New-York tribune., 1906-04-27
FOR CHEAP PIERS NOW
Dock Board Fears RiudIry of Other
Ports.

Dock Commissioner BenseI and Controller
Metz plainly inttmated the meeting OF the
Sinking Fund Commissioners yesterday that
they are in favor of liberal leases to the
Cunard and International Mercantile Marine
companies for the new Chelsea piers. Said Mr.
Bensel:
If New York is TO retain it's pre-eminence as
passenger port of entry the steamship companies
must 6e treated fairly and literally. Boston IS
charging nothing for wharfage and in New Or
leans the charges are merely nominal New
York can hold its present place, but not If the
steamship companies driven to ports where
the charges are more reasonable.
The Commissioner is right" interrupted the
Controller. We must act at once il we are 10
save New YorlI's supremacy. Newport News is
now attracting large part of the trade that
should come TO New York. In San Francisco
the rates have been nominal for a long time"
Commissioner Bensel was asked by the Mayor
for an opinion on the value % the piers He de-
clined to report. on the ground that the subject
involved is Of too great Importance He sug-
gested the appointment Of a commission TO take
testimony and report back 10 the board On
motion Of Controller Metz the Mayor named a
commission composed Of the president of the
Board OF Aldermen. the Controller the Dock
Commissioner, a member OF the Chamber OF
Commerce. named by the president OF the cham
named by the president Of that body. TO take
testimony and present recommendations 10 the
Sinking Fund Commission
In view of the disposition OF the Mcclellan
administration TO lease the piers at low figures
a brief reference to the handling Of pier leases
by the Mcclellan administration Will be instruc-
tive.
Under Commissioner Hawkes. in 1902 the
Chelsea piers were rapidly being completed.
and the International Mercantile Marine Com
pany wrote the Commissioner. saying that 1t
wanted 10 lease five and oue-haIf piers. from
I'D street southwark After negotiation the
company agreed TO pay S450.0GO year for
these piers. Al about The same time the Cunard
people also wrote 10 the Dock Department ask
ing for two of the Chelsea piers. and agreeing
to pay at the aforesaid rate This rental would
yield the city return of Al per cent on the
investment. slightly less a return than is paid
ny the CUnard and White Star companies for
piers further south on the North River water
front shorter.
The minutes OF the Sinking Fund Commission
in the Controllers office show that these propo-
sitiOns We're accepted by the Commissioner.
thus binding the companies. This was near the
end of 1903 All that was needed To consum-
mate the lease was approval OF the terms by
the Sinking Fund Commission. Commissioner
Feathersor assumed charge Of the Dock De-
partneut on January l. 1904. and almost the
first official act OF the new Commissioner a
letter 10 the sinking Fund Commission with
drawing the proposed leases for the Chelsea
piers No reason was assigned for their with
drawal Soon aftarlvaTd both the lnterna ttonal
and the Cunard companies withdrew their Of
fers on the ground that the proposed prices
We're prohibitive The companies previously had
taken the initiative in urging the making Of the
leases.
Since then work has dragged on the cOmple-
tion of the piers. and they are still uncomp!eted-
There was Just about one years work 20 do on
them when Commissioner Hawkes. left the Dock
Department. There still is about one year :
work 10 do on them. The withdrawal Of the
lea ses after they were ready for approval by
the Sinking Fund Commission and actually in
the hands Of the commission. cost the city al
least $3.50 OtD in loss OF rentals. Now dppar-
emily. change # policy is to he adopted with
much lower prices for the piers