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THE DOCKS. First Annual Report of the Department ef Docks, for the Year End- ing April 30, 1871. Orry or New Yors, Derantyeyt oF Locks, 346 AND S48 BROADWAY, May 6, ISTL. = Oakey Haui, Mayor of te City of New Sin—1 have the honor to forward herewith the ing reports, vi 1. First annual report of the Department of Docks Mer the year eating 1prti 0 2371. Anhual report of ibe Treasurer of the Depart- amu. % Report of the Engineer-in-Chief on the Improve. ‘Meut of the Waver Front, & Report of operatious of the Engineer's Bureau. & Revort of tae Superateadens of Kepairs aad | ies. i respecttully. your obedient servant, J. GAENVILLE KANE, secretary. Report. DEPARTMENT OF Docks, 346 AND S40 BROADWAY, Now York, May 1, 1871, Te the Honorable A. OAKEY HALL, Mayor of the City | @i New York:— Sin—/orsuant to the provisions of snbdivision Of scction 6 of chipter 674 of the Laws of 187! ‘We Bourd of Commission governing the Depart- Meat OF Locks subrnits this report oi Us trausace Bens irom its oOrguis.ation on te d day oi Mav, Be, up wo the via ¥ Of pri, 1871, inclusive, Being its frst anual report. ‘dhe Goard, ds originally appoinied on the eth day @f Apri, 1340, fora term of ive years trou the 11th @ay Of spru, isiv, consisted of WILSON G, HUNT, WiLLIAM Woo), SOND AGNEW, HUGH Suita, RICHARD M, HENRY. On the resignation of Comunsstoner Hugh Sitth B84 ticuber of tue Desartme.t, on the lst day of September, 1870, Lemy A. suuih was appvinted w ‘Git the vacancy, Ghe law provides that the report shall contain— Pers —The nae, oceupstion aud co.apensauiou of @& persons appuiutet und empioved by said Beard. & cond--A statement of & action ui the Board @nring the past ycar, Classified with reference to the Various sub ects aNd GOUCS Wuick Lave engaged the ‘Beention of the Board, Phu d—A hist Of the orders and ries made by @aid Boara, and & descripuon of ‘he couiract: made i, the payments male by saic Buard and purposes and &iuotats thereol, and the jeases mucie Ly said Bourd, for what term, at what rent, to whoin aod or Wat properiy, ai——?he follows LCN Of #1! Pr of the names and oc- ted and employed by Board, and Wi We CuMpensauon ap- pears Jrom the Treasurer's repori. Name. Cocupatton, & Grenyile Kane + Secretary. Win. W. Buranam. Jawon A. Westervelt, Enzene T. Lynch Panes B. Cis Walton rowase Zeeob Kasay. Joseph 7. Wiitam E. b Seba tachardson, Wiliam i. Lrow: Brivur Keyser. Joha Mackewen bLooakecper. ++ -Superiutendent of pales and supples, Oleh clerk. KicGhou clerk, x jou clerk. Golivcuoa clerk, perimenuent, goun Turner. »Supeiintendent, Prank A. hanson Superiuicnaent, rutendoat upertnvendeut, Assistant bookkeeper. -AssISiaul C + ASSISLALE Ch - Messenger, & Morgen L, Liv! Rein c. Dow Baoiwas Karly. . BUREAU OF @eorge B. McClellan. Jenn Mechan Se Meward A. faywond gebu ». Van Barca, Jr. Bsaac Newton. ‘Thomas Fraukua Aivert uil.. : Maivone F. Watvon. Matthew P. Grachi. Pawrick Larkin... Guaries W. waclord.... Waiiut N. hudeacurst ey F. Voegetee 4 Lined X. Armstrong Deaugutsman, ard bk. Stoddard......cieck. decont—In commliance wita the second proviston bie BUKd sMbdiVisicn of section 6, the Board sud- Bats tae foliowiug a @aties Which Lave engaged its attention: oe Bosra eitet CHGAN ZATION. 4 ‘G met aud organized on the 2d day of May, 18iu, by the election of . Jdoun T. Agnew, Prerivent. Sugn su.th, Treasurer. Richare M. Hears, secretary. 38 adopted byiaws a: red 6 Mepariivent az Vos. 3 Beo.dwar, - BLgiucer-in-Chief, +Applsbeit’ Lingiueer, Cael Ces sAssistuat Sngzincer, sAstsi Ant kM cMeer, ASSIS ASSISULL Surveyor. +Chiei Draugaisinan, -Draughisweo aud Assis ++ WADE Surveyor, praugiisiaa, aughisman, und Two sanding commitiees were apvor Firsi—ie Exceutve Committe, ¢ Wilsoa ©. (ha Wi LUA, wei WOOd, A saith On the resignation of Cov ‘@ member of the L wry A. Smit. Who ¥ @ancy, Was “lected Treay Powited # emer OL Celmivsiouer ache &s secretary to tue Bo ber, }s70, J. oner Hugh Smith Ment, September 1, 1570, sa ,pomrel vo fill rer of ike Board, au tbe Executive comu te M. Heury, iaving ri rdon tie 27th aay of nviie Lane was appointed tar7, and Mr. Henry was appointed a meiber o the Executive Comna.ttee, waica now Cvasisis 01 four, Scon—The Audiuag Conuities, coaisting of Wiltitin Wood, Chatman, Wiisoa G. Haas, Wicnard M. Mesry. Pre President of the Boascd ts, ae oglcio, @ member @F both conuaitiera, The Water (root oi the city was divited into ten @auiicts, Ove on the Nuith river and dive on tte Zast ver, as fuliows:— NORTR RIV D' strict No, 1.—From Castie Carden to pitr 22, in- @lneive. : = 2 sric’ NO. 2.—Pler 23 to short pier at Laight mreei, inclusive, 53 vo, 8. Bulkhead nortn of Laight street to laciusive. rict Vo, 4.—Bulkhead north of j ter 54 to foot @f West Piirty-fourth street, incluaty. Dovict No. $.—Pier foot of ot Thirty-fourth Strect to Spuytea Duyvil reek. RAST RIVER. istrict No. 1.—Froin the battery to pier 20, inciv- 20 to and meluding 38 to and fnueluaing ig and fnetuding tee. Bd strict No. 2 —From pier Terry (vot of Past Tasrty: Poerth stret to and sloag Harlem river ag, far os Bay gable by sreanvoats, Yeu Superintendents of Doc's were _appotnted, ome over cach Of the above aistricis. Their dates Bie 4s follows: ‘fo exercise a congtant Inspection and supervision @f the condition of Lie public Waarve #eps, and of the erection aud repairte ‘he wharves and piers avd rhe excavating of sting in Morr districts. To suggcet and ri An writing to Me eecretury of the Board tne pub- 1ons thereof as they way deem » of (ho expense e time of ali persons fo keep a paid by wager for pervis and of the work upon whieh they are engawed, utd of ali tae obher expenui’ures in their @isiricts, and of the Expense of & ol particular work of jop, vith the Nema Laercor =To exXwmuve ull pay fof: gil accounts for work dove or materials turn Lip tooir distrtcts; and, if sound cvrrect, to | eertty them under outlt tu Writing, aud de- Nver them, with proper vouchers, to tie board of Dock and in al cases of eOuiract work under thelr supervision to examine Sui renoit, nuder cath, to the board of Docks, @6 to the fuiMlinen’ or breach of the vontract there- | Zor; ond to verify om every voucher lor payment Shereou that soca payment ty fue 1 accodance With (ue Wrins oi ie contract. Tuer are especially Merged, Under the direcuion