Year: 1879

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS


WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE INTIREsT OF


OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES FOR THE FUTURE.


The annual report of the Commissioners of Docks
yesterday afternoon filed with the Mayor. The
report the operations of the department for
the year ending April &c. 1879. From this report it
appears that tho expenses of the department during
the year are:- sH


For general expenses $3.50 70


Total s373.42s 6s


The report says:-"The construction expenses
include the building of the new piers and bulkhead
WALL the maintenance and repairs of the old piers
and bulkheads dredging and the salaries of the Com
missioners and engineer force. The of the
department which have accrued entirely during the
year have amounted to s75l, $40 49, This is an in
of accrued that of the preceding
entire expenditures for every purpose during the
year by $37S.523 rs. The money actually deposited
by this department with the City Chamberlain
for the redemption of the city debt during
the past year amounts to $S23.394 IA. The
actual reduction made in the city debt during
the past year resulting from this department is
$449.96S A. The revenues of the department will
rapidly In the future. the expenditures
OF each add largelyto the OF tho next
The water front property of the city will thus develop
itself from its own earnings. meeting the demands
of commerce tor increased facilities and in addition.
yield very considerable sum to be applied to the
reduction OF the city debt to which ali this
is pledged. From the fact that year ends April
3o and the quarter day for payment of rent is May
/. the report must always show one quarters rent
uncollected under leases not payablein advance"


..1 THE POLICY OF THE DEPARTMENT.


Under the head OF Policy OF the Department the
report says:-"The department contem plates the
tire completion of the development OF the section be-
tween Canal and West Eleventh streets. The
department is developing all that section between
Warren and Canal streets rs fast rs can be done
without too great damage to the large business now
being carried on there. In addition to the agree
ments entered into with essees for the improvement
OF this section, detailed in the last annual report,
the departmen mt has during the year made agree
ments to rebuild on the plan four PIERS and has
agreed to lease the same for long terms at $50 900
per year annual rent for each pier The balance OF
the city property situated in this section will
be under similar agreements to improve in all prob
ability. The development in this way of this
ton will add very much to commercial facilities
and will largely increase the city's revenues.


Discussing uptown improvements the Commits
sioners say:-"From West Eleventh street north
wardly for distance of nearly half mile the Legis
lature many years since made tho great mistake of
permitting the river to be much filled in to
narrow the channel to degree which made it
sary, subsequently, to provide that piers should
be built i'll such section. Thus it has happened that
whenever business interest has contemplated
moving up town it has been Obliged to consent to
move halt mile. Ita regular growth continuously
by pier after pier could have taken place the growth
would have been gradual that would
have hesitated; the water front would have been
developed much further up town, and rents would
have been much lower Even now. whenever be.
ginning is made. and few people can be induced to
interests will find relief. which will correct the
evils Of the situation. We fuly believe that this
condition OF things will soon be brought about and
doing everything In our power to hasten it.
Whenever we can induce people to submit to the in
evisabe we shall be prepared to furnish all the ac
only can get laws which be practically worked
under"


MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENT.


Speaking of the district between West Eleventh
street and Twentieth street the report says-


lin this district, filled in to the point of such an
abridgment of our commercial facilities that
piers now be built there, amuch needed improve
ment should be made. 1t is now evident to any
familiar with the subject that the water would have
been much more valuable to commerce than the
land which was made can possibly become. 1t is
also true that slips could now be excavated there.
making series of wet basins. for very much less
money than Is commonly supposed II this should
of commerce probably one Of the most valuable in
the city, instead OF being. AZ now, consigned to COM
parative uselessness forever OF it is greatly
to be regretted that this filing in was ever per-
mitted, and that the city sold the Of its land
thus made; but it could be acquired better than
at any other tme or, not acquired possibly some
operation with its owners might be devised


THE NEW PLAN FOR THE WATER FRONT.


The report discusses the plan for q systematic
water front. and after declaring that t is manifesty
absurd to try to carry out the plan in little shrcds





tions in which the city owns any considerable
amount OF continuous property is already sub
stantially finished on the plan: the other will
be completed as soon as due regard to the business
established there will permit"


Looking to the future the report says that II these
improvements on the river fronts to
continue in the interest Of commerce zone
alternative is to systematically enter upon the
purchase of property which will cost many
millions OF dollars with the view OF acquiring for
the city the ownership of all the water front.
II this community is willing to furnish us tho
money to embark on these large purchases for the
purpose OF enabling us to make these necessary i'm
provements it is to be hoped that 1t may he made
manifest in some way. But IL this community il
not willing to do this it Is very essential to
mercal prosperity that this fact should be known.
and that the only other alternative should be adopted
II we are not to purchase some plan Of cooperative
improvement should be adopted and the necessary
legislation enacted. Il is believed that wise plan
for cooperative Improvement could be framed
which would enlist for its support the commercial
community and the owners OF water front property.
and that thus many obstacles and litigations might
be removed and all push forward together. We
urge this whole subject upon the community the
most important one at the present time connected
with our future commercial development, and AZ
the ut the very threshold OF all future improve
ments."