The New York Herald Newspaper, October 10, 1870, Page 5

it fis'cxertions, you wil never come to want, DO NOT MARRY A MAN OF UNEVEN There is nothing with which domestic Js more intimately connected than good temper affectionate disposition. The absence of a sweet position will render you in no small degree un- bappy. Better eome in contact with @ cross bear ‘than associate yourself with such man of violent temper. fn en A Ror win rey principles or without a religion, for ‘other qualification you may desire 1t would be infatu- ation for you to become his wife. DO NOT MARBY A GAMBLER. w cam you consent? of his associations. low yoauy a daughter reared in # mother’s smiles nd surrounded by all that can biess becomes a love watcher lost to happiness, while the husband Ww spending his and her wealth in some bling saloon or at billiards! The preacher juded by warning young ladies egainst marrying MT for the young man who nas taken his first has entered the highway of ruin and opened bis soul to the destroyer, SERVICES IN WASHINGTON. METROPOLITAN METHODIST E (AL CHURCH. Dr. Newman’s Sermon on the Grandeur of Moses’ Prayer—The Mysterious Invisibility ef God—Where is Godt—Ged’s Presence ‘Tangibly Manifested, and Hie Methed ef een, Wasminorow, Oct. 9, 18%, ‘The Metropolitan church was well filled yesterday. Genera! Grant and family were present. Yesterday ‘Was the first time the President’s pew has been Milled for many weeks. Dr. Newman took his text from Exodus, xxxitl., 16:—* “I beseech Thee show me Thy glory.” GRANDEUR OF MOSES’ PETITION, Such a prayer was never before uttered by mortal Man. It is grander than the Intercession of Abraham forSodom. Itis bolder than the persistent demand of Jaco to know the.angels named, It is mightier (than the prayer of the disolples for the deliverance of Peter. It isa petition to see God face to face; for so the term “glory? must be understood in this passage. Experience had given inspiration to Moses which enabled him to approach so near the throne and to make this remarkable request. Faith is like the ladder that Jacob saw. We mount Up, round after round, until we stand on the thres- hold of heayen and are permitted to behold the King 4n his beauty. The prayer of Moses is expressive of the feelings of every human heart. The ceapesigaest | of God is one of the profound mysevies of our rell- ion. No intelligent mind can fully doubt His ex- tence. The proofs are too abundant and convinc- . His wisdom, His power, His goodness are made appear tn the heavens and upon the earth. Yet the anxious question from every intelligent mind ana every human heart is mau ‘WHERE I8 Lam sarrounded with His reel rar iced yet I can- Dot see Him. He is as near to as I am to myself, and yet He 1s surrounded with impervious darkness or ight inaccessible. We can think of Him, love Him, hold converse Him in prayer, and fill ee a ht in contemplating His glory; but where le , Neither can we doubt His personai presence. It ia not possible for us to concelve that a Betng of such attributes, capable of such manifestations in works Of nature, providence and grace, should be without a personal presence. Somewnere in the vast universe He must be tangibly manifested. Ubrist said to His dicipies, “1 say unto you that im heaven the none do always behold the face of my Father which 1s ip heaven.” St. Peanpen, the pro- to-martyr of Persidia, cried out, “Benold! I sec the heaeeee and the Son of and the Son of od. standing at the right hand of God.” In the Garden of Eden He met our first parents in the time of thelrinnocence He was to them father and frieng: ‘They heard His voice as He walked in the Garden in the cool of day, He appeared again to hold an in- juest over the body of the murdered Abel, ana when Qain recerved his’ sentence it was said that Cain Went Out from the presence of the Lord, fume God withdrew His ‘onal presence, and man has ever since mourned his solitude and his orphan- the invisibility of God does not necessarily grow out ef His attributes or of man’s inability to see, but it wa part of Panel’ cert Spot ‘the yee consequence of the 0! ‘ansgression, an: be inierrea from — peeps that His wi a calamity impresses every human’ heart—a calamity that can? hardly be Measured. Secondly, the Scriptures expressly declare that God has hid Himself because of sin; and, thirdly, hell will consist in the absence of God, Paul says, ‘The wicked shall be punishea with everlasting destruction from the presence of God and the glory of His power.” To be in God’s universe, conscious of existence and yet forever withdrawn from His presence, musi consti- tute hell. TRE PRESENCE OF GOD. On the other hand, heaven is represented as exist- ing in the presence of God. But what ts the pro- ‘vision God has made to meet this great human Wane? Since He left Eden He has revealed Him- seit in three ways:—Firet, by assumed forms— jaming the form of @ man and appearing {o"Abranam, and assuming the form of an angel aud appearing to Jacob. He was manifested again glorious symbols, as in the rainoow to Noah; the pillar of fire to the Israelites; and alterwards in the shekinah, waich was a brightness, a cloud of luminosity which descended upon the ‘tabernacle. ‘The third manifestation of Jehovah was the most re- Mmarkable—the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Onrist— the ae truth in the Bible, from thé Pentatuech to the Apocalypse. Around this the soul rallies and faith culminates. God reveals Himself now to us through His Holy Spirit. In His infinite mercy God bas not abandoned the world to her orphanage or mankind to soiltude. He will reveal Himself ‘through His Holy Spirit, and we may approach Him ‘ud converse with Him through the same means that Moses used, the avenue of prayer; and the evi- dence of that converse may be as clear to the human intellect as converse held between friend and friend, Jf'we utter this prayer im confidence we shail be answered by His Holy Spirit, and at the Jast day we shall see the King w Ais beaut, SE. STEPUEN’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. Blessing 2 SI ne=Elaqwent Sermon by Father Mnguire, on the Adoration of the Virgio and the Antiquity of the Catholic Worship, . WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 1870. Avery interesting ceremony, the blessing of a shrine in honor of the Virgin Mother of God, took place to-day at St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church in this city, The shrine was erected on the right side of the altar, and contained a beautiful marble stamette of the Virgin, crowned with a floral wreath and surrounded with lighted tapers in golden candelsbras, shedding a holy radiance upon the figure, The church was densely crowded, and the most exemplary devotion was exhibited by all present, From that ‘THE BLESSING CEREMONY commenced about half-past ten o’clock and only lasted about eigit minutes. Rev. Father McNally, pastor of the church, oMclated. Clothed with mag. Rificent sacerdotal robes and attended by nine aco- Jytee, he issued from the sacristy, while the organ nd choir performed the beautiful hymn of “Salve Regina,” in tones of purest harmony, that etruck upon all ears with an effect tha: carried the mind heavenward. Father McNally at the same tme offered up an impressive