of the Board of Docks, x the Guty 9: dug te the en orcement of all 2 Of this State and rules and regulations of the Deperimeat of Docks retatiag to the wharves and piers iu tue city of New Yo nd tue Waiers adja emt baer 1 to report willlout delay to Board of Docks viv os thereol, Each Super Patendent of Docks is requ.red to report dally af tue mice of the Depar BLO: LOvks unless otuerwise @rdere? by the soard. ‘Tue Board also create! te ofice af Superintent. emt 01 Repairs and Supptr Saeud A. Westervelt to bt n. A bookkeeper, K, Assistant bookkeeper, @ree coliec'iou clerks and two ‘were appoited. NUREAU @n the 16th fury, 1870, ae Boa: Pal George Nevielisu Enyinee: errs appotnied Gene- m-Chiet Of the Depariment of Docks, 2nd 4 bureau was orgaulced wader Mui constotng of Join Mechan, First Assistant Pngineer. Joon D. Va Buren, Jr, Seecnu Engimeer. het clerk, an as- veyers and five Penr other assistant engineers, & MiKaDE Clerk, TWO dspisiant @ sug beimen. ot IMPROVEMENT OF THY WATER FRONT. r Caugaged the attention of reAUAUO Was the improve utof the city and the estab. nent oi permanent Whart accomimudativas fur sutl comercial tuteresta, The depariment, hy subdivision 2 cf section 6 of eb pter 574 of ib WH Ol (671, 18 Vested win the @xciusive charge and control, sabject ta cer am rticulars to ime Jommissoucrs of the Sinking Mud, Of ali the wharf property belonging vo the ety of New ) ork, incinding all he wharves, pters, baikheads a structnres thereou, aud water @Peveut there, ead gil the sitps, basiue, docks, water fronts, iand mnder water and structures tercon; and also with (he exctusive government ao eilion of all wharves, piers, bulxheads and Biruetaces ih recy, and the water adjacont thereto, en3 al tne taetns, flips abd docks, wit the Jand mcnt of the saljecis aad { ‘3 aid | > such Lniproves | une under their su- | assiolant clerks | H Gnoer water fm sald city not ewned by the corpora The department found the vast trast property thus | committed to its exctasive government ina coudi- | tion uueriy Inadequace to accommodate the in | mense commerce of the port, ail tue exis ing | i Waarves, pers and bulkheads veing bulit of perish. able materials, 1n a very imperfect manner; the p being Wo narrow to allow vessels to lond or | Giacharge carzo at poth sides thereo! sunultaneous! aud 01 tusunicient leng:h to alord accommodations | for large sceame 8 enyaged m the ropean wade, In Couseqnence Of Tis Want Of acco, modation sev> era! lines of steamers now occupy wharves in New Jersey, Winch douvtless would have come to New ss had the proper provision becu maue ior them | ere, ‘the greater number of existing pters and bulk. beads Were found to require extensive repairs, and | maay of ihem to be whoily or partialiy reouilt, their coadition being such as W reader Uiem totally unot for commercial purposes. On the isth of May, in conformity with section 33 of chapter ios OF Laws of 187°, the department ar. ver’ bed wat ‘y Would Dear ala persuns mterested: 1D the snvrove went of the Water iTout of wwe city of | New York, and the establisniment of permanent | {| whart accommodations for special commerct il ine terests, on June 24, ut the office of the deparument, | anainovited all persons intere-ted in thauzuraung 1a the harbor o: New York @ proper system of Wharves und piers, or who liad speciat pians for the improvement of the water iront, to be present | and give weir views, reqnesting at the same | ine that all persous desirous of being heard on the | should be prepared to submit thet views 1a z. | in accordance with tho said advertisement. five public meetings «1 the Boara were heid as Jollows:— One on the 256 day of tune, Ove on the 1 day of June, Gre ou the estn day of June, One on the Ist day of July, One on Lae btu day of July, Afuli reper of ihe proceedings at said meetings, | which Was pubdshed at the tune, by subuitied here witn. ‘rhe Board having at said meeting received us | Plans for the estavisiment of parinanent wharl ac. | commodatons Jor tue commerce of New \ork, 10 | accordance wita the further provisions of sald sce. lion J3, On the loth day of July, loid, advectt-ed for plans for tue best me*hcd oO. Improving the water Trout and harbor of the city of New York by a new system of wharves, piers, docks, basas and slips, Which should avcommodate the | preseit commerce | of Une city aud harbor, aad shonid provide for the { furure expansion thereoi and lor the iactittation of the transportation Of freight aiong the water front, 80 as to render the whole waier front of the city available to commerce of the port, aud that satl plans wouid be rec-ived uni Seplember 15, Wicd ume was subsequentiy extended to October 1. Piatis were also solicited that should contain pro- viswn for the special accommodation of steamers and vessels engazed in ‘orelgn trade, in domesuc trade, in tue coal trade, 1a the trade mlumver and batiding materiate, a the Day aod iD trade, in | furnishing market suj piles; ulso ior the accom moda- tion of steamboats plying to places on the iudson { river and Long istand Sound, for uhe canal boats | arriving tn this city, and for ine railroad und other | commercial interests, and it was re juested that sald } plans should .¢@ accompanied by ail necessary doc- uinents, estimates and particulars. In answer Lo the guuve invitations seventy differ. eni plans for the establishinent of permanent wharf accomodations for the city and for the luprove- ment 0: the Water Irout und hacbor were submitted, I which were received and placed on iile In the oitice ‘of the departinent, aad special ineetings of the Board Were held, at WRLCh inauy oF the proposers aad ad- Yocates of the piaas were present and addressed the Commi-sioners in rewiuon thereto, A descripiion of the plaus submitted will be found In ihe printed volume aoove reierred to. Yoe tolhowimg ts ast of the names of those who Jarvisaed inem;— Allred P. Bolien. B. Nowlans M. ¥. David on & Co, Howe & Coiton, c. i. Luieutial Ricard A. culpiny James B. Wilkod. Cuarles Pouleze B.D, verkins. R. A Cheesebrough A, C. Pray. CG. & N. P, Ota, W. D. Pelton. S.A. Frost. Huge seKay. W. Harrold Smith, doha A. uryaa. J. 3. Van Heuser, W. OG. . Waddell, New Yora Pier & Ware- y Wille, T. B, Stewart, A. P. Pentz. A. D. Bisho) Gilberi games C, Charies Ponitez, Haiph Aston, J. a. Duusworth, H. ii, Emmous & F. Kis- niiticnonen i, Cheesebrough. Ralph aston, ss) Alvred Marie. Wtilam Wason, 4. G. Nicuols. Cross & Van vusen, Add onal pl were received atcer ine said Voluine Was pavushel. Phe folowing is a list of who furnished them:— Janes Graham Kell, George W. blunt, Arthur Folsom, Francis Pidgeon. Chamber vi Commerce, ilasw 3 Bursols | towers. ardner. Stdue. | Apurew Scott. W. a. Wood. Lysuan. rite’. Buvere L, Viele. | Harns & Baker, Clinioa Roosevelt, SE NyWwiau J. A. Cotunguam, Lawertine sh Due eouste plans thus sub:n. ed. ion was given by the Board to the | Many of them cou Woaid evar wu in very excellent ideas, as le case WITH regard to a sab,ect nh discus-ed and which las re- oitions th diterent paris p has i 1 Various pI oi the World. ‘The best of we wi ideas are Lot HOVel ab | are sca BS SHOUT SUzeEdt theinseives | ty any corn er cna i with tie Givec- , doa of sueh rc vaine, thea, and that vo sig iu the additonal went tuey grye to the couclusions reacacd by the Com- miesiow che rr as practically. jone onty with chat ute KUON ury lug conditions of tie yi Walcd cen be yalbed solely ttrough tre continwed ef0.ts of @ corps Organieed for tho SPECLal Purpose. ‘The Board caving on the 12th day of April, 1871, in parsuauce 0: subdivision $ cP secUon 6 Of caapier S74 01 The determined upon tue pans for tae unprovement o! tae water trout of the city, suouibed Ub logetier Wil the specifications, estioaie ‘iievlurs relavug thereto, to the | Comuussovers O the Siuking Faud on che 27tn day | Of Apri, tie aid pias were duly 4 "3, aud To | | turned t ard governtag this depariment,w.in } a cerufie, such wioyilod written Uacreon, In Coon 2 law. Yhe plaa ov 3 proposed ts embraced in the gen stem of protectiag the river {cont by a permaneds river wali Of masonry, carried out s present bukuead lime a sad make a river sirect 250 / a the Nort riv aod 206 Leet on the Bust river, to Phrty-tirst sire’ (excopt around Voriears Hoos, frou Meawromery to | Gra d strcets where i will be 100 teei wide), tae , wath from that potat decreasing 10 115 feet, From tuts river wail piers Wil be placed at such imtervals @ WU give the grestess acCcommodauou ior Flip plag. Tuese piers, which it 1s proposed to build, for the Most pari of preserved Wood, wili be oO: a far more Substaduland duravle ciaracter than itose now cousirncfed. ‘fhls course is recommended on ac. count of the great cost of piers conusiructed of either inasonry or ron; Provision has, Low. been made tur The erection of a few of This chara } ter, aud sa at aby tuue be regarded expe. @ to ‘adopt them to @ greater extevt tc can | } Feouily te done. it is intended to extend these improvements to from t disiance 10 acl a distance only, On Both the North a Kast Vers, AS 1s Necessary to vive ai Whar’ faciiues Jor the present commerce of ity; they can be further extended as the lnereasing commerce ree ay poouinOualod. for & discussion of te system of dock tmprove- sAbOVE Mentioned, as Weil, O80, as the dis oO, the Water front ol the stuuly referred w te report , Which ts submitted here wreh opera Durcat since its organization is also subuultted hevewita, } RECAIRS TO PIERS AND B tuons KTIEAD: 4 accomnpl | by the bi eC mor Feud reonilding tie pers and bulkheads belong. Mig tO al Cost of $205,440 17, for ine parucu pleRCE Is Tue Ww tie Feport ihe Superiniendeut of Repairs aud Suppues ewith, BULDEALe ished air- DREDGING, A number of stips beicnging to the corporction on tee Nori und Bast rivers have been dredged at @ totalexpense Of 3.4, 1%, tor the particuiars of wie reace fs madeto the report of kugmeor- in-Caiel ierewitl subutte BUOTLONS 218 ob PIERS AND BU t ieciitate and promote “veLy Way Consistent ¢ gel in Lis pursuits, eC sid Wat All Ulinecessary uoutd be removed from the wharves, | pers ana pul , Many siractares upon which find bean ereciea without bathority, and greatly m- triered With the legitimate uses thereoi. |. The Board weretore ow saris to be posted on ail the wharves, prs and bukheads on each river, giving notice to all persons owatig or Occupy- ing any sled, house, o1C*, oF oLaer erections n or war stractures permanently te flips of the ol ve made to tals Departinent fora perimt to revuin | the use of the suine during the plewsure of tag that iuis Depariment would graot por: | > of charge, Where tt aopeared that Wie , the continued use of which was applied eenary for tue con jence of the com- Ny t port of New York, aad cid not | fore With tue rules and regulations of the Depart weut Further notice was given that tn fature no struc. ture of any Kind whatever should be crected on any pier, Wharf or bulkbead, or permanentiy muored mL ay slip, Withont the permission of the Board gov- ¢ Department of Dock jeuce to tke Feguireinents of said notices | upwards of 180 applicatioas for permits to retain ) the use of Btructul jpoa the wharves, piers and bo'kheada of te city Lave been reccived and acted upoa by the Board. In all cases action was taken only after careful m- yostigation and personal Viste by ihe Executive Cominittee taview the stractures sor Walch permite Were asked, e duties which have engaged the attention of the Board, otler ihan Lose above referred to, have been humerous aud Varied, aOd tt would be divficul to cwasily them or w tuuy Bate (her without un duly exvending unis report. TAcy have Rad TEIawON to the government os the TEAS, ase rere ting tn any of tue | of New Lork: Wuat application must ) Sau Woarves, piers, bu'kheaas and sips, and to tne en- forcement o the rules and reguintions established vy the Department for the proper care of eli the operty placed in its charge and under its control vy tie act deaning its powers, and to th) fixing of penalties for disobedience of tts rales, reguiation and ord, Thi-a,—in compitance with the third provision of sald subdivi-lon of secuioa 6 tue Board submits the Jotlowing statement:— FIRST—A_LIST OF THE ORDERS AND RULES MADE by THE bOARD IN THE ORDER OF THEIL ADOY- ION. 1, superintendents are directed to make a com- Dieie examination of the Wuarves, piers aud sips in - ther respective districts, and to report m writing to the secretary of tne Board within ten days, on— Fo s—the present condiuon of eaca pier and bulkhead owned by tne city, Second—ithe approsimate amount necessary to ! mt each of such piers and bulkheads in goud cond. | 200. Third—The depth of water in each slip at low tide, Fou th—Vacumbrances 10 the slips. JUNE 11, 1850. 