New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-24
THE CITY,S WATER FRONT.
WARD MALLIsTER SUGGESTS A PLAN FOR m:
BUILDING PIERS AND BULKHEADs.

WARD WALLIsTER SUGGESTS PLAN FOR RI:
BUILDING PIERS AND BULKHEADs
TO the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir The city OF New-York owes SlOo,OOOooo
VIC all Know 1t will cost many millions of dollars IN
rebuild her waterfront, that is sink stone buIkheads
and build stone piers around the entire city, When
this city was In her infancy, and she called on to
reclaim land from water to make streets along tho
waterine, to sink bukheads and build piers she felt
then too poor to undertake this great work. but i'm
posed 1t on the owners Of lots along the waterlna
then and now known riparian owners. They were
compelled to undertake this work. to shutting
out of their land from the waterfront If In a given
time they failed to ill up and make land OF water
sink bulkheads and build piers, they called
on do by the city, the right to do this work passed
from them, did the right to collect wharfage and
cranage from piers and bulkheads opposite their prop
erty. They did this work, paid for it, and also paid
the city the grant which empowered them to collect
wharfage and cranage for all time to come, for them.
selves and their heirs, such bulkheads and piers.
They entered into covenant with the city to do such
work. The State, seeing the pressing necessity OF the
city to have such piers and bulkeadS, authorized the
city TO grant to the owners OF the upland, for money
consideration and on the performance OF certain
nants fully set forth in the grant, such as keeping In
repair, upholding and maintaining all such docks, and
making and keeping in repair all such new streets,
the right to collect all Wharfage and cranage
from such piers and bulkheads. For years these
nronert y-owners found that such docks not only
failed to yield revenue but daily brought them in
debt: there was revenue from this property; for
wears the owners had this outlay in the hope Of
future benefit. The benefit came at last. The Dock
Department was established in 1871 with entire
pervsion Of this dock property, with unlimited power,
ch power that II unscrupulons men got possession VI
this department, they would have power Tor wrong
which they might exercise to the great injury OIL the
city and It's inhabitants. The Dock Department went
TO work to try and get possession Oh thiS properly,
niece by piece In 1876 proceedings were begun
at the nsgation Of the Dock Department, TO acquire
.ho north side of Pier 80 and the south side OF
pier 81 North River, and the Intervening DulAheAh
at the foot of Jay-sL, which was met WIN opposi
tion by the pier and bukhead owners, objection being
taken that the act organizing tile DOCK DepdieMeus
was insufficient to justify the taking of dock properly
Under the law Of eminent domain AVer aoouI
year OF litigation the case was dlscoh1ihuod W tH'
Itv and the Department adopted the policy Of selling
property whenever an opportunity offered, or 10 de'
stray il, value by dumping in front Of H. from
winch great many suits nave arisen. As jug 'Ga,
ton for their and Tor the many Pc1lt9 Ssis
The PRESIDENT of the Dock Department. the other day
Stated maj Inc special counsel retained by the Guy IN
these matters had advised tile Dock Depal ~
To take property by legal proceedings Out 70 seq;
IN wherever they can md piece unprotected ana
compel the owner 10 enforce hls rights III Ic ucSs
way he can: This Is like saying u man II lie sees
a horse and buggy standing III the street 10 ldAe
possession of it, drive 1t away ana t e o%icr efs
it. the best way he sa ee se horse 'l ef The
Civ has il in lis power TO 20 forward honestly and az
once, rather in few years time, coapie ie, 'S
Stone by the simple process Of compelling the owners
of such bullheads and piers under their grants 70
igencies Of the city in other words. enforce me
grants make the owner OF the buIhAe'm Npulu ~,
fuIkhead make the owner of the pier also rebuild ms
ner III il i, necessary the uniformity Of the In?
Of piers to remove old pier or part OF pier ana
latIc give the owners OF the old per an interest "a
any new pier which Is built as substitution lOr tls
Ia ems 10
in the old pier and bulkhead opposite SAM, DO ~,
new plan contem plates widening and lengthenh@ enc
piers and let sucn legislation provide that the owner
Of the bulkhead In front OF when tIIe nc" PVT
is placed can have all his bulkhead interest ~
corporated in the new pier by TINS plan inc cry
would not incur one dollar OF expense Inc s,i"y
mental supervision OF the work, and the cOhtrOI ana
management of the piers and bulkhe's IN TACT OIL mo
entire water front. II the private owner fails TO re-
build his property required the city can then 40
the work aud cali upon him to reimburse the Guy iot
his property interest in this property might DC sOld a.
public auction by the city ANA any surplus "lIc h
Interest on same, could De pad u the 0Wncl Vi SUI
pier and bulkhead property To rebuild the water irons
Of dollars. If the property belonged 10 the city ~
IS in financial condition To do this, but as IL STANDS
the city for valuable consideration, by ORDER Oh Tue
state. has conveyed TO certain citizens hVeelghhs oi
the water rights of this city. The owner OF the upland
has only bought aud paid the city fs tins right 10
collect wharfage and cranage but a- for years pau an
nuay heavy taxes on his pier and bulkhead property
before the city can rob him Of this property they VIII
have in evtty individual 10 travel through not
only All the co,rt, of this state. but would md tho
United states courts well enloning them from ther
attempting 10 destroy private rights, Mr IL - VII
known that a considerable part Of tins pier ana buN-
head property is owned and held by people living IN
othey states who hold trust estates for widows ana
orphans Honesty Will in this instance he FOUND tlo
hest policy: make the owners Of tile piers ana hult'
heads rebuild them. and let the city enjoy large reVs
by taxation. the only source from whfn y In9"
derive It's revenue. NAltD Mc+ALLIoibN'
Ncw-Iork Feb. l., 1891.