New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-29
FTSION,S RECORD.

,,,t il on a business footing dividing IL INTO
,.-ee branches. the Bureau OF Construction and
pensi-s. the Bureau Of Superintendent and the
prraau Of Accounts Each Of these he made
-eSnonsible for its end OF the business. and the
rlsr has worked well. Expenses have decreased
and receipts have increased wonderfully. Poll
,,cs was driven out Of The department and all
she political workings Of the old Dock Board
-rs-e undone. wherever possible.
The seven dockmasters appointed by Tam
many for political effect were dismissed. and
some $1,000 year saved on expenses in that
ore item. Special attention was paid TO collec-
zion Of the wharfage fees. Six dockmasters
,-ere dismissed for rnalfeasanoe. This and the
,lose supervision Of the department have had
q xalutary effect on the conduct Of these Offices.
co that the increase in wharfage fees in 1902
was
ysnuarv increase per oert
Ns5aa 5o lSssse per
For juno there was an increase Of 26.66 per
cent IN no year mas such increase been
shown. the greatest previous average Increase
being only 4 OF 3 per cent The average for the
wear 1902 shows an increase Of 2317 per cent
The Increase IN the dockmasters' collections
fo- the FIRST six months in 1902 over the same
re-iod n 1901 was S1o026 0S. The decrease in
towing expenses was remarkable. Tammany
months Of this administration the expense was
onlv Sl4.5S1. In fees for sand storage there was
an Increase OF 2536 per cent. while permits for
dumping boards in existence IN 1901. since re-
voked and disposed OF to the highest bidder.
have brought an increase Of 249-5 per cent
The readJustnlent Of salaries, without affect
ing any employe who attended 10 his outy,
saved % per cent 81 the Bureau Of Accounts. 20
rer cent IN the Bureau Of Superintendence and
IS per cent in the secretary's office. That the
employees obtain Just treatment is assured now
by q weekly trial day. on which the Commas
sioner personally investigates complaints.
The long controversy which finally resulted In
.re decision that the CITY would take the Staten
Island ferry viii make important develop
-7len- Of the ferries branch Of the department
Commissioner Hawkes. took great part in the
debates over tbs subject, and & was largely
owing to his arguments that the city fathers
Sav how much better It would be for the city to
own The Staten Island ferry. and perhaps TO
operate it. too. Plans for the operation OF the
ferries arc being worked out
The department is erecting new recreation
pier at Market-st-. N one Of the most thickiy
settled tenement house districts and IL VIII be
completed this year Il is bringing condemna-
zion proceedings for another OF these dement's TO
-re roor at Hamilton-ave-. Brooklyn. There are
strong administration. now; Tamnlany never
hulk any. They are Ike small parks on the
waterfront Bands play on them in summer.
and the Children revel in the sea air and the
cleanness there.
There are no unrestricted grants OF land under
water made now. All grants now reserve 20 the
city the right TO reacQuire the land on payment
of the original price and the value NJ improve
r1er-s
one OF the largest works ever undertaken by
the department IS the Chelsea Improvement by
which the entire waterfront from Twenty
third-st 10 Bloomheld-st. on the North River.
VIII he dredged and Strengthened. New piers
viii be built. At present the longest pier IN
Manhattan is 10 feet. The piers in this new
work VIII be either SOJ or 100 feet long, and OF
the most modern construction
This administration has done over double the
vorS done in the same space Of time by Tam
many In addition 10 the enormous Chelsea
improvements. this administration has com
pleted twenty-three piers IN eighteen months
Tarnuany completed twenty-one piers in four
years. Practically the whole increase IN rentals
under Taumsny was due TO the Gansevoort and
other improvements carried out during Mayor
SrTongs administration. Whle Z 9 - bIleIl
was president Of the Board OF DOCKS one OF
these items done was nearly 100000 year.
This administration has completed eighteen
extensions Of piers in eighteen months, ana a
large number Of others are in progress. i has
completed the breskwater for small boats at
Pier A. which has been under discussion ever
recreation pier at Marlet-st Ii introduced and
passed in the Assembly bin making possible
recreation pier IN every 6ocErnasteT's district
This bin failed 70 pass In the Senate before ed-
1oUrnrnent owing TO Senator Gracy's dissent
See page 120S Of the printed journal Of the
Senate Thursday April 16. 1903. The depart
rlert curing this administration has thirteen
new bulkhead sections under way II has done
an enormous amount Of paving Of all SORTS and
reduced the cost OF supplies in an unprecedented
way. bringing down the cost OF long piles alone.
frorn an average Of SIS AZ a pile 70 S14 81
Tens of thousands Of these piles purchased
by the department each year. The enormous
saving is thus apparent
For TIE new Staten Island ferry service five
new twin screw ferries are being designed, and
condemnation proceedings TO acquire property
Tor terminals are being brought in Stapelton,
For George and Port Richmond
The cost Of riVrap has been reduced from 49
rents cubic yard TO 81 cents. Cohble from a
cents cubic yard to IS cents. and broken stone
ron 81 l3 a cubic yard - % cents.
TIE new pla, OF improvement which is
being extended as fast as possible all around the
Manhattan waterfront, consists OF stone and
masonry bukhead wall forming quay fwhat IS
now the marginal street OF WHARF. from which
project the piers. The cost Of cleaning wharf
property. 2 great part Of which falls on the de-
par1nent. was as per cent below the TammaTy
figures for 1901 IN the first eighteen months OF
fusion
The appended comparison viii show some az
The savings IN this line OF work.
Dredging repairs and maintenance FOR
ne eighteen months q Tsmns1y ending - -. -.
~ eighteen months ending June 30. 1903 $500.
sDrlr king FOR the eighteen months ending
For ~ .lghrass months Of this admins
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