2, The Superintendents of Docks shal inspect regularly tne @ dirt depustied to remain longer on the piers than is neces-ary to ship tie same On scows. JUNE 0, 1870, Fach superintendent shall exercise a daily supervision ever the plers, slips and bulkheads in his district. He shati examine and revert in writing to the depart corporauen piers and buigheads as are used for dumping boards by the street cleaning contractors, esveciaily as to whether the same are encumbered wita any epost of manure or Gith of any kind, uperintendent shail make a report to the Office of ihe Departinent of Docks of any corporation vier or Duts head which 1s enca nbered by auy build. Ing or buidings, and the purposes for which such | buildin: 1s used, wien ere ved, size, location aud per on ciaiming to own the same. ‘the above sual! not appiy to sny building used for the protection or saeiter Of goods being shipped or landed, nor to auy building used as an eugmo | house. JUNE 22, 1870. 5. Lach superintendent shall report all slips in his dis: which are encumbered with barges, boats oF poses, &¢., said encumbrances are used, th hereo! and the location of them la the slip. iintendent shall permit any corpora- tion pler or bulknead to be encumbered with brick, dime, cemear, lumber, tron, coal, chains, anchors, je OF sione, Malogany, boilers or machinery ger uuine than half a day, JUN 18iu. 7. ihe Superintendent of Docks shall report to the Board such cases of storing or piling ot brick On the picrs and Dulkheads as are dapgésous to tae saiety thereof, SULY 1S, 1870, 8 The owners of piers and bulkheads south of canal 8: North r.ver, and south of Grand sireel, Hast river, shall keep tne ships adjoiniog their piers aud bulkieads dredged 10 a depti of not el@gs than eight feet of water at the baixhead at raid tide, and the owners sali be nouited accord. gly JULY 28, 1870, 9 No gooas, wares or merchandise sha'l remain on the wharves, piers or bulkueads in the city of wow York ros longer time thaa wweaty-iour hours. ULY 28, 1870, 10, It snaii be the duty of the superintendent of the district to notify the purty or parues having conivol of avy goods, mercuandise or material that | may have retuaimed twenty-our hours on auy of Woarves, piers or bulki@ads, to remove the same, dhe notice saall staw te ine alow to eilect such remuval, which may vary according to Wwe wind Of goods, condition of the picr or bulkfvad, a d Shall bo letio tie jndgmeat of the superiatea. debt, DUE IN no care shall ine Time aiiowed exceed mh days, A penalty ol Giiy doliacs is dereoy ta Posed upon the owuer or consignee tur each and every day (hat be shail safer aay goods, Wares or Mercuan ise to remain oO the wharf, pler or Dulke head atier the ime within \luch he bas been Dot. led to remove the sane. JULY, 28, 1370, iL. The superiatendent of the district shall have power, a) the expiration of tue tine desigaared in SUCH notice. to remove to a Warehouse or yard, at the expense and risk of the owuer, such goods, wares or merchandise, and the expense of suclt removal is bereby made & Len on such gouds, Wares or merchauise, JULY, 2, 1870.— 12. No pies shali be driven, or platform erected, OF tilling nade beyoad the bulkuesd or pier lies, as esiavhsoed by law, except by the autuurity of the Department 0: Locks. A peualty of $250 is herevy Imposed apon the Owner or iessee Of any pler or buiknead, or other person or persons who shall drive any piles, or ercci a piatiori, or fl in beyoad the buikiiead or pier lines, except ny the authuiliy of the Devariment of Docks; aad an additioaai pei ality of Afi) Gouars a day is Acreby tuposes upon such Owner, lcasee OF Persons OAeNdiny jor every day during waich any pie® may remain diiven, or iattform erected beyond suc4a Jines, after we thine s expired within Witca he or they Dave een notl- fied to remove the same, JULY 23, L570. 13. A peuaity of iwenty-five dollara 1s hereby im- posed upon every peisoa who shail throw asi Teiuse, ollal. (ras oF Vegetabies, or any over su Btances tio the slips adjacevs to the piers in the cily of New York, JULY 23, 1870, . id. Saperiutendents ave’ directed to give tnetr 1 aitenuon \o abl repairs or work being done ir Pespecuive distiic.s by persous eiupioyed vy ue Vepartincut of Docks, AUGUSi Li, 15i0. 15. The Supesautendents of Docks are directed to order all enemmmbraaces oO Ure wharves and ypu Wo be removed sorthwith, excopt Ww otirerwise specially ordeiea vy ibe Abvest 1s, Lsiv. 18. No bill or account rendered against the De- Bt Ui Doe! id wuttl alter the same ea correct WO tie Board TN ELOe. dita CO: rAd, Leib. 17. Lue departwent will grant perm'ts, free of charge, 10 coutinue ia force auring tue pleasure of the deparsm sor the tise Of sbeds and ofuer bulldiays er cves, piers and bulky heads, if, aster due Investigation ML cach case, Lhe structure Sail ve toud i to be necessary ior ihe conveutence of tac commerce of the port oi New York. AUGUST 25, 1870, * 13 No shed or building shall be erected on any Warart, pice or buixhead im fusure Widows the au statiouery shail be purchased except upon an order irom te Secretary of Ue Board. AvuBUST 25, 1370, 20. ‘She Supermbendents of the dock districts from pier 1, Norta river, to tha foot of West Twelih Street, saul report forthwith to the Boaid ile Dames of Lie occupsals of alt permanent obstruce ous, xed or Nuaung, On Wie West side of West street, Wiitila ther respective districts, and the amoutt of rent paid and to Whom, for tae preauses by Karl occapan's, together Wilu the Gate and Of thetr geupalion. Sara bie 1G 21. No ieave of absence shall be granted to ary employ! of the Voard, cXcept upon @ writven appli cation to the Board, SErrEMBER O uperiutendents are directed to rey ment Of Deocss forthwith the oration @ud bulkheads im their respeouve aisiricts (ender tease) Which re wee repairs and the nature thereol, Witu the provavie exyeline of Mukig the same, Serremn: to the port rt 15, 18 .¢c leasing the corporation piers and jenitoned lu the special reports of s: pert t¥ shall D@ notited io pub sam fo0a coadition and sale and proper repair forth- With; aud ib case (ue lessees so notified shall Lali to comply with satd notice, im accordance with the terns Of tucir respecuve leases, thea the Depart- ment of Docics will make such repairs at ine cost and expense of sud lessees. DECTEMBER 22. 