prayer, eaibeine shrine with holy water and Leg fore it, with the acolytes arranged on either gide in devout attitudes. This seemed to con- stitute the whole ceremony, and at its conclusion the pastor and acolytes withdrew, reappearing in a few moments to celebrate the high mass. SERMON BY FATHER MAGUIRE. At the usual ‘t of the mass Rev. Father Ma- guire, of St. Aloysius Church, ascended the altar and preached an eloquent sermon, He sald Fedounds se" Gd. sno” ig, Me tne tangas |. She je language of the Urol just like the moon and jas as beautiful, The moon shines from the re- Aected splendor of the sun, the Virgin from the lendor of the Godhead. We worship God, and ‘od alone. We pay relative reapect to men who are higher in the service of the State, and we pay honor to the V: because she ig the mother of God. If you erect statues in ali your public squares, if at every the city you have me- mentoes to men who have dove the State some -aervice, where 1s the Christian who ‘Will not feei delighted tw honor the mother of his crucified Saviour. To do so is dear to every Cathoiic heart. If # lover cherishes the picture of some dear one who 18 absent, or the mother sheds a tear over the relic of her child who 1# in heaven, where is the Adolatry or superstition in cherishing the picture of Him who died Fon the cross t save us, or of the Bi other who bore Him to the World? ‘Che preacher here related an anecdote of one formerly @ Presbyterian, now @ couvert to’ Gatholicity. He went from Oxford tg finish hia collegiate cou: ‘The r some in, fai rae, Sone bad Sher nay: tenews of Re poe ee Episcopal creed an an fe his mnvesrigations atin? ganghler. Rat ‘the Catholic taith, which he conceived was tue tru oo of his searching. Returning to Pitt n lscard ne Teli "7 Scan noe. led by all latives. Last year he <e- livered a lecture on the Catacombs of Toine, hula he had resided for four hepa His lecture was iiustrated by charts. These Catacombs were the resort of the early Christians for three bundrea Years. Inone of these illustrations was a picture of he Virgin and chiid. Most of our dissenting friends say thal the early Chmstiantty Was_of thas vung char. CONVICT INGENUITY. Singular Developments in Sing Sing Prison~ Attempted Escape ef Three Notorieus Con. victe—How They Cut Ont of Their Cells and Operated a Jackscrew at Midnight— Dexterity Under Difficulties, An extraordinary and daring attempt on the part of three convicts to force thetr way out of Sing Sing prison a night or two ago, was, fortunately for the welfare of the community at large, discovered and frustrated atthe eleventh hour, and when the three desperadoes had already imagined themselves be- yond the restrictions of bolts and bars. Perhapsa better laid plan to escape, or a more carefully prose- cuted scheme, in all its practteal details (iuciuding the secret manufacture of iron and stee! tools), never testified more fully ‘tw the inexhaustible resources of convict ingenuity. When it is constdered that a convict 13 seldom, if ever, from under the eyes of his keeper, and that despite this incessant surveillance he can secretly forge an elaborate and powerful jackscrew, whicn, only handled at interva)s of oftentimes momentary duration, must require weeks, or perhaps months to complete, the dexterity and cunbing of those terrors of society will be partially comprenended. But to the story. Shortly after eleven o’ctock on the night in question, and when the THIRTEEN HUNDRED CRIMINALS in their contracted cells were supposed to be oblivi- ous of their present disgrace while dreaming, per- haps, of early opportunities lost and days spent in youthful innocence, one of the night guards, while going his usual hourly reunds through the nume- rous corridors of the prison, was surprised to find, on the third ter of galleries, the doors of two cells open and the occupants gone. As it was known te the guard that one of these cells had contained two convicts he at once consulted the principal keeper as to whether the three men had been transferred 'e cannot doubt the existence of the Divine- to the hospital within the preced.ng hour, and on receiving 4 negative reply it Was immediately con- cluded that, THE MISSING CONVICTS were concealed somewaere in the main building. Accordingly euch gallery was searched until the ®LXth, or upper ter, Was reached, where, at the south wall Of the prison and near the roof, the indus- ‘rious trio were discovered manipulating success- fully with a jackscrew on the grating of @ window, the tron bar of which, measuring nearly two inches in diameter, nad already been forced sev- eral inches from its pespendicular Position, Making an aperture almost suiticiently large to ad- Mut the body of a man. On seeing that thelr cherished scheme for the attainment of liberty was foiled even while already breathing the air o! dom, the now thoroughly alarmed cunyicts cowered before the officers and BEGGED FOR THEIR LIVES. After the would-be prison breakers were locked in doubly secure quarters, it was found that two of the men who been occupying one cell—namely, John lurray, who 13 serving a term of ten years for highway rob: bery, and Joseph McGowan, a burglar, sentenced for # similar period, had first out their Way out of the cell and then opened an adjoining one letung out w cenfederate named Charles Carr, who has been ass) to tive years’ State servitude fer attempted -robbery. With tools made for the purpose the two former had ariled holes in the sheet iron over the Jock in thelr cell door and then, with other INGENIOUSLY WROUGHT IMPLEMENTS, nolselessly wrenched off a portion of the iron of suf- ficient dimensions to admit of unlocking the door from the outside; ail this being done during the temporary absence of the guard, who hourly walked past the scene of Operations, The massive bolts yielded without diMiculy to the pressure of a skele- ton key, formed almost wholly from a piece of ordi- nary gaspipe, and giving evidence of consummate skill on the oped of the maker, This and the jack- Screw are believed to have been manufactured by A NOTORIOUS BURGLAR, ‘whose term of sentence expired a short time since. Had the convicts above named succeeded in fercin, the window grating they would have had to descen over fifty fect before reaching the roof of an adjoin- ing house. For this emergenoy, however, they were fully prepared with a rope of the required length made up of short pieces which they had seoured and secreted frem time to time in anticipa- of their bold attempt to evade the consequences of evildoing. McGowan has served only six months of his term, Murray twelve and Carr two months. ‘That the two last named convicts are old in crime may be inferred from the fact that they both have already served @ term of imprisonment at Sing Sing, this being their second visit to that institution. CURIOUS The Misfortunes that Befel a New Jersey Benedict. In regard to the troubles of a certain leather dealer of Elizabeth, N, J., named Frederick Hazel, the say- ing that “it never rains but it pours” is peculiarly applicable. About a year ago his factory in Spring street, near the river, was destroyed by fire. It was heavily tnsured, but the insurance men not only ae- clined making good his losses but actually charged that he himself