The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-07
WELL MHRIqED TRIBUTE
Riparian Commissioners Adopt
Resolutions EuIogistie Of
Robert c. Baeot Their
Former Engineer.

Mr.. Robert C. Bacot on July !, resigned
as Secretary and Engineer of the New
Jersey Riparian Commissioners. and MI.
John c.. Payne was elected in his place.
The Board appreciating the long services
of Mr.. Bacot, has ordered lengthy
sketch of him spread in full upon the min
utes AS a recital of Mr.. Bacot's con-
nection with the Commission is a history
of that body itself from it's Inception 10
the present time, the sketch is of more
than ordinary interest.
Mr.. Bacot was born in Charleston, s. G.,
September is. 1918, and is a descendent of
the Huguenot families of Bacot-De Saus-
sure, who settled in South Carolina in
1910. He came to Jersey City in 1883,
and was elected City Surveyor IN 1910. In
1857 he was elected Water Registrar, and
soon afterward Chief Engineer and SUI
perinfendent of the Jersey CITY Water
Works, which he held until 1854 when he
resigned to take charge of the examlna-
tions to be made by the Legislature 10
determine the extent and value OF the
State riparian lands. The COMMISSION
ers appointed to make this examination
made their report to the Legislature Feb
ruary l. 1865 In 1869 the Commission was
reorganized, and Mr. Bacot was made
their engineer and Augustus w. Cutler,
Secretary Since the formation OF the
Commission there has been realized for
the State from grants and leases a total
amount Of about s4,00o,0oO, incllding s5oeooO
received for the grant to the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company.
Since 1880 no attempt has been made
on the part of any person or corporation
to dispute the States title, and it has
been universally accepted. Some excit-
ing questions, however have arisen DUR
ing that time in riparian matters, such
as the contest with the Government on
what is known as Fishers Point Dyke, ~
the Delaware River, the building OF
which was opposed by the COMMISSION
on the advice of Mr.. Bacot, on the
ground of threatened damage to shore
owners of New Jersey and their riparian
interests. The South Cove grant maae
by the Legislature in 1871, whereby Jer-
sey City has acquired a large ana Vaiua-
BILE public tidewater basin, was MADE
upon the Recommendation OF the Riparian
Bacot The idea of having large sys-
TEN of docks and warehouses IN New
York Bay, in front of the jersey shore,
was an idea of Mr.. Bacot's put 1orWaro
at various times, and particularly SO
during the year 1891 The scheme was
a vast one, and, although advocated by
the Commission, was opposed py tne
United States Harbor Board and mas mol
been pushed since.
Eminent persons conversant with the
system of warehouses and improvements
in the vicinity of New York nave stateo
that the warehouses on the Brooklyn
side will ultimately have to be aDan-
doned and that the warehouse business
of the city of New York will mainly
be transacted on the Jersey shore by
reason of the possibility of close con-
nections between railroad and water
Transportation. The fact that Important
problems like the above have been set
tied to the satisfaction Of his employees
| skill and fidelity of the Commissioners
engineer in the various duties of his
profession.
In 1856 Mr. Bacot was appointed one OF
a commission of three to mark out the
true boundary lines between the States
der water In 1888 he was continued ailo
authorized to mark out the boundary be
tween the same States. In these MT
Bacot's knowledge of riparian matters
was Of much value to the State and m the
| final ratification by the two States of the
| findings of these Commissioners succeed
ed in obtaining for New Jersey her ma
| tural and ancient boundary line, namely
| the middle of the Hudson River and also
! of the Staten Island sounds.
| closes with this: Through all his varied
| public services Mr.. Bacot has retained
| the public confidence and respect; MS
| career has been eminently useful one
! and yet without other ambition than such
| as attaches to the faithful performance
! of those duties which have from time te
| time been assigned to him in the com
| munity in which his lot has been cast
| and in which it is hoped many years OF
| as the wise counsellor and public splrltec