New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-24
LACK OF OPEN PIERS.

| The oniy piers in the downtown quarter which
are open to the general public the East River
are recreation pier at the foot Of 3farFet-st.
| covered pier at the foot of Rutgers-st.. Pier
80. between Clinton and Montgomery SITS, ana
small berth at No. 81 at the foot of Jaekson-st.
and on the Hudson River piers at the foot OF
Caral-st.. 19th. Dist 22d and Both SITS. All ths
other piers are leased to private corporations.
Because OF Jh- lack OF FREE piers. said
McDouSal Hawkes.. ex-CommissioneF or
DOCKS TO Tribune representative. the
coSt o. EyInS IL NeW-Yor6 City las increased
Last WINTER. learning that the Dock Depart
inent was preparing 10 tear ont eleven piers, be-
SHINING at FleI y on me East River and build
elSflt new ones i'm their places a number of ship
ping agents decided that the time ripe for
making an effort 10 secure more open piers in
tne nelShborEood of the downtown part OF ths
II "tt9 discovered that all the piers wers
20 pc leased The Maritime Association support
co by the Merchants Association. the Associs-
tIou or Dealers in Masous' Materials the New
York Lumber Trade Association and a number
or other organizations of q similar Character
sent memorial 20 Commissioner Festbersoli
ASKING JhaU open piers he provided for in tina
new plans. This finally resulted in securing one.
No l. in the neighborhood o. Wall-st. This IL
not considered enough, trade with the Far
East Australia. the Gulf and West Indies Hon
oiutu, etc amounting 10 I'VE hundred thousand
tons, and large numbers Of lighters. barges etc
Iodued WIN cpal ana building materials, must
be landed open piers according to the repre-
sentat1ves Of The Maritime Association
In letter 10 tie Chamber of Commerce. por-
tons of which were included in the report Of the
committee on harbor ard shipping Of the
Chamber il stated that it was estimated
that last year 4J00000O0 bricks were used in
Manhattan Besides these 12j 100000 front
hollow. hreprootnS and paving brick and roof
ing tiles We're used in the lower part of the
island At least 100000 tons of coal were
burned in the Office buildings Most Of this
was handled by canal boats. II least 100000
cubic yards Of sand We're used in the downtown
section. 1t cost about % cents q load to cart
this from Pier 9. in the WaIl-st region an
open pier which has been condemned The cost
will be almost a. cents, II the consumer is
obliged 10 cart it from Can7l-st About million
barrels of cement are consumed yearly in the
borough It would be a great saving If it could
odJacept to the points where it is to be used
The cost Of c9rting a thousand bricks from the
vicinity OF Pier 10 the neighborhood of Wall
81 has been 30 cents. If brought from above
&Oth-st the cost would be about 81 80 A large
proportion o. the lower part of the island will be-
rebuilt III the course OF few years II there
are no open piers the cost Of erection and oner-
alton Of new buildings is likely to be greatly in
creased.
Those who are working for more open piers
dislike 20 speak on the subject for pubIica-
ton. because they fear that they will become
marks for Tammany Hall. as the municipal
administration is leasing the piers to the steam
snip and railroad companies. They declare
however. that the lack % open piers viii drive
trade from NeW-YOr6 20 other ports where the
facilities are ample for dischargIEg a cargo
without delay and the consequent charge for de-
mUrrage.