The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-12
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.
Lesson to He Drawn from the Failure o.
the Dock Department.

'ho DOck department.
To TIE EDITOR OF THE suS-Sir: A favor
able opportunity for profltinE from an In
telligent study Of tho New York Dock
Department Is offered the advocates OF
municipal ownership OF public utilities"
This report has Just appeared and sir gle copies
may be procured In the basement Of tho City
Hail Tor three cents each. The Department Of
DOCKS (called since the Brooklyn consolida-
tion the Department OF Docks and Forrie,I
was established on It's present plan in
Article XIV. OF the City Charter OF 1870. in
which 1t was provided that all New York
docks. wbarves, piers and heads land the
structures upon them). all the slips, basins,
docks waterfronts or lands under water. aud
their appurtsnances. easements uses, rever.
sIons and rights" then possessed by the cor
poration OF New York. or to be hereafter ac.
luired by II. should be under control Of the
Dock Comm iseioners. who were to execute
only tenn porary leases for its use. and to de-
Velop. Keep in repair. improve and extend the
wharfage system for the public benefit
This department was to be separate
municipal affair exem pted from the control OF
the Board Of Estimate and Apportionment.
making its own collections and disbursement
and to have the use Of the city's unlimited
credit for the issuance OF bonds. within stated
amount, each year. and great benefits we're to
accrue to the city from the adoption OF this
new plan.
The department has been In existence for
twenty eight years. and during that time. as
shown by its report. New York's total revenues
from docks and dock privileges havo been
S34 100000. Its total expenses during the
same period have been S37. 800. 900. and those
expenses do not include the payments for
property acquired which amount to $9.0o0.-
ooo additional, or include any allowance for
n fprN ~
city In the facilities offered the use OF its
credit. It's legal nae inery for the collection OF
sums due. in maintenance OF order and
authority on the docks. or any interest on the
original city Investment In dock rights and
property prior to 1871. The city's loss to date
on Its municipal ownership of docks has been
about $4,000. 900 in twenty Gig ht years; new
obligations to the amount OF $5.675. 900 have
been issued since Jan l 1893, and the various
commercial organizations. Board Of Trade and
| transportation bodies which convene hors
| from time TO time agree generally in declaring
that despite the advantages Of its uneIampled
waterfront. it's remarkable terminal facili-
| ties the all-water connection with the Great
Lakes through tho Eric and tributary canals.
| and tho improvement effected by tho Federal
| Government In the facilities Of navigation be-
tween the Great Lakes. New York's dock sys-
| tenn Is rendered primitive and ineffective by
methods apparently inseparablefrom munich
| pal ownership" In no private business, con-
Quoted on free capital In starting Of perhaps
$25 900. exsm pted from taxation and ex-
| smptod from all ordinary expenses. would
resultant loss after twenty eight years OF &c.
| 100000 be considered success. and in the
case OF New York the growth Of the city's COM
msrcs has broken all previous precedents.
1t 10 no imputation upon the efficiency,
] fidelity or zeal OF successive Dock Commits
| sioners tsoms OF whom have shown remarka-
BILE diligence IN their work. that this branch OF
| the oity's industrial development should pre-
| sent 30 poor a contrast with the enormous adj
vance OF the means OF transportation. ilumina-
ton and railway facilities in the same period.
| The fault 10 with tho system and with the
| operation OF any system which endeavors to
substitute government control for private
initiative. under public regulation. OF interests
important to the welfare OF great community.
| w G.