New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-03
COMPANIES ASK FOR PIERS
]. SERGEANT CRAM SAYS NEW-YORk'S
WHARvES ARE INADEQUATE.

HE MAKES STRONG DEFENCE OF THE PLAN
FOR IMPROVEMENT PROPOSED BY THE
DOCK CoMMIssIoN-wHY lie DID NOT
ATTEND THE MEETING OF THE
SINKING FUND COMMISSION.
An article nrinted in The Tribune of Sunday re-
ferrng TO the fact that j. Sergeant Cram, presi-
dent of the Dock Board. sent letter to the SINK
ing Fund Commissioners on Friday insteao ol aP-
nearing In person, to advocate the Waterfront
construction proposed the Hudson and Harlem
rivers intimated that Mr. Grams delicacy IN the
matter may have arisen from the fact that MS
father Henry A. Cram. is large owner OF prop
erty between One-hundred-and-thi rty-nrst ana ohe
hundred nd thirty-nnth sts., on the hariem
River, which would be much Increased IN Vaiue IL
the Dock Departments scheme is carried out
In Justice to President Cram 1t may be SAID that
his reason for not being present at the meeting OF
the Sinking Fund Commissioners last Friday was
the sudden and untmely death OF his sister-h-ia"'
Mrs Henry s. Cram which occurred In London
two days before. But for this the Commissioner
would have attended the meeting.
Friends of Mr.. Cram say that while II Is true
that his father owns blocks of land on the
Harlem River which might be benefited by the i'm
provements proposed. he has never permitted any
except public considerations to influence his acuon
as a member of the Dock Board.
The following letter defending the plan for the
Improvement of the water front between Charles
and West Twenty-thrd SITS has been sent 10 the
Editor of The Tribune by President Cram;
10 the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: The CT Of New-York. with unrlvaled natural ad-
vansges and is seriously handicapped as port
by private rights along the water front and
by wholly antiquaed plan of dock improvement here
tofore adopted for the public property.
No private rights the watr front are large enough
in extent susceptible OF proper improvement and
preudcial to the public interest AS mat
ter fact private simply seek to get the
utmost possible rental for their property. without anv
regard 10 the public What nrvate ownership means
may By ktrolng along South-st or as an exam
pie on the North River the foo: Of Forty thirdst and
by the fact engaged in foreign trade is
locked at a private wharf
The plan which public improvements have been until
lately by the Department Of Docks was adopted In
1871 the Of modern steamers and Is defectNe
because both slips and piers are too small TO beih inc
ships today The great cost OF modern steamers maKes
IL amporan that they should be in port the Feast Dos
.ibl time and that their carroes handled with
the utmost dispatch. This can only be done by docking
at wide PIERS large slips whsre every hatch can be
worked
The plan adopted by the Commissioners Of the Sinking
Fund at their last does away with both these
evils 1t eAungushes private ownership and provides IA
cties entirely adequate for the requirements oil modern
trade plan prepared after careful study of the
latest Improvements The Liverpool London and South
ampton docks, consultation With the leading shin
owners architects and dock engineers of the world
1t provides fourteen modern piers at which twenty
eight steamers be dockod and worked with advantage
simran ously whore there is not to-day. Fourteen
rie1s arc now used foreign trade Of the city Of
New-York only one OF which that Of the American Le
Is adapted to the requirements modern steamers The
plan provides four small piers for the local trade OF
The proposed large piers. being designed
with reference modern requirements. will more than
double the capacity Of the por, for foreign trade.
three years the Board Of Docks have brought
from Montreal Baltimore. Jersey City and Brooklyn the
Allan Line Glasgow. the Atlantic Transport Line 10
Red Line Antwerp the American Line
Southampton and the Anchor Line to Glasgow They
have applications number Of othc: great steamship
companies including companies which control the tin
plate Wales all Of whom wish TO 10 New
York hut the Department Of Docks have berths TO
assign them except under the above plan.
The applications already received for Of the
new piers rentals which would about 10 cent
net on the cost the improvement.
The proposed plan does not involve dollar OF additional
arpropIlaton expenditure by the Board Of Docks. II
simply that the annual appropriation should be
spent will be of the greatest advantage 20 the
general public.
In view these facts press public
officer seriously oppose the plan. To do shows
q cynical contmr for the intelligence Of the public which
i'll becomes public officer.
public opposition there is none and can be none;
The sole object0r, chronic notorey
seekers was the agent absentee landowner. who in
the end derive benefit from the plan by
the increase IN value his any other
citizen OF the city OF SewYork.
The statement that plan comes from Tammany Hall
Is wholly untrue but. II true would lie argument.
against provided it promotes the general welfare
matter Of fact the plan unknown the members
OF Tammany Hall until presented by the Board OF Docks
to the Commissioners of Sinking Fund. and first
the notice Of that organization by the
Yours respectfully,
j. SERGEANT CRAM. President.
Department q Docks City Of NewYork. October 3 1893