the largest ocean mcrs.
4, present many OF the steamship compd les have
,sd wharves on the Hobohen side OF the river where
~. piers arc long eHough 10 berth their vessels The
l,rse steamers OF the lnman and otlcr lines project
az beyond the end of their piers and nave 10 be pro-
,.c,ad by bargcs and tugs when in their slips.
brief discussion of the subject came up before the
not BOARD az Yesterdays meeting, and President Post
,,errstcd that each OF the commissioners present
.,.,cnent of his views at special meeting TO be held
,.,t week The longhenng Of the piers. the increase
"a rentals aud other details were likely, lie sad to
,,re rise TO the closest competition among the steam
ssip companies and TO cause much Jealousy ana
ssticism The Board ought in consequence to proceed
VITA caution and after thorough investigation OF the
whole subject Chief Engineer Green has been directed
10 prepare plans showing 10 what extent each pier
NAY be Enlightened. Several companies. among them
,be French White star and Old Dominion Lines, have
arsdy requested the extension Of their piers and the
safe Line yesterday made an offer Of $4,000 year
ronal for pier of the full length on the newly
,cQeired property at Vesuy-st.
President Post said that he had gone over the sub
,ec, with tho greatest in the last few weeks, in
order to decide upon fair basis of regulating the In
ersas,d rental the additions which should DO made.
1t Is" he said % matter which concerns the city
as much the lessees. and now that we are in fair
way Of obtaining what we need for pier facilities
for the largest shipping do not want TO take any
false steps My idea thus far is that the rental
should be fixed IN this way: Supposing the present
,ent. OF piers between Canal and West Tenth SITS. to
he s5ooOo a year. fair rental on the addition would
he think 10 per cent on an extension of 100 feet,
or 5000 year. If the company builds the eAton-
sion al its own expense under our super vision. the
property viii revert 10 the city in number OF years
10 be agreed upon. Another feature 10 be determined
is minimum price of rental. All the piers DO not
rent al the same pice IN that part Of the city, Some
are under lease OF old concessions extending back
twenty years. The Huntington Pier pays rental OF
$4,000 II would be manifestly unjust 10 charge 10
PEI cent that amount, while another pier wmch
n only paving 700 rental is in an equally valuable
situation. A distinct minimum price will also have
70 be set probably fol the rent of the waterfront
above West Tcnthst. shall prepare my views III
naper In the same manner rs i expect Mi. cram ana
aud an opinion formed
Mr. Cram is going over the subject with the en-
.inecr and is making full survey OF the cohdiuohs'
commissioner Matthews was engaged yesterday on an
outline of some Of the provisions. which he Thought
desirable to be submitted for consideration.
MY views SO far as have considered them," nc
s,s are that whstever extensions are made ought
q, IA made ny the department al the expense OF te
div or II not made by the department., ileh W ue
l,sc such lessee 10 occupy the extension long enous
fu1.p fDrf
L. no arbitrary action compelling the le>seeo 10 eA
tend their piers. Most of them VIII want 10 no tliis
IA once OF As soon possible, as an extension VIZ
bai the terms of rental may act as reSulcuoi W.
some Instances The duration Of the term 10 use Iiic
ca ten07 should be made coeAtensNe WIN te t.as
Of tho original pier. shedding msnt pe periltt'9a
nroSdcd il be done and paid Tor by the lessee ana 10
revert 10 the city the expiration OF the lease .,
What arrang cement can be made ah"ul tle Teh'as
an determining the rental 10 be charged for the ex
tension MIR. Matthews replied the ne tie ics 80 ma
to Tu and the time IL has run me rental Oh I,c pc ,he
iSs1 with whom to contract ought 10 be considercd
in addition 10 that IL ought 10 be borne IN mnu lao
the ylluo OF the extension for conmerClai PuPoseS
e~ ,nuch moro TO the cSsces than 60 any one eIsc
such being the case. II is difficult 70 TX N genera
way arbitrary sum for the renta or tc use ~
Vfrnsion Piers similarly situated should DC cisSscu
~ grouped together and uniform value piacN upon
Zach as far A. practicable. having regard OF course
foi the duration of the term ~ wOnIu sGenl ''e oa
csrtain percentage upon the original rental or upon
,c Nue of the picr before the addition ought To be
cha ~gcd on agreed upon for the improvement
The work Of extending such piers as nave oeem n ap
rrossIble probably next month"; and the lengthenth
piers will be ready for next summers business nc
editions viii bring large increase OF revenue I'd 'o
civ fIOm the North River front. -
The pOsrd Yesterday approved the purchase by
the city of Piers No. Fl and %, at Nestry-st the
Sld market property. for s-OOooo