New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-30
DOCK SCHEMES BLOCKED.
CONTROLLER MYERS PUTS IN HIS VETO.
MAYOE GILROY WILL TEY 70 HAVE THAT POWER
TAKEN From HiM-TAMMANY SAW MILL


TAKEN From HiM-TAMMANY SAW MILL
IONS IN TIE IMPROVEMENTS.
A remarkable scene was enacted at the meeting
OF the Sinking Fund Commissioners In the Mayor
office Yesterday The Board had been discussing
the scheme to which Tammany Hall is committed
involving the expenditure of millions Of dollars
upon the North River front between Charles-st
and Twcnty-th rd-st. Controller Myers when the
vote taken, exercised the veto power when inc
law gives him. and defeated the PROJECT. whereupon
Mayor Gilroy denounced the chief financial o'iicer
Of the city for the stand he took and declared that
he would use his influence to deprive the Controller
OF his power to defeat expenditures deemed by
him improper or extravagant
The Dock Board, composed OF Messrs. cram
Phclan and White all Tammany appointments nave
for months been urging the plans formulated by
them under act Of the Legislature. pubic
hearing on the subject was set for yesterday by
the Sinking Fund Commissioners. The projects in
volve a new sea wall through Piers Nos. (old) q
and q. and the intervening bulkheads on each side
At Barclay-st. and PARK Place: a sea wall along
the bulkhead line through Piers Nos told) IL and
IS. North River. At the expense or j. H. Stafin'
water front. Harlem River. from One-hundrrd-and-
thirty-cighth-st to Seventh-ave.: water front and
exterior street from Fortynnth-st. to Fifty-third-
ST., and from Fifty-ninth-st to Sixty-fourth-st
East River; water front between Seventy-second
and One-hundredth SITS. North River In front or
Riverside Park; water front between Charles and
West Twenty third sts. North River. and the
purchase Of water rights at Forty third-st. North
River. from the Knickerbocker Ice Company.
Citizens crowded the Mayors office at II a. m
The West End Property owners Association. the
Riverside Park Association and the Colonial Club
had delegates present. letter from President
Cram, OF the Dock Department was read. saying
that II the land required were purchased 1t would
be held without improvement. temporarily. This
intended to quiet the fears Of people who be-
licvel that If the plans were carried out Riverside
Park would be deprived Of its charm.
Commissioner Phelan explained that definite ac-
ton ought to be taken at that the bulk
head lines might be laid out properly.
Mayor Gilroy suggested that little delay would
be advisable after all Commissioner Phean gave
the assurance that It not the intention 10 build
docks in the Riverside Park neghborhood just now.
and offered to withdraw the scheme for the
present
The Commission assented thereto and James a.
Deering who appeared for the West eide prop
ertv owners was authorized to put IN writing Il
verl al understanding that the Park Commission
ers should have control OF the further proceedings.
After some minor improvements had been con-
sidered the Harlem River improvements cam" up
and were Objected to by III" Controller. on me
ground tina, they covered mile " the river
front above Onc-hundrc- and thirty-eiGhth-st and
with the indentations would make necessary the
building of oyer 1900 feet OF bulkhcad instead Of
$500 feet. as sct forth in the specifications. II
would he asserted prove beneficial mainly to real
estate spectators AMI TO few of them. Tho
Mayor again proposcd delay and the Harlem
schemes were in their turn "w!thdrawn
Then Mr. Phclan submitted the plan FOR inprov-
inc the rlvei front from Charles-s to West Twenty
third-st and the sensational incident OF the day
followed The Commissioner argued the great
necessity for anordlng ample accommodation for
the great transatlantic steamship lines. as other
wise they would be driven 20 Long Island or New
Jersey He urged that the people Of New-York
were anxious 10 have docks which would Offer the
same or greater facilities than were offered by
London Liverpool ana the other great seapor,s Of
the old World.
Controller Myers took issue with Commissioner
Phclan and opposed the proposition because OF i's
immense expense. Such series of plans. he said.
would cost unlimited millions" Orlando -. Potter.
rcprcsenting the Board Of Trade and Transports
ton backed the Controllers objections He was
prepared to state. he said AZ member Of a com
mittee which had given the subject thorough In
vestigation tina, the work mapped ont by the
Dock Hoard could not be accomplished for less
than 100000 Resides. the construction would
drive out the lumber trade.
The Mayor replied that too much time had al
ready been consumed over the matter lie coun-
| SEIZED immediate action Modern docks ought to be
| provided for the ocean, steamers without any
| more delay The estimates Of tho department
engineers placed the cost at only s6.75ooo.
g. Waldo Smith. from the Mercantile Exchange.
corroborated Mr.. Pottcr's estimate. and said that
the expenditure could not be less than S2o9o,oDo
chief Engineer George ". Greene. OF the Dock
Department was obliged to admit that the con-
/ s;ructlon would take twelve years.
! The Mayor called FOR IA vote. but the Controller
! asked for a short delay He needed more time he
said 10 consider monumental an Undertaking.
Il am ready TO vote now" replied Mayor OH
ftV.h ..Gtt NOM emo n
| This viii only Increase the cost
| The roll was called Mayor Gilroy. Chamberlain
! o. Donohuc and Alderman Brown voted aye" Con
trcller Myers voted mo" The resolution was
! lost.
The Mayor looked panied and cast an angry
glance in the direction Of Mr.. Mycra
1T is a great public calamity" he said. ito have
| the conclusion of the board overruled and de-
feated in this way This project has been pend
| opposition No city official should stand in the
! way OF public improvements"
II am not doing anything Of the kind" re-
spondcd the Controller. making unsuccessful
effort to smile. -,
hot blood mounting I" his temples
The Controller wanted to explain. but the MayoI
said there was no need Of II, as the Controller
vote had settled the whole thing To show that
he Fad desire to defeat the plan. Mr. Myers
| offered IA resolution t. reconsider.
you cannot do that replied Mayor Gilroy
you voted in the negative. And desire to be
| corded right here as saving that II great
wrong that a single official should have the power
! TO block any public improvement. | give warning
| that in the future | shall do what | to have
! the law changed that member Of this
| Board shall b. able to prevent important action
hereafter
1t was afterward agreed that the question OF the
| power OF the Controller adverse vote to prevent
| the adoption Of the plan considered should be
| referred TO the Corporation Counsel.
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