was directly responsible for the fire. Subsequently he was arrested on a charge of steal- ing, preierred by one Mr, Fox. At the last term of ceurt he was tried, found guilty and sentenced to pay a flue of fifty dollars and costs, The latter, With the fine, reached the figure of $121 20, In default of this he was committed to Jail. Meantime the jali committee of the Board of Chosen Freeholders met and remitted his costs. He paid the fine aud was liberatea. On reaching home his reception by his wife was exceed- ingly singular; she was greatly surprised at his be- ing at large, and seemed anything but pleased. On a plea of poverty she prevailed on him to go to New York and procure some money. He did so, and came back yesterday with $125, but found his wife bad “gone where the woodbine twineth,” probably in the direction of Middletown, N.Y. When last seen she was ‘leaning lovingly on her “cousin’s” arm at the Elizabeth Ratlway depot. The occur- rence has caused as much of a sensation as another agatre de ceur, in which a certain Mr. Jones, a fur- niture dealer, figured a few weeks age. The latter venerable hombre, after belng expelled frem the Broad street Baptist church for bis numerous gal- lantries ook certain ladies of the congregation, followed by a long absence trom home, has returned, ‘This, too, causes a flatter. COLORED RELIEF SOCIEIY, Before we introduce “heathen Chinese” into our houses it weuld be well to find employment for all our native born domestic servants, For several months & society has been in operation to enable families in New York to avail themselves of the almost countless poor ceiered girls in the South, who would giadly come to the North. Although as yet it has proceeded very cautiously 1m its operations, and has satisfied itself with @ small room on the upper story of the Bible House fer its headquarters, it has already done @ great deal Of good, thanks to the energy which has characterized its management. No less than 200 giris have, sinve the sth Juno, been brought from Maryland and Virginia and furnished with employment at good rages in respectable hoines, where they recetve kindly treatment, and perhaps also, when eccasion requires, a little season- able advice. Applications for servants are stil constantly ng received, and each week a cargo Of fresh hands” are brought up from the South, All applicants are required to deposit twelve dollars for the expenses of hiring and trans- Porting the girls, and for this sum the latter work a Month gratuitously, After that an arrangement as to wages is made ‘ween the parties, according to value of the servant, the remuneration rer ie from eight to twenty dollars @ momth. Should the girl misbehave herself the , society pledges itaelf to find a Saitsfactory substitute. Only one complaint has, however, yet been received, ATTORNEY GENERAL AKERMAN IN BUFFALO.—The fact that United States Attorney General Akerman has been spending @ few days in this city with hig old college friend, E. 0. Sprague, was mentioned yesterday, by the Courier, It is proper we should uy that Mr, Akerman’s presence in the city was not made kno’ Sy val because the state of his le eee in any social courte. sies. He 1s still sufvering from the effects of a severe attack of billous fever, which ey cg} him last month tn cecree and he sought a few days of re- tirement here the hospitable mansion of his friend for the purpose of quiet rest and to in strength enough for a fae to his duties at n= ington. We are glad te say that the privacy and rest that he has eecured has been of gredt benefit to him, and that ke will leave Buffalo to-day, returning to Washington much smproyed Ab beadin,— By Jalo Brpress, ob 7. " e OUR DOCKS AND PIERS. Faets and Data Connected with the ~~ Harbor of New York. F neers i The Old Wooden Piers and Bow They are Occupied. Estimates of Population and Commerce, ~ THE PLAN OF miPRéveMmenr. Stone Piers and Bulkheads, Widenjng of the Exterior Street and ait Elevated Railway. PROPOSED DRAINAGE SYSTEM Markets to be Sent Up Town. The The Canal Trade to be Located on the Harlem River. jeneral Vicle to the Commissioners e Department of Docks. Insubmitting the accompanying plans, speeifica- tions and estimates for a new system of wharves, piers, docks, basins and slips, solicited by your Board in accordance with the provisions of section 83, chapter 383, of the laws of 1870, it is proper that I should enumerate in detali the considerations and principles upon which they are based, It is required that the proposed system shall ac- commodate the present commerce of the city and harbor and shall provide for the future expansion ‘thereof, and for the facilitation of the transportation of freight along the water front, so as to render the whole water front of the city available to the com- merce of the port, Ivis further required that the pians “shail contain Provision for the special accommodation of steamers and vessels engaged in foreign trade, in domestic trade, In the coal trade, in the trade in lumber and building materials, in the hay and grain trade, in furnishing market supplies; also for the accommodation of steamboats plying to places on the Hudson river and Long Island Sound, for the canal boats arriving in this city, and for the ratl- roads and other commercial interests,” In discussing these very comprehensive require- ments and determining upon a plan that shall fulfil the several conditions specified, it becomes ne- ceasary— First—To determine with care and accuracy the hydrograpbical status of the harbor, in order io avoid any artificial coustructions which shall de- range or impair the uatural conditions which have xed its present character, Second—To ascertain the nature and extent of the several branches of commercial tramc using wharf facilities and the present character of those con- structions, Thrd—To estimate, from such data as time and experience have supplied, the elements of progress which are incidentai to the city of New York by vir- tue of its geographical position, its mland communi- cations and its present stanupoint as the commercial metropolis of the country, Fourth—To determine the location, extent and character of such artificial and permanent construc- tions ag are requisite to supply the place of those in Dresent use and afford the increased facilities re- quired, First, THE HARBOR OF NEW YORK. The harbor of New York consists of the harbor proper and an outer roadstead called the Lower Bay, the latter betng partially protected from the sea by the peninsula of Sandy Hook, which stretches out from the coast of New Jersey in a northerly airec- Uon, about six miles in length and three quarters of a mile wide. The main channel from the sea into the Lower Bay passes near the extremity of Sandy Hook, between which and the coast of Long Island (a distancé of seven miles) is an immense shoal, through which pass three lesser channels to the sea, The bar to the entrance lies three miles off Sandy Hook; on tt there isa depth of from twenty-one to twenty-three feet of water, which has been gradually diminishing. The lower bay contains about one hundred square miles of water surface, receiving from the West the waters of the Raritan river, which is Seventy-four miles in length, passing through the red sandstone