1570. 24, Superimwudents ave directed to report in wriling the nutnes of the owners and lessees of ail pe piers and buiheads ia their respective dis- 4 POSsivIe. , 1870, 45. .U suall be the duty of the foreman of each gang or syiatd of Meu Lavng 1a Clarge any work ortered or duectei by the Boud 0. Docks to keep accounts of the ume of a persons to be paid for work cone under itis Supervision, and ceruly to the saine ander oath in writing (o Me saperinieddent of the district. 1870 viatendents are directed to report to the Departisent as svon as convement all tie privace piers aud buixooads in ther respective disiclets that need repairs, aud to WLat extent, and tue uature of sue, T 12, 1870. Supermet cndents of tho districts are salciy requires the same, OCLOBER 20, 1570, 2s, fhe Supeviatendcnts of Docks shail make weekly retur of the oh} Material Walch nas been disposed Of in NOVEMBER 29. ihe Auditing Committee shall report an audit of the treasurer's accounts and the naanclal avity of the Pcpartwent of Docks on the third Wedues. Gay Oo. cach mou, und snail ceport an audit of bilis on tue Wednesday piecedug We last Dhursday of each month, JANUARY 24, 1871, 3), Temporary platforms tast be latd down upon all piers by wtevedores or ol avrs einploying horses for the loading or naloading v vessels, and in case of no upilaace With buis orday a fue of one dol- Jar per day tet,cach horse employed 18 hereby iim posed, Which sia be collocted by ale Dock Suyeriu- teadents of Lue listricts icom pardes using nieased corporation piers, by the lessees of leased corpora- Saud Ly tho owhers or lossees Of private luch borses are empivyed tor the purposes sforesatd. Part above spocitied are required vo i ap all auger holes mace by Wien In the piers, to tue sauisfacuon Of Lae Superintendents of Locks. POURUAKY 2, Le7t, ul. Vockbullders in the employ of the depart- Mont are 1equired Lo luniasi: hele OWN AXos, AdZes and mauis, O', in lieu thereol, the department wul furnish chem at cost price, deducting (he amount trom thelr pay. MARCH 16, 1971, 42, The superinvendents are directed to take and keep an accouns of ait awaterials used m the owlld- ing aud repturlug of the bulkheads and piers, aud compare the sare with te bilig rendered, aba When CErtsyiog £0 the correctness Of the AAC Ly pial be | respect ve districts. nt, weekiy, the condition of such | Traits permanently moored; for what pure | Su to cause the removal of ay other materi, stom Ure Sand piers, When, in telr opines, ther | emmy loylag horses lor the pai pose | DE grounds in their respective | | districts, and Warn the Coniractors not to aliow the NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1871.—TRIPLE miy after Ons exnmination by themsetves person- { @u@ Ov all onls for sawa timber and lamber the Periniendents suall certify to the measurements of the same as made oy tacuiselves personaliy. MARCH 30, 1871. 82. The superiutendents are directo to report the member of vessels, giving the tonnage of each, In their respective distric:s, on Monday, the v4ih of April, Clessified as coxsiwise and ioveten, and fur- ther cla-sitied as steamships, steamboats, sips, Darks, brigs, rchooners, sivops, canal boats and barges, aod that thereafter they maxe @ siniler re- Port upo : the Lucsday Jollowing the iast Monday of each month, APRIL 20, 1871, SRKOOND—CONTRACTS MADE BY TIE BOARD. The -ol owing are the only contracts made by the Boara since its organizatioa;— x First—With sernard Keiley, for rebuilding bulk- head between Twenty-fourth and ‘Iwenty-fifth atreets, East river, lor the sum OF 34,000, dated July 26, 1570, Second—With George White, for rebuilding pier eo river, for the Of $2,000, dated Jaly 26, 8) Third—Wiih Adolph Starke, for spikes, bolts, &o., at various prices per pound, accoraiag to the de- scription Ol the spikes wud bolia, dated August 4, 310. Four‘h—With J. Bigler & Co., for furnishing tim- ber, planking. dc., at certain prices per 1,000 feet, varyiug according to the ctivercnt Kinda of inmber, Fs A—With Livingston & Fox, for dredging silps beiween pies at the joot of Thirty-seveata and Thir- cue yard, vaied Octover 10, 1870, So n—With Livingston & F for dredging slip between piers 35 and Sv, North river, at twenty ceals per cuvic yard, dated Gctover 10, 1o70. Seocuh—With Livingston & Fox, for dredging slip between piers Nos. 6 and 7, East river, at tweniy cents ner cubic yard, dated Occober 10, 1870, #£ gi k—Wiih Liviagstoa & Fox, for dredging sitp between pilers 1s and 1), Nast river, at iweaty ceuts Der cuvic yard, dates, Uctober 10, 1870, Naiui—Wita Livingston & rox, tov dredging slip between pters 20 aud <1, Kost river, at twenty cents per cubte yarn, dated October to, 1570. PentiemWith Livingston & Fox, for dredging shp adjaceut io OUlKbead, vot Of Tweniy-iourta street, East river, ub tweary ceats per cubic yard, daied October 10, 1570, «iih—With Theodore Allen, for butiding an apparatus for driving tubes tarough mud, &c., the | Bui OF $8,.00, dated November 15, (79. ToeUTh—With the trusiees of the estate of Rohert Kennedy, deceased, and ouers, to pay nail th. cost of reowkuny pier 19 Kast river. provided eaid half Cost SUA LOH Excecd $3,400, dated December 5, 1570. Tarn h—With I. OC, Osgood, for dredaing mar chine, to cost $25,000, dated January 17, 1871. Fouricernnh—With Joho Duon, for steam pile driver, to cost $3,125, dated February 11, i871. Fuvcenth-—-With Bugar W, Youiaos, for & hand Pile driver, to cosy 0, dated kebrucry 11, 187). S ecentn—Wita Stephen A, Frosi, to co-operate Berea department in rebuild. ng mer 18, Bast mt each party to make their own repairs, dated March 22, 1971. Secentoon’h—With the Neptane Submarine Com- pany, to remove suuken blocks of od pier at the 1ovt of Filty-nintu street, Nore river, dated March 2, 187], We BE giv i— With Starbuck brothers, for dredging Machine, to cost $25,260, dated March 25, 1871, Nercicentd—With Gilvert H. Ferris, tor six dredg- ing machines aud scows, Lo CoBb $4,250 each, Gated Apri 22, 18/ TUIKD—PAYMENTS MADE BY THE BOARD, AND THE PURPOSES AND AMOUNTS TABREOR, A fall siavement of tle paymedis made by the Board, und the purposes and aimounis tereoi, will be fouud m tue report of the Treasurer, suomitted