Year: 1870




Fronts May be Gained for War ehouscs.


The Department Of Docks, we are gratihed
to record, is actively engaged in the consider
alton of these important problems First,
ewhat system Of piers on our river fronts will
be best for the accommodation of our heavy
and rapidly increasing commerce, internal and
externalP What plan will best afford the de-
sired space, convenience, strength and dura-
bility to our piers? What plan will serve best
Tor the free passage of the tides up and down,
along the whole river front, on each side the
Island to the shore line, under the piers, so as
to prevent the docks from filing up with the
washings from the city and the garbage from
the streets ? What will be the best plan for
enlarged facilities for land transportation,
freight and passengers around the whole
water frontage, in connection with our ship
ping and steamboat and railway lines? What
general plan for the Improvement of our water
fronts will best serve all these purposes, and,
at the same time, be most desirable in view of
the revenue 1t will yield to the city?


! We are assured that the Department of





every available source, the information neces-
sary to enable the Board to proceed to business
with the fullest intelligence as to the best
plan OF action upon all the points and specia-
cations suggested. We understand that the
department fully comprehends the necessities
OF broad street fronting the water entirely
round the island of system piers, spacious,
strong and durable, and so constructed as to
facilitate instead of arresting the passage of the
tides under them up and down, and that it is
contemplated by the department to save instead
OF permitting the rich manure of the sewers to
be wasted in the rivers.


For the present, however, we would call the
attention Of the department to the great
advantages that will accrue to the city from
the erection on the river piers of stately ware
houses, of four OF five stories in height.
adapted to all sorts of goods, from sugar,
molasses and tobacco, to silks, satins and laces.
Brooklyn, in this matter, has set us good
example, but vast Improvement in our river
pier warehouses can be made upon those of
the Brooklyn water front. Upon q rough esti-
mate we think that our river piers on both
sides, in being used for this purpose of ware
houses, may be made to give to the city an
equivalent for ct least hundred acres of CITY
lots in the aggregate building area gained.
Indeed, our piers are only so many unim-
proved building lots in the most advantageous
positions for our commercial business AS they
are they yield comparatively little in taxes but
II appropriated to warehouses they may be
increased in value to the extent of fifty millions
OF taxable property. There need not be the
slightest Inconvenience from these warehouses
to the lading or unlading of ships and steamers
on the piers. On the contrary, while in the con-
struction of the piers the facilities for dscharg-
ing and taking in cargoes and passengers may
be vastly increased, the flooring of the piers,
which is now 80 rapidly worn out from expo
sure to the weather as to call for constant
repairs, will last for years without patching
In being kept dry and clean from the protect
ing warehouses erected over them. Thus
even the goods and baggage on the piers
would be safe from the damage of exposure to
the sun and rain--damages from which many





travellers every month in the year.


In short, so many and so great are the
advantages to be gained to the city and to the
citizens of this island from the system Of river
pier warehouses suggested that we presume
the hints we have thrown out will be sufficient
to bring the Department of Docks to decision
on the subject, even if it has not already deter
mined to adopt this river front warehouse sys-
tenn. The opportunity for the great enterprise
Is so inviting, 80 desirable, and, indeed, so
necessary, that we cannot entertain doubt of
its adoption.


Gross Violation Of tho Health Laws.


Nothing more shocking has occurred iu this
vicinity since the fearful days of 1S49, when