formation of New Jersey. The lower bay connects with the harbor proper at “the Nar- rows,” @ strait formed by tke approximation of the shores of Staten and Long Islands. There is also another connection around the west- ern shore of Staten Island, by the Staten Island Sound, which meets at Newark bay the united waters of the Passaic and Hackensack rivers. The former is seventy miles in length, Passing through the new red sandstone formation and having at one point a fall of seventy feet, The latter is forty miles long, passing through red sandstone aud con- glomerate. Newark Bay is six miles long and one- Ralf mile wide, connecting with we harbor by the Kul von Kull, @ narrow strait. The principal amMuent of the harbor is the Hudson river, which rises in the mountainous regions of Hamilton and Essex counties of New York, and 1s 300 miles leng, basal Dg through granitic and calcareous formations and alluvial deposits, It receives in its course the ‘waters of numerous small streams, but its principal tributary is the Mohawk, a considerable river, which empties into it at Waterford, 160 miles from its mouth, ‘The Hudson ts navigable for large ships a distance of 118 miles; for smaller vessels and steamers, 150 miles. It is connected with the great lakes by the Erie Canal at Albany and with Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence river by the Northern Canal. The river divides at the north end of Manhattan Island, forming what 1s called Harlem river, which empties into the Eust river, a stralt connecting the harbor with Long Island seund, and thus forming another outlet to the ocean. The harbor contains twenty-four square miles of water suriace. From this description the natural elements which enter into the formation are seen, Ni vari all of the amMuents pass through recent geological formations, subject constant disintegrations; hence the amount of detrital matter which incessantly bought down to the harbor is enormous in ita extent, re- quiring all the force and capacity of the tides and currents to preserve the ‘navigable con- dition of the harbor, especially at the entrance. For the purpose of instituting @ comparison be- tween the _ and the present I have caused to be pre; accomp' this report two maps—one copy of @ map published in London in 1765, eb- tained from the New York Historical Society; the other @ wap of @ recent survey of the harbor under the direction of the Coast Survey Bureau. The first of these exnibite the narvor as it existed befere any artificial constructions of any kind were erected. The Hudson and the other tributaries, with their smaller affiuents fowed through their al- most unexplored valleys with an equable current, The dense forests which covered the area drained by. these yivers protected the mountain springs from the infufnce of the sun, retarded the melting of the snows iff spring, and protected the banks from abrasion, and the tides ebbed and flowed with no other obstacles than those which nature opposed. The second lee exhibits the harbor as it appears atthe present time, with the changes created by man and by nature her struggles with his inno- vations. We tind that the original shore line has in great measure disappeared. In most instances tt has given place to wharves and pliers, and in many places dense blocks of houses now stand where ves- wels ence foated, This is the case nut only with the harbor itself, but along both shores of its affiuents. Many ofthe smaller streams whicn flowed into it are entirely filled up and obliterated. The greater Portion of the swamp lands in this vicinity, which the flood tide once covered, have been cmbanked from the water or filled up. That ail this has produced a materiai change in the capacity and navigation of the harbor and rivers does not admit of discussion, It requires no know- ledge of hydrostatics for the most casual observer to gee it, Within the corporate limits of the city of New York more than one thousand acres of ground have been filed in where the tide once flewed, In the city of Brooklyn the same thing bas bei done, and on the New Coad shore an enormous area of tidal space has been filled in with solid earth, In precisely the same ratio has the quantity of Water sent inte the “pe by the flood tide been dimin- ished, thus reducing the pgs dd of water absolutely necessary to clear from the channels the sedement- ary deposits. These ts, on the other hand, are constantly imcreasing Dy the wearing away of un- protected portions of the river banks, They are alsg creased uy whe sewerage of the pity NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1870—TRIPLE SHEET, being disc! directly into the river and the refuse matter thrown from wharves and vessels, Pits, shoals, eddies and counter currents have been created, rendering na‘ u0n dificult and fil img up the spaces between wharves, Sut the most important effect is felt at the entrance to the Darvor, where the land has encroached wu the channel way three-fourths of a mile since the date of the survey to determine the position of the light- oo ee eine UPB, A wines pores on Coast, an roportion as the quant tae waver adunitied. hntg: tho bay at the food te dunt, 80 does the force of the ebb to remove the en- ment decrease. ‘This of itself is suificient to show that the eapacity of the harbor 1s contracting. ith regard to rit nature acts by certain fixed laws, from which she never deviates; in accordance Channels excavated. Man caanot change them, All channels excavat 5 jan cannot cl je them. his efforts to do so have but produced tidineabons, The evils he attempts to remove reappear with t. force at another pomt, Any construction It in one place for inreasing commercial facilities gone, injuriously upon another portion of the ver, Constructioas which narrow the channel at one point must prodhee, @ corresponding increase in the depth of water and a ter velocity; as soon ‘a8 the channel widens a fall in the water takes eee and the velocity diminishes. The effect of the 1s felt at the bottom, where # hollow 1s formed anda corresponding shosl beyond it, and eddies are cre- ated where the specitic gravity of the sedimentary mater having overcome the force of the current, is je) 5 a ‘hese effects are as unceasing as the cause which roduces them, Not less important is the action of hese obstructions upon the semi-diurnal tides, Twice a day, under the influence of the food tides, the waters of the harbor rige irom five to seven feet, and press back the waters of the rivers which empty into it, and cause tts effects to be felt more or less for @ great portion of their length. After arriving at Maximum height the tides recede, and, aided by the increased velocity of the rivers, hag the effect of scouring or washing out @ large portion of the seal. ment which had been, brought down and deposited during the previous six hours, itis evident that anything that tends to diminish this effect must be seriously felt; that the filling up of land previously under water and the extension of long, solid plers into the river has te tendency to obsiruct, and, if persisted in, eventually to destroy the action of the tides, Tt 16 as evident as tae fact that a solld body placea in a vessel full of water wi!) displace an amount of water proportioned