herewith FUURTH—LEASES MADE BY THE LOARO. No leases have veeu made by the Board, masmuach asit desired to leave ks action epureiy uuiram. ineiied Wiea the-pians for the muprovemeus of the Waier Iron' were decided moun. ‘Ail of which is ¢ * J0UN : WILSON G. HUNT, RICH, A. MENI¢xX, — Commissioners, HENRY A. SMIT! WiLLL Woo J. GRENVILLE Kang, 20 crelary. Aunuul Report of Heary A. Smith, Treasurer of the Department of Docks, tor the Year Endivg April 30, 1871. DEPASTMENT OF DOCKS. Benry A. Smith, Treasurer Departmen: o/ Docks, In account wita the Mayor, Aldermen aud Commonslty of tue city of Kew xurk, OF dau duriag ve yeur eading -april 4, 19sk, 18. Lenie May 20—To araount of renin dus and anpabl May 20, IST, wa charged upon existing Jeuaes of waarl property veloaying to the Corcorsiion of the City of Kew York, transeried to ihe Deparunent ef Docks tur cuiection. ‘$112,077 60 1st. April 30—To amount of rents accrued and cha: froin May 20, 19.0, Wy April 4 1871, v0 the respecuve pardes oy whom the same were payuble. rh 90—To amouat ap Soy 600,000 0 5529 31 y a Wonal bank ae interest on deport April 30—Ty am ived trom ale huaber (vom | have bees elu 179 68 BS63,010 45 Credit, amount paid to John J. Bradley, 1811. 411 20—B: a Uunios: tain, Wy be pinced othe ditor ihe Cormnissivuers of the siuk- dhe Fu beLDg BiNvu ts received ry Teitte 110i Weed PLINY. sess. -, «- G°60,001 Apri %—By amount puld as ceveral exoabues, ia: © " titduz auarics of olicers and’ ap- pointees, Departmen of Docks, reas, Tauiane eat lt C auiecs, Beas occry, prin in, and acvertisia: . April 00—By amowos paid for account of “Con. struction,” viz. 44) 24 roa bolts, Tools nar spars Stone for uli 5 owing aciies. tae: &e, Une oopilenitvers aa siabor. 2 fog nrcaues macraments, terials, Ac Balaries' of 15,106 00 11,708 69 Apri} 20—Dy amcunt of rents remataing waco) ee’ ynelstiny princlpaliy of calms fn the bands vt the Jou. sel tothe Gus Purchon tor sats 404,007 83 previous to akay a0, April 50--By cas in Tenth National Bank to the ‘Credit OF the, Lepartament of Ducks, 73,000 00 18,259 82 wiv 48 May 1, 1°71—To balance brought down. 85,659 a Kespectially sabmittea, HENRY A. SMITH, Treasurer, WILitAM W, BURNHAM, Soukhvepers Report of Enginecrein-Uuiel, on the Improve ment of Water Frovt, April 26, 1871. DEVARTMENT OF Docks, NUINEBK'S BUREAU, Nsw yous, April 1871. To THE HONORABLE CoMMISSLONERS OF LOCKs:— iENTLSNEN—The system of coustrucuon best vied to facilitace the rapid and economical dand- ay, loadiug and unloading vf vesseia, und the ulisportulion of ireigut aud passengers to and from tie Lumediave Waver froat ina patucilar harbor, wil depend upon tue nature of thas Narbor aud us approucnes a8 Upon the characver and exe Lent OF the Commerce to be accommodated, For @ Well sheiwwred port, where tie water front is excensive a proporiion lo the commerce, Where tae bottout si ly, and tae datiy variations of the tide wr de sumplest and twosi ap- propriate formu of vonsiracken isa quay or river Wail, 50 located Uat ihe largest vesseis can doat aiongside of itabexiveme low water, Where tie buitom sieives very gradually, it becomes necessary to exteud pera oo far out that the water near the ends Will be te 2 tO flout Vesuels, 3 are al uy i Cases where, even water yeas Very rapidly, 15 is neces: sury to accommodate a large commerce sung o comparatively limited water ivout, as Well as wire it is de o wifurd provection against rapid cur Tent, floating ive, Ac, in cases where tho rise and fall of the tide is very gBreui, aud Where Wie water front is limived in ex- lens & large Commerce can be advantageously accommonacd only by some Such System as the Wet or udai Geeks so extensively used Im hurope, aad oF Which Wie docks ot Liverpool and Londou are the Lest examples. t Iu arranging & system for the city of New York, it tap © the systews that have been adopted da otner ports of correspouding commer- clal portance. ‘Lae magniliceat ducks of Liver. pol aod London, coustracted by such distingusied engine as Kenme, Lebhord, dardey and other cuMEOdaCe the hirgest commerce Of the world, naturally suggest themselves as O¢ comparison With our Own proposed D acomparison Will point out the ox- tiaordinary advantages Which te bj) drography of the pore of N york afiords for the purposes of comin roe and navigetiou, aud will at tie same ume siOW Uat fae greater dock area and wharf facilities cau be obtained tn tots Cliy by a much more siin risive system than that Which has been so greauy adiired in the cases of Liverpoo: and London. Liverpool 1s situated just within the mouth of the river Mors ) and aavigable stream, which has, opposit j, aM average widih of avout 3,Gu0 feet, and a deput varyimg from eighiecn to sixty foot ab low Water; the rive aud iallor the tide Js from eighteen to Utirty-taree feet, ‘ihe river wail, Within Which the docks are located, oecuptes avoub five niles ju lengih o. the bank OF tie Mersey. vaiiations in tae tide render it iinposal- bie to load and unload vessels udvantageonsiy avreast of ordimary quays OF plors tu the Mersey; Whe sO DE Wal eXposed auchoraAge 18 tO limited Lor we areal number of Vessels thas frequent the port, and, were 10 large enough, the heavy expense and deiays of tae system of Joading and unoading by Means of ighiors Aave been ound uneuduradle by commerce, There is, then, but ove system applica bie vo such & port—thas of cuclosed wet docks, with entraace gales. This een has been admiravly carried out in Liverpool. Commenced as early as 1109, tae docks have ab Uiis time attained co.oasal proportions, Omitting the Lirkenicad docks and Otiur additions since 1554, they Cover 619 Acres, Ob talued from Wie shore of the kiersey between high nd low Water marks, ie river wall projects from 609 (0 1.200 seut boyoud thy uriginal suore lunes the syst im. length of quay frontage within the docks 1s fourteen lailes and 112 yards, ‘The docks are Lounded ou the river side by & wall tnirty to Atty feet bigo, with an aggregate length of nearly ive mies. AS a rule, ho warehouses surround these docks, only landing aneds, Ihe thine for entering and departing from thes® docks is Limited to from. two. and @ half 10 three hours each tide, and as the sills of the docks are above low water, there are more than one handred dajsin the year when vessels drawing wore than eighteen