Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-19
ON WHARF IMPROVEMENTS
INFORMATION GATHERED BY
LOCAL COMMITTEE.
Visits to Boston, New York, Philadel-
phia and Baltimore-Condition In
Those Cities.

Daniel e. Garges and w. J. Douglas.
members of the committee on wharf i'm
provements of the District, and Thomas C.
Bailey, assistant engineer of the District,
who were sent by the Commissioners to
Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Balti-
more for the purpose of obtaining Informal
ton as to the newest methods of construc-
ton of docks and the administration of the
same, returned to this city this morning,
having been absent one week. They ex-
pressed themselves as very much pleased
with their visit and state that they have
obtained much valuable information which
WIN be used in preparing the plans for Inc
Improvement of the water front of WASH
ington. These plans they say, will be
completed July l next.
The most modern docks were found In the
city OF New York. which has very highly
organized dock department This depart
ment Is engaged in constructing docks both
on the East and 4>orth rivers and the work
could be seen in all stages of construction.
Inc street along the water front on the
East river is being widened by the estab-
nshment of new bulkhead lines and con-
struction Of new bulkhead wall
In Philadelphia.
In Philadelphia, practically no new con-
struction is being undertaken. This city
owns only at the foot of streets 1t has
which are used for recreation piers and
the lower portion for commercial purposes
me officials. however, doubted the adj
Visibility of having recreation piers on the
water front and believed that it should be
entireiy used for commercial purposes.
Baltimore has under construction a num-
Der OF docks to replace those injured in
the hre The city, after the fire. acquired
the water frontage extending from Jones'
raiis 70 Light street and work is now in
fno h, 1lrt,<
also stone walls around the wharves which
are OF filled construction. The walls are
Of granite, built on piles and are very
handsome In appearance. After completion
they Will be leased by the city to shipping
and commercial interests, the rentals
charged being based upon the amount ex-
pended on the improvements. More appll-
cations for space have been received than
can be granted, but it is the intention of
the city to so lease the wharves as to afford
facilities to all shipping. The city will also
have public docks at which vessels, not
having any regular berth. may receive and
discharge cargoes. These wharves will be
in char~e Of a dock ma ster, who will collect
the wharfage and dockage fees.
Constructed of Piles.
In all the cities visited the wharves being
constructed were of piles, with either
wooden or asphalt decks. The bulkhead
walls were either of concrete or stones
lie du'lCe VI the city O1llCidiS was IHaC no
plans should be adopted which should be
entirely built up at once. as their experience
showed that conditions change so that after
such construction was completed it had
in some cases been necessary to tear down
and reshape the wharves and docks
The wharf Improvement committee was
also advised to make the piers as broad as
possible and as long as possible, with suff1-
cient dockage room to accommodate the
vessels landing. This dockage space-that
is, the space between the piers-was gen
orally found to be from $50 to 200 feet 1t
was also found that most CT the docks We're
arranged so as to permit freight cars to be
run on to them and the merchandise was
transshipped from the boats to the cars and
vice versa. Particular attention was paid
to the question of lumber and coal docks
and it was generally found that while these
were permitted on some parts of the water
front they were not allowed where they
would interfere with the of the water
front for handling goods in transit. 50