to its bulk. Thave dwelt thus particularly upon the subject of the harbor in the outset because I regard is as the key to the whole question. The importance of it cannot be overrated. Many tmportant harbors have been irreparably injured by tgnorance—a neglect of the important elements to which their existence was due, Second—The nature and extent of the several branches of commercial traific now using whart factlities, and what is tle present character of those coustructions. DILAPIDATED WOODEN PIERS, Map No. 3 exhibits the water front of the city of New York, with the pier and wharf constructions how used. Also the awiount Of made land and the Mines established by act of Legislature, known as pler ana bulkhead lines, By tuis map tt is seen that an irregular bulkhead, which 1s composed of logs in many places in a state of decay and dilapidation, extends along both sides of the city on the North and Kast rivers, At inter- vals of from one hundred to two hundred feet, as far as Forty-second street, wharves of Irregular size and character, running from one hundred to five hun- dred feet in lengta and from twenty-five to fifty feet wide, have been constructed, generally at right angles to the bulkhead. These are also of wood— either id driven inte the ground or crib work filed with stones. On the East river there are elghty-two of these piers, and on the North river sixty-three, making 4 total of 145; of these 103, with the adjoin- ing bulkheads, are owned wholly or in part by the city, and are estimated to be worth $16,000,000, The remainder are the property of different Indi- viduals or companies, HOW THE PIERS ARE OCCUPIED, The accompanying exlibit shows that the North river side is largely occupied by the steamers con- nected with domestic commerce and passenger travel, by the shipping deots of the several lines of railwi ferminaling on the opposite side of the river, by numerous ferries running to the New Jor- sey shore, and thata very large space is nsed for market purposes, The important lines of European Steamers formerly occupying wharves on this side have been forced to go to the opposite shore of New Jersey for the want of room. On the East river side 4s located the canal trade, the various lines of sail- ing vessels connected with foreign commerce, sev- era) domestic lines of steamers, und the bulk of the East India and West India commerce. A number of floating docks, for the repair of ships, are also on this side. In all cases and everywhere thore is a general compiaint of waut of adequate accommoda- vons. ‘The wharves, piers and slips are required by too many Classes of business, none of which have suMm- cient room. The warehouses along the water frent and the ad- Joining streets correspond in their occupancy with the use of the piers, ‘Phe tendency or the same classes of business thus to occupy distinct localities is another element which is to be considered, since they all require room for expansion, and it Is as impossible for two kinds of business to occupy the same space as for any two bodies of equal dimensions to occupy the same area. Third—To estimate from such data as time and experience have supplied the elements of progress which are incidental to the city of New York by vir- tue of ite geographieal position, tts Inland commu. nications and its present standpoint as the commer- cial metropolis of the country, The history of the city of New York ts an un- eXampled instance of a constant and rapid increase in population, wealth and herein) iy ea It is in Unis respect @ clear exponent of the progress of the whole country; consequent!y all of the elements which have marked the past, défine the present and enter into the Tuture of America are applicable in every seure to the city of New York and must be considered in any provisions which are designed to provide for the expausion of commercial facilities, Among these elements are the Increase in general population, increase in immigration, increase in imports and exports, increase tn value of real and personal property. ESTIMATES OF POPULATION AND COMMERCE, In accordance with the rules of increase which statistics have established, it 1s estimated that the ton of the United States, now 40,000,000, will, in the year 1900, be 100,000,000, and that the population of the city of New York, now 1,000,000, Wl at that time be 8,000,000. It appears also from statistics that the importations into this port have increased during the last ten years more than $100,000,000, and the exports more than $200,000,000, and that the increased tonnage of vessels arriving irom foreign ports duripg that time is more than 1,600,000 tons; in fact, that the tonnage has nearly doubied in ten yeara, There are upwards of 5,000 muiles of rallway in the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut which have immediate termini in the city of New York. There was brought to New York by rail during the year last past 141,396,676 tons of freight and 26,312,838 passengera. The ‘area made directly tributary to New York by the Erie canal is 800, ci while the completion of the three lines of ratlway to the Pacific Ocean will make tributary the enture Con- tinent. Hence a plan which provides for the future commerce of this port shouid be limited omy by the space that can possibly be occupied, THE PLAN. From the foregoing [acts and statistics are derived the folowing conciusions:— That any plan for the improvement of the commer- cial faciliues of New York must be one which will cause the least displacement of water consistent with proper stability, and must afford the least pos- sible obstructien to the free flow of the tides. That the present constructions gre entirely inade- quate to the wants of commerce, inferior in construc- hon and of perishable materials and are positive obstructions to we tidal Now. That there is not suficient space, even with im- roved constructions in the locaiilies now occupied y pliers and wharves, for all the business which re. quires accommodations, and that certain changes in respect to location are absolutely necessary. 4nd that the new constructions stould combine stability, capacity and the feaicions use of materials, with economy and simplicity of design, applicable to every branch of commerce and marine transporta- on. pie plane therefore should provide:—First, for the widening of the exterior street te 150 feet, and the constraction along the exterior line of a substantial stone sea wall in place of the present bulkhead. Second, the constraction at right angles to tnis wali of piers, extending to the pier line established by act of Legislature, aaid piers to be sixty feet in width and 200 feet apart; to consist of & stone pler head, properly constructed of hydraulic masonry, the full width of the pler. Between this pier head and the bulkhead pneumatic tron piles to be sunk at such distances a6 may be requisite for the support of tron girders which shall gustuin the flooring of the pier, said piles to be filled with concrete. That over each pier, as far asthe pier head, there shall be constructed on iron supports a second foor- "with ine same material, and provided with specious and suit able openings. ‘The second flooring to be connected with an elevated railway extending along and over the entire line