feet cannot enter them, and many days When only sixteen fect can be carned in. A good deal of difiiculty 18 exnerieuced m keeping tuese docks iree from mud and sub the port oi Londoa iuzy de sald to be confined Within that portion of tie Thames which extends tom London bridge to the lower end o1 Bugsby’s Along this portion of the river it averazes about 1,210 fect im length at high water, aud about 874 feet at low water, tne aver: depth at iow water beig a fraction over filteen feet, ‘Tne spring tides rise at London Bridge irom seventeen to tweaty feet, the neaps from fitecn to sixteen feet. Considerations simuar vo those whica determined the uucé systea of Liverpool have created u corre- sponding sysier tor the port of London. In cae tat- ter cuse, as in the former, the ingustcicut river front aud anchorage ground, tbe great dally variat.ons of | the tide, the necessity of providing (or the cheap and ughth sireets, North, river, ab twenly cenis per , rapid bandling of ireigut, have led Lie aoie cage heeis to Whou the proviem has been entrusted to coustruct enclosed Wel.lecks, siuiar iy privcip!¢ to those o: Liverpool, but dutertag in some details of coustract.on—”. y., as a rule, the Loadon docks are surrounded by exteusive ware iouses, the 8i.i8 of the gates are below low-water mark, and the docks have been excavated inside the shore Line. tlaviag briedy called attention to tue bydroprapht- cal ieulures ana ihe do couscructions peculiar to the ports of Liverpovi and London, 1 will now, Ina few words, wention tue natural wdvanieses of port of New York, and ihe geceral chavaccer of the system best Culculaied vo deve.op these advan tag 8 ut the least cosi of time and money, ‘Tne city of New ork, perhaps uncivuliet im ita Position as a g eal commercial murt, 1s situated Upon au tslavd formed by three rivers, Of these ne tludsun ts chief In volutne aud exvent. This river Washes thirteen tatles of the shore line of the city, every :00% O14 Wilich distance can eusily be made A@Valladle for the use of vessels of tne larges: Class; itis navigabie for 15) mtles above tie city, aud by 108 Connecting canals allords water commuuicacion with the Western States apd tae chain of great lakes, Through tne upper aod lower vays tie Hud: sou communicates directly with cue Ocean, afford. ing a sale umd convenient passage to the iurzest ocean steamers, as Well as to the smalier coasting vessels, ‘the Bast river, although inferior to the Hucson, yet auords a river irootuge 0: Dine and oue quatier Tailes, most of which cau ve made avallub e for the largest vessels, gives a guod cOuwmunicaion irom the Hudson to Long Isiaad Sound, and throuzh tue letier brings New York tito close comnunicaion wita the manufacturing dtates of New tuyisad, pri Mt affords @ second approach to the Aulantic can. ‘the Harlem river would alone, tn many parts of the word, be regarded us wuiilelent 1 itself lor the requirements of a respectavie commerce; 16 gives two aud One-hall nities of good water front wo we city, and presents the means of obiwaning, ai & rea. sonable cost, @ secoud aod conveuieat cuanuel of communication tor small vessels between the upper Waters ol tue Hudson and Loag Istund Souad. the area of the porwous of the Haudson and Hast rivers, immediately Opposite New York, availaoie jor avchurage, amounis tuirleea and one-lall square miles, aud Uns arca is periectiy sate, never being rendered dangerous by the winds cr Waves. The upper vay of New .ork presenta an avariavie area of louriven square nities of perfectly sate au. chorage. ‘the lower bay possesses ab auchorage area Ol eiguty-eight square mies. ‘the total avatlcore water front of the ctcy is twenty-four aud three-quarter mics, ‘Cue aveiage rise aid fail of the de a:oug ous Wacer iroat 1s four And Unree-ienths teet, It will thus be Ing us 1oreign to the immediate purpose of this Tepors the great commercial facilities Gi Bros aud ihe Jersey shore, locales wich are, however, Indissolably coanected in interest with Now York, and be,ween Which and this city no rivalry ousht ever lo exist, New Yo. kK possesses advantages wh clr need oniy be developed to euable tt w accommodate ail the commerce that the future caa concentrate here. it requires no demonstration to prove that com- merce 13 the very lie blood of hew York, avecuug Lo! only the classes directly engaged fait, but all others of tue population as well. 1t ts evident that any money Hepes expended in creat ng iaciities which will cacapen, ecpedite and render secure tie work of loading and unload. ing vesseis will be well expended, and will yield sach abundant returns tn the geaeral prosperity of the community a¥ to render it wis? to re ‘uce the charges upon comiaerce, ut least to tie lowest point compotible Wii paying the interest upon the voat of the Lecessary laDrovcments on the Water fron’ and lnaking good Wwevitabie deterioration. Ja & comute: mart like tis ait port and dock charges, Of Whavever buture Upon shipping, should be reduced to a iinimum, ‘The pre-eminent aa vautages of gach a port as New York snouid never Oe ssccineed by the short-sighted policy of imposing unuecessary Ourdens upoa com. merce, 4t Will now be weil to cali attention to the follow- Ing statement in regard fo tie relauve tonaae of Liv2cpool, London aud New ‘ ork:— STATISTICS OF COMMEROCE-LONDON, LIVERPOOL, NEW YORK COMPARED, AND Pre but an imper York, beeause the tonva, from the e Coser bed ta the Regul ds units “the bays and Daroor oi Ni: York; the fast ad Loy Isiand souna as far eastward as tue Cony ticut state Line and the poiny ened Oyster Poad Point, on tue north shore of Loig Island; ali of the south coast of 1 lar eastward ag Montauc Pot, the .luceom uaviwabie; Staten isiaad and the adjacent Waters, and so much vu Ue State of New Je Hew east of Kiizabe:htown and Staten Isiaud, couipr.s: coumtes of Hudsoo ami Bergen, excepe wii tha waie Newark say aad ‘tae rivers ond bays tiv: thereto; the ae ern shore of the strait or pareaye kx as Kl von Kuli and ali that part of the wost oF passago known 14 Staten isan! Soun which 4 the town o Raby ver, that Ho ofte port is not iistri Tais wisirit is Lelucing ora northeriy of tue norchern boun!ary of Tt should be borae 1a kept of (he entrance tan the exception of the incon- htale tovelgh merchandise and bearing in mind the relative tonnage of the ports as shOWD 1 thus siavemcot, also the extremely mo- aerate var.ations of We Ude Here, AS Well as tue iact tL oor rivers and Days aiford excelient and spa. cluus auciorage grounds aad @ Latural Waier trout Incomparably superior (0 that of Liverpool or Lon- don, it 1s evident ibab there Is 0 necessity tur our Tesorlung vo the Bugisn system of enclosed docks; it 1s safe to 3ay that, Wiluout reference Wo Its exces- sive COL, Such & system Would be absolutely per- nicioas here, From wiat has veen already stated, itis clear that the arrangement vest suited to vur Wants 18 & COulinuous permanent Fiver wail, 80 locaied as to widen the river street very consider. ably, with ample piers projecting from it at sufl- cient invervais, and so Covered a8 to aflord security against the weather, fire and tuieves wherever necessary, This is the siinplest, most covvenient and by far the most econo J system that can be sugeested. It brings into pay all the extraordinary na ural advantages of the port, and It afforas every faciiliy ior the cheap and rapid handing of vessels and their cargoes. Aware of the importance of locating the river wall and pier head iiued so as Ww avoid aug injury wha ever to the larvor, while aifurding ali possivie facilines to ¢ and regarding this as the Most Important pom: to be Cetermined beiore com- meuciny avy work of Construction, I obtained your permission Lo avali myself Of the services of Gereval A“. A. Huiuplireys, Chief of Engineers, United States Army, asa consuiting engineer to assist me in the determination of tals vital question. i selected General Uumphreys on account of the Wweigit arte 1 to bls reputation ty river ena bar- bor engmeering, and for Ue reason that his postion reuders him enurely disinterested wa the mpitter. Vue question of the location of tty yaer head lines of (he new arrangement has been very carefully conskiered by General Hamphreys and myself fa View Of its effects upon ine larhor, We acted With all tie hight aiforded by the data m tho possession Of the Untled Staves Coast Sure vey, a9 Well as much new and useful or mMmeLon optamed by the surveying pares ef tits depart meat. We find that the proposed location nowhere re- duces Use cre won of the 1 r any cage approaching those of ons of the .wo rivers, 80 that the new locatioa will not dimtmsh in an appreciatie degree Gis amount of the tidal wave, nor, consequentiy, the uring efect of the retaruing ebb; av entirely audereat cou- ition of things frota the ,rooabie results of various changes on the Jersoy shore. lines might, except at Coriears Hook, on East river, and bewWeen Lieventi and Sighteenta screets, orth river, be thrown still jacther ont without m- jury to the harbor; but tl is believed thai te pro- poned river sireet—250 feet in Widit, on the Norih Tiver, ud Ou the Hast river, 200 fee. in Wiita irom the [oo of Whitehall street to Thirty-rsé sireet, aud thence 175 feet in wiith--whil afiord aiaple factittte tor all the future requirements of business, whtie an mcrease of that widtu would materially exhunce the cost of construction. Un the North river, from the Buttery to Eleventh Street, the proposed pier ead iine bus been Uirown OUt 80 far a4 10 give the New piers Wie sume geavcal Jength as they have i the present arrangement; the same ruie 18 followed im the lower part of the Fast river, careiuiiy avotding any obstruction to navigation in the vicinity of Corlears Hook. On the North river, avove Bioventh street, there are no plers propused wail Eighteent) street ts reached, Where the piers begin again, andl graually Increase in length uni Twenty- hird sirece iA reached, where they attain the length of 500 feet, and preserve that length as iar as Sixty first streee, veyoud which point the new arrangemont has not ct been laid down, In no case will they Wo eX+ nuded 60 jar a8 to inverfere with navigation, ‘A cavetu! examination of tie questo. of sewage has led to Whe concimaion tat i not dosiravie to Tecommena the CoMstrachoa of @ tougitadioa. sewer adjacent to the myer ret, bat wherever & Lower plogces the wall fF abould be Ao located that Its wate. river ‘vali aud lavingaished | | | Unie to say that sunilar work ry Yet dew bars ihe ML Or Den the Dior nena smacond of @0 Aiea ‘The volume and currents of the Noth and rivers are 8o great that, with outlets at the heads, no dimguity can arise tron, ts pollution obstruction of the rivers by the sewage mat page P seaport beg erm caries outin Londoo fi u admit of its employment,’ nt RAE In regard toa ratlway along tho line of the river Wall it is suflicient to say tnut the proposea widtlk of the river streets afford ample space jor the con« straction of auy railway tiat may in the future determined upon. As nothing cun Le done ww! the practical construction of such @ railway ual & considerable portion of the river wail ts complet it Would be prematare to discuss ihe sudject ab pres sent, further than 'o say that such a road easily be buiit go as to aiford all desirable and a for the handiing and transp rtacion of fraghe the transportation of passengers whenever the per time arrives, With refevence to the general sections and rials for the bulkhead wails 1 have, with your per. mission, procured the atd of General y. A. Gil) United Stat. Corps of Engineers, as consulting giueer, aud with his co-operation Lave made a ¥ Suorongh examination of this most imporiant ‘The river wall should be constructed of Béton auc masonry, or of masoury uloue, as may be sulted for each locality. ‘Tae nature of the bot along the river front varies to such & degree titat If 4s finpossible to make any plana of wail or fot tions applicable to all cases, Aloag those portions of the river wall where p! and slips ure constructed the average deptn of w: should be twenty leer, when possibie, and the wi should rise about six feet avove meaa uiga water. With tae exception of ball piers adjacent to (et slips aud tie like, none of the new piers should Jess than sixiy feet wide except wasn some:s} case requires it. There should be a reasonable DUM ber eigaty feet and oue hiuadied feet wide, : The dimensions of each pier, as Weil as the Claw racter of Ms construction, must be aeciled i particular case by the purpose ta which It is to be appiled, and the nature of tie vottom, If $3 pl posed, for instance, to provide oa