New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-16
THE RECREATION DOCKS.
a SCORE OR NOPE OF WOMEN LENT THE
MOST POTENT INFLUENCE 10
SECURE THEM.
EDWARD C. oBRIEN. DOCK COMMISSIONER u
c1.AREs THE NEW WORK THAT THIS

EDWARD c. o'BRIEN. DOCK COMMISSIONERS DE-
c,.ApEs THE NEW WORK THAT THIS
INVOLVES PLEASANT DUTY.
.. st,,. ,eon,e" saws President Edward C.
y,pr,en Dock Commissioner, have claimed the
rIory of first suggesting the idea OF recreu'o'
for the people Mr.. Simeon Walker h'roouceu ','e
bill but it score or more VI "o'',i
hest knew the needs of such institutions loI '"e
snothers and children of the great tenement "'
rrc,s who lent the most potent influence
.This work should naturally come uioer '"'
head of pubic charities. but orr Department "d
heen authorized out Of the S"0o" amman! o.
Sronr,ated to US 10 do this work and we ma II
b pleasant duty 49,, -, ,,
Al act tins authorizing The erection OF such
~ers was passed in lSS2 and explains their OBJ
tect as follows: An act to provide loi u'e "'''"
and recreation Of the people by se'tiie apo"
tain pers along the river fronts OF the ci'y Oh New
York for their ,is-. and to make PROVISIONS lor 'he
It. ,r,rsorti,,, of business by the people OF me
State at such piers ..,,,
The purpose Of this act Il to aiiord u'e H'''"'-
,snts Of New-York greater opportunity Ioi he'i'h-
,,,I recreation than they possess, and I" ac-
complish such end The Department o. DocAs y
hereby authorized to construct or rebuild IN" peiS
GO, anart under the provisions Of THIS act for piblc
use IN such manner rs shall provide platform VI
INNER story Roof thereof ana the approaches '"ei
20 shall be constructed under the drecnoh "i
Aki1ed architect who shall be- employed hy the
ia,d Department OF Docks for that purpose Inc
t1ans and ,coc1cations of sucn improvements
sbalI be first approved by the proper olc"iS OF the
buildings Department OF the saio CITY INV "''i
lion hereof being 10 permh the upper S'oiH VI cam
ppe of the piers herein authorized 10 be sci apart
for nubI,c use wholly free 10 the inhabitants OF
.oid CITY. for Tie purpose aforesaid, without IN
reference Of business occupants and the sao piers
on the lower stories thereof shall be open 10 use
10 boats and vessels plying upon canals rivers
and lakes of this State which may prhs merchah-
disc to the city for sale therein
The original hill provided for the puiloins oi iou'
such piers but President O'Bren hopes that there
NAV be as mary ten before halt is called Inc
first one 10 reach completion is a; the loot OF East
Third-st Another al the foot OF Eas' i"e"'!
fourth.st will open in August. and two others one
az the foot Of Chrisophersi.. North River, and an
other at end OF Ess' M Nv, I'm
son A fifth at the foot OF Twenty -second-st.' North
River. has been suggested .,.s avail
The pier foot Of Last Thirdst Is the small nall
est the first four It is 200 feet long % feeJ moe
and the n T sSSG rs q Tee i've thousand or six
thousand people There are setees Sor ye hunaI ei;
necessary appointments a bandstand occupies the
centre Of the promenade and there is music eveaS
s stu d's and SUNDAY afternoons. o... ,-
The pier is 10 b. kept open until OctoheT' from
o'clock in the morning unlh minnlsn''
WOMEN CARETAKERS
Beside. the superintendent Of the dock there is
one woman csretaker TO look after tho comfort Of
women and children during the day and two women
attend TO these duties in the evening The cost OF
the pier was $4,000 II formally opened 10 the
public on June Is before Il actually completed,
and has been open every evening since. II has been
necessary 10 close il several days in order 10 give
the contractors an opportunity ~ finish their work
High beard fences inclose the East Thlrd-st. dock
yards in one of which stands sifocating tent of
10-cent greatest show on earth Hud1ied
against and under the shadow OF this fence. last
week. the days which the pier was Closed
was sweltering mass OF humanity waiting for the
temporary wooden gates at the entrance or the per
TO open And when last they swung back not
q moment Of time lost in climbing the stairs
and reaching TIE cool. wind-swept second Story OF
this new peoples Treasure House And how they
enjoyed II.
The people OF this district menly Polish and
Russian Jews Rut representatives. or many nations
were in The motley crowd Even a Chinlman may
occasionally he settled II for life upon a
ssttee, the wind gently tanning his stocal cheeks
The little children roll and caper on the Door their
pmpled and necks telling too plainly OF hcrce
struggles for life in hot sitting rooms. And weary
anxious-faced mothers. who have been unape 10
e.eep during the hot nights IN the sweltcrinS insde
bedrooms. catch occasional maps while the reuui
babes their laps luiled 10 quiet by the sooth
Ing breeze.
policeman in charge said that during the Two
weeks the pier had been open there had been, MOI
outstanding the crowds which were especiahy
great the Fourth Of July and Sundays moi a
single arrest any disorder.
DO the people appreciate it?' said the dock SUI
per;n,endent Just look around and see Tor your