of bulkhead. Said railway to be of suMcient capacity tv accommodate rae and pas- senger io to the fullest exteut that may be re- quired, Third—That during the construction of the bulkhead there shail be laid along the water front a low level sewer at & suMcient depth to secure the Fe a of all the undrained portions of the city, ana suMicient capacity to receive the entire wewerage of the city. THE EXTERIOR STREBT AND BULERRAD, Tt has long been @ matier of serious detriment to commerce that South and West streets were 60 narrow that a constant stoppage of all traMc fre- uently occurs, and at all times transportation through those streets bas been accoraplisaed with Mach difficulty and great loss of time. The neces- sity for lening those streets and the substitution of stone for the decaying timbers, which now allow every tide to saturate the ground behind, and at high tides to fill all the cellars with water, is ap- parent, It is pi to construct a substantial stone bulkhead of hydraulic masonry, either in Granite or limestone, with granite coping, the spe- afcations for which accompany this report, THE PIERHBAD. Tt ts proposed to construct the plerhead of stone, since it is at this point that the greatest stability is required, The shock of a vessel coming into the ship at an accelerated rate of speed will be received by the pierhead. It also receives and breaks the force of ice and ail other floating watter borne down by @ rapid current. Hence is Agviued neerssagy that the pierhead should be of the most substantial character possible. It is to be laid either on pilex, flea between with cement, or acement foundation laid upon the bea of the after being excavated to hard pan. TRON PILRS. Between the pierhead aud bulkhead ft 1s propose to #ink hollow fron piles by the pueumatic process, Constructed of cylindrical sections, forced down to an af mae | foundation and flied with concrete. The tren columns for such purposes has been ex ely practised in Burope with complete success, have the pecniiar merit of giviug the greatest ammount of strength with tbe least amount of water displacement. Their form secures an un- Interrupted Mow of tides and currents, They ere economical, stability and dur: ity. Stone bier with arches springing from them, would have almost the same effect o8 solid construc- ons, since the somits ef the arches Would novessa- Thy be below low water, uniess the piera were made very close together, whi¢h in the aggregate would take up an enormous angount of water, ‘The piles are to be im parallel rows and at the greatest distance apart compativle with the str vy of the tron mn which receive the flooring. piles to be thoroughly braced and counter braced, and tn every way to be made firm and substantial. Tron columns resting on tha piers will support a second flooring and railway track, with au arched trasé roof over covered with corfugated fron. Broad and frequent openings arranged for she free ‘use of derricks are at the sides of the structure; and the railway is to be connected by means of turn tables, with a longitudinal rallway extending over and along the entire bulkhead. The prerhead and the entire pier are sheeted with reo a end the foorings are of the same ma- teri THE RAILWAY. ‘The longitudinal railway along the bulkhead line furnishes @ necessary means of facilitating commer- celal mtercourse between the piers aud throughout the entire system. Jt also provides a necessit; which has felt for very many years, an becomes more and more apparent. The 8 repent insuli ition of the city clearly limitd its ble exte In every directiog excepting to the Rorth, and its topography defines positively all ite lines of communication, while its geological forma- tion almost the adoption ef any plan of speedy locomotion, however suceesstul, Which tay have been exccuted in any o! the other iarge capitals of the world. In tne city of London, for instance, there are ten main hues of rallway converging towards the centre of the me- tropolis—one passing directly through it. Some of them are elevated And one Is underground. But London lies in & basin, and its geological formation 1s a vast clay deposit, while New York lies on a ridge of upturned primitive rock. London diverges from a centre, while New York extends in a lateral direction, Hence the great dumcaity tn carrying out in New York a system of communication adal to London. The same comparison will appiy ito Paris. Any line of communication ss'ecied through New York, whether underground, elevated, or on the surface, mus? interfere, in some way, with the property or with the streets, already too limited im their capacity for the purposes of trade, A line of communication is found along which a rapid transit can be established which will not take away or destroy any available property; which will not interfere with other means of locomotion or with any commercial facilities, ani which can be operated with an ever-reliable and postive power capable of removing an unlimited nutaber of passengers at any moment and at ali hours, while offertag nu engineer- ing obstacles to its construction, ‘ne bulkhead being elevated just fve feet above high-water mark esiablishes the grade of the rail- way at ucarly a perfect level. The most important question in all railway construction is thus admirably met. ‘vhe track bemg elevated to @ sufficient height to admit of tue necessary buildings used tor shipping, ferry or commerclat perpen aiong the pier, the euly possible inter- rence with property or business is obviated. At the same time, by a simple avd obvious combins- tion of the railway and all such erestions, a aniform- ity of design and an archiiectural completeness, most desirable in itself, wil be secured, There is no limit to the means of transporting assengers, and hundreds of thousands can daily p conveyed witha speed and comfort utterly un- nown. If 18 1s objected that the line of the road 1s at a dis. tance from the centre of the island, and therefore inconvenient, let i¢ be remembered that the present location of the greater proportion of the population of the city is due to the facilities of commanication afforded by the street railways, and therefore that the bulk of the population wowl@ evenwnally be dis- tributed tn proximity to this jine. A very important feature m connection with the Lage system proposed, here develops itself. There is @ necessity for the use of a large amount of power for the several purposes of 101 otion, for the load- ing and unioading of vessels and for the discharge of the sewerage matter from the low level sewer. It 1s perfectly feasible to cause thé same power to be adapted to all these purposes at once. Whethor that power be steam, pneumatic or hydrauite, it can be readily arranged #0 as to discharge all these separate Tunctions at the same time, and therepy establish an economical use of power the advan- tage of which cannot be overestimated. TRE LOW LEVEL SEWED. At the first glance this proposed constraction may not seem germane to the duties of the Depariment of Docks, yet it forms part and parcel of the 1m- Provement of the water front and 1s inseparably connected with it. The ruture health and prosperity of New York require this construction. [t may be assumed that to defective drainage and