New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-31
FIFTY MILLIONS FOR PIERS
DE LANCEY NICOLLS ESTIMATE OF THE
COST OF WATER FRONT M
PROVEMENTS.
SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS ADOPT PART IN
THE DOCK BOARDS PLAINTIFF SECTION
TO COST $500 OOO-THE BOARDS EsTI.
NATE OF THE TOTAL COST is
ONLY $1,000, 90.


The Sinking Fund Commission yesterday adopted
the section OF the plan OF the Dock Board for the
Improvement OF the North River water front BE-
tween Gansevoort-st. and E;eventh-st. This section
will cos. $4,000. according to the estimate OF the
Dock Board. De Lancey Nico.l. who opposed the
scheme on the ground OF the .arge expense. said II
would cost between 100000 and sScoo,co, and
that the entire improvement which IS projected BE-
tween Charles-st and Yves, Twenty third-st would
cost the city $JO0OO0VO before It competed All
the members of the commission were present al the
meeting. The matter was called up by Controller
Fitch to whom It had been referred for considera-
ton at a previous meeting. Mr.. Fitch said that
some Of the proper;y-owners on the West Side Of
the city had requested a pubic hearing. and he
asked them 10 come before the commission and
give their views. Mr. Nicoll then said that he had
been Instructed by several of the largest property
owners to go before the commission and oppose the
adoption OF the scheme. He said he represented
the Hoffman. Livingston and other large estates.
They were opposed 70 the scheme advocated by the
Dock Board on the ground Of its enormous
penditure
The estimate Of the Dock Board" he said Is
too low The cost OF this enormous work should not
be based upon the assessed valuation OF the prop
erty to be taken. The city % New-York cannot
afford TO bear this burden What the city wants
IS not dock improvements but rapid transit. II II
Is going TO spend millions, why not use them in the
building Of rapid transit railroad, and then Lease
II TO a private corporation"
The Mayor interrupted Mr.. NIcOll TO say that
rapid transit not pertinent % the question
under discussion.
1T is quite pertinent" replied Mr.. Nicoll We
taking about public improvements and
rapid transit Is OF them. 49, 49,
The Mayor said he disagreed with Mr.. NlcolIs
estimate He did think that the entire plan; II
Chamberlain O'DonOhue said that in his opinion
the work necessary When completed
would be a desirable source % income to the city,
the steamship companies were Wiling TO pay
I high rents for piers.
President Cram of the Dock Board said that the
Improvement Of the North River water front was
an absolute necessity. This seemed to be the
opinion OF all the members OF the commission, ana
after Mr. Nicoll had made another protest Recorder
Smyth moved the adoption OF the nFst section OF
This Improvement had been before the Sinking
Fund Commission for several months. In November
last proposition 10 approve II was made by Mayor
(iiiroy. Controller Myers refused to vote Tor IL,
on the ground that he wanted more time to con;
slider IT, II" recorded his vote in the negative, ana
claimed that without his vote II could not become
law Mayor (iilroy disputed this. and the matter
remained unsettled until Yesterday At the last
meeting OF the Sinking Fund Commission President
Cram made the proposition 10 do the work in sec
time during which the expenditure would fall upon
the city. Mayor GrOy said that this was not
necessary the law provided that the DOCK De-
| parment could not expend more than 10000 in
any single year. He acquesced in the proposition
| OF Mr. Cram however and the section plan was
adopted.
| The estimate upon the cost Of the entire work
| varies greatly. The Dock Board puts II at Siolro
| the Board Of Trade and TRANSPORTATION at S90ooO
| and De Lancey Ncol at sj1'e1Vo.