sewerage may be attributed most of the sanitary eviis trom which the city of New York suffers. we find that of the 12,000 acres comprising the super- ficial area of the city, representing 150,000 Building lots, one-tifth of that amount, or 30,000 building lots, is by reason of the presence in greater or less quantities of water in the soil rendered almost unfit to be occupied as sites for dweilings or for commercial purposes. Yet uo attempt has ever been made to establish a system of dramage by which these 50,000 lots, averaging in value $10,000, or possessing & total value even im their present condition of $200,090,000, can be made suitable places for residences or Warenouses. ‘I'he sewerage system, imperfect in fisel/, has no effect whatever upon the draimage. There are many localities where coffer-dams and pumps are absolutely necessary toenable the pullders to secure a proper foundation fer tie structures about to be erected. In @ previous report upon | 5 the topography and hydrography of New York the particular localities were potnied out where the accumulation of moisture in tne soil from springs and other sources 18 productive of injurious eects. Upon the map ac- compauying that report the various ilaes of sewers, together with the elevations indicating the estab- lished grades of the streets are represented, suow- ing that from the anti-clinal axis of the island the sewerage descends to the North and East rivers, be- ing conveyed direcily into those rivers, polluting the waters, tainting the air, creating deposits of solid watter at the wharves and piers, andin every way a fruitful source of the very evils witich their construction was intended te remedy; ot the least of which is the foul atr, which at low tide and in certain directions of the wind, is forced into the dwellings and more especially felt in the chambers of ve sick. The remedy for all this would be found im the construction along the ex- rior of the city of ‘the low iying sewers” which would receive the contents of the lateral sewers conveying them to polnts where they could be discharged at ebb tide, or transferred to properly constructed vessels, and transported as valuable fer- ulzing materials to lands now lying waste, in close proximity to the city. Thus one great and positive good would be accomplished, the benefit of which to the commercial interests alone would be immense, while, as @ sanitary measure And more particniariy a8 & means Of thorough drainage, the results wiil be incalculable, These sewers, lying below the lowest substratum of water deposits, would effectually remove all traces of moisture irom those sections which have bee for 80 many years the pesilential spots of the city. if the method of constraction adopted should be that of coffer-dams outside of ihe bulknead lines, the coffer-dams, by being made per- Manent in their character, would serve to intercept completely the tldal water which now permeates the made along both rivers, and thus secure the great desiicratum of ary and deep cellars for the water front warehouses, ‘The outer lines of the exterior streets being lormed by this constraction, the additional width so much required for thege streets would be seoured. It 1s not oo much to say that the successful construction Of these works will add one-third in vulue to the property directly benefitted by thorough drainage, ransfer the present depots of market pro- duce te its om each river higher up, at the foot of one of the wide cross streets, and in the vicinity of recurrent in connection exhibited in and a tribution of food now ing ney and #0 of All the supplies ily come from potnts Ais~ tant from the city, and most of them come by water; therefore, the principal depot for accumulation must, for convenience of poengrevetes be near the water. ft ee Mari nae eee to the imc es, and as @ aaah ocmmiane ferries, it is Ce pre that the location of that market should mot be changed; yet fein ere a great many reasons why a change sould made. This market was established at a period when now known as “up town’’ did not exist even an the ‘ination of the Most sanguine, We find to now located not only far below the centre of tion, but in the midst of a commerce which is abso- lutely stifed by tts ce, a8 surely as the anaconda stifies the ims which it embraces ia its folds, Ibhas outgrown and overrun its limits, without ad in the least to rag ayer yn d erected upon the narrow atreets 0! ol » apon muddy Og continually saturated with the refluxing tides, No effort of science or skill can ever make it what is ought tobe, and even were it in other respects unexceptionable, it mast, from the circumstances of the case, become @ sgurce of constant increasing jury. on the establishment of up town ferries removes the only argument for its being suffered to remain where it 48, and the space now occupied by itis absolutely required for the steamstips which have been driven to the New Jersey shore for necessary accommedations. an re tes may prevent the freer space and ge facili I a the aise THE OANAL TRADE. i ‘The plan also peonies for the change of the local- ity of the canal trade. Lam aware that this sugges- tion is oue Which requires the most profound con- sideration. The Corn Exchange, which isthe centre of the trade tneidental to canal ti is located on the soutnerly end of the All the business in grain and produce is conducted in its immediate vicinity, and the great bulk of the canal boats acrive, or seek to arrive, in that nelga- vorhood; yet how utterly inadeqnute the space allotted for that _p' ia, and bas been from the very opening of the Erie canal, noone knows better Shae fe merchants whose business is connected with Toe Erfe canal, to which in a large degree the prosperity of the city of New York 1s due, was vom- pleted in 1827. The objact of its construction was to connect the great lakes with the ocean, and the Hudson river in one sense ferms a portion of the canal system, with this city as the terminus. Hence there should have been provided at the ovtset at this point, a8 @ part of the grand scheme of inland navigation, suitable and commodious basins and elevators for the exclusive use of the canal boats and as @ depot of the productions arriving by the canals. The failure to do so has caused an incaleu- lable loss of ime and money in the great difficulty which bas attended the unloading and loading of vessels, In fact the accommodations afforded to this branch of commerce are utterly inadequate. A rotvest on this subject by those interested im it ex- Ribits the following statements:— All thatthe Legisinture nas ever done for the apectal pro- tection of this stupendous branch of commerce in this port has been to set apart the waters of the allps between the east side of pler No. $ and the east, side of pler No. 9 East Fiver for the exclusive use of canal boats and barges aaring certain portions of ear. And at fs miserab é pittance of the entire harbor te ap- PAew York alone has 183 piers and abont seventeen miles of water frovt, yet the canal interest, which embraces more than hal the commerce of the port, 1s permitted to use Fo of these piers, and less than 7,800 feet of this water "The “canal interest” is the only one which an; iy revenue to the State. The canal poats to whieh I have re- ferred pay into the Biate Treasury, uy way of toll abo ‘das of vessels pay annually, Nos another terest go vast and which eo nearly affects the entire people of the State should receive spectal pro ‘and be jc tection Telleved from every burden which, by increasing the expenso ‘th 108 of life to market, Beoeesarly im. of bringing the necessities Me to vt, neobas poses s tax upon tbe pro- feation, whi Pit req and it ts subjected to burdens from which it o ni ee e " now actuall: printed to canal boats only affords berths for thirty-Coar’ Boeke; yet tbe Rumber of boats daily requiring secommodation averages 800, while the number often reaches 600 ‘Ganal boats cannot be ace: with safety in the same slips with large vessels. They are in danger of being the length of dine required toloed ‘and unlond large vesee jength of time required to uni would Practical exclude canal boats in the same slip frou of the “"Tue commerce of the canals is spectal {a tts nature and re- quires a commgn centre for the transaction of the business connected with It. If the entire wharfage of the East river side as far a8 Corlears Hook were devoted to the canal trade 10 ‘would not be too much. It is obvious, therefore, that some distinct, com- prehensive and lad Provision should be made for the exclusive use of the canal commerce. Many circamstances combine to indicate the line of the Harlem river and its vicinity as the most natural and most suitable place fur the concentra- Won of this trade. A canal 200 feet wide and twenty feet deep, opening into extens.ve basins constructed [rom the low marsh lands adjoining this river, where an area of more than 200 acres can be thus converted into tidal reservoirs, so much needed even now, and more necessary as time advances, to maintain the original status of Une barbor; a series of parallel slips and wharves for the lumbor trade, a series of fire proof elevators to receive the grain, ample dock and wharf facilities at the easterly end for ships and steamers to receive thelr cargoes of cereals for Europe—all these can be secured at this point and at no other. All these are required now, and will be demanded more hereafter. Rapid commant tion by the ratiway brings this spot within tem minutes of the extreme lower end of the island. The long detour around the island 1s avoided. All the produce for the Eastern market is con- veyed directly to the Sound. The space now pono, gam wil be available for shipplug purposes. A great re- Mef will be afforded to nayigation on the East river. In short, it is belleved that there is no reason that can be advanced for retaining this trade in its pre- sent locality which cannot be met bya stronger reason for the peo The space on the East river in the vicinity of 1o6tn and 110tu streets 1s anotuer locality which can be readily and adva rom, ped converted into @ basin, which can be extended over the whole overflowed at that point by the tides as line of Fourth avenue. This basin #tracted, be a great advant if con- to that locality, since it would otherwise be filled in, and a saturated soil thus formed would be found a source of pestilence and disease, In regard to the provisions required for the different classes ot trade, it 1s believed thas the general plan of construction submitted 1s appii- cable, with simple modifications, to all branches of commerce. The market piers should be nearer her, also the grain and lumber piers; elevators in many in- stances would replace the proposed superstructures for grain; but in all other instances @ double-floored pier, roofed in as proposed, woulg double the pre- kent wharf facilities, while the whole structure, in- cluding the railway, can be closed with iron gates, and thus afford perfect security against depreda- ons now carried on to such @ great extent, and at such heavy losses to owners of merchandis3. The plans submitted are the resuit of several years’ study of the subject, and are the same in principle a8 those submitted by me fifteen years ago to the city authorities, Also described in may report ou this subject published by the State of New Jersey, and in @ subsequent report by me on the improve- ment of cities published by the city of Boston. EGBERT L, VIELE. REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS. 4 New York City. amounting, at @ low estimate, to the sum of $109,- “000,000, to say nothing of the indirect results ob- tained tn the eral sanitary improvements arising therefrom. In nt) thik pian, no claim is made to originality, since {t 1s a fact already accom- Plished in the city of London, For a long of lime, and even after the radi- Cal defects of Londow sewerage were removed by the organization of aboard of pupliic works, the Polluted water of the Thames Into which the sewer- age system debeuched, sent the most sickeuing lore over the metropolis, constantly threatening the return of the much dreaded piague, and render- ing @ residence in that city a most undestraple fate. Yet this disgusting and condition of things, which was endured #0 long, it have been still further on had 16 not been tor the fact that the houses of Parliament were located on the Thames, and the purification of its waters thus be- came @ necessity to th empire. aoe since we have @ twote object to be ob- tained, and although through @ want of bo or temporizing policy the struction of these works may Se aeiect there can be no ques- tion that it is — remedy for a great evil which has been borne already too long. It will be seen that the plan in increasing the Capacity reduces che number of piers in the space now eccupled, and we are here met with the fact that the space now occupied is the most available, Myrtis ince a limit has been established, beyond which it has been determined that no conatruction can be made, without manifest and permanent injury to | bcchyes the harbor, and to the cemmerce of the port, and lines have been drawn defining that limit, These lines are shown upon the accompanying map, No, 5, and the plan has been made with lines in view. Hence it follows that an esse) Modification muat be mad uses to which the Piers are to be low, there are certain Kinds of traffic which are established in particular localities, in connection with the present system of Wharves, which cannot be disturbed without mani- fest injury to the But there ‘are other branches of trade and com: merce, the locality of which-can be changed with manifest advantage to the public and to individuals. These are the depots for market produce al canal trade. : nye THE MARKETS, Jt will be seen that these plans wit reduge the public and to individuals. | Lot 6, block &4, Herring's Benes 8, pete ‘ol! WO : 5.6 0 Tho ( 4500 f us ° Vf ‘ fy Let Hy — . 1,800 124th , 136.6 ih beret) Wo 270 136 ft 14,000, 185 ft 280 ft 18,00 go ft 23500 5 ft 4,000 t 17/300 Adel) 2,100 Batter Injen Warren 90,500, Floyd at 10,009 RWARR, Pr’ Prince at, adjining J horde GOxll6...8., alo rhdge, J Reod to D Greens 6 HOD acrea.......... 8,000, way Av B, we, 100 ft eof 15th, Av A and Maple at, pene int Lot NO 4, block'D, Fisher's map, 2s36, Westchester County. QURENVILLR, ‘actory lane, ws, 200 ft eof Gliver's lane, 25x1%..0... 454 Bandy, Gould’s'map, bixlid. | tot , bie No 8, Gould's map, 756x100... fi ck Nv Gould's man, 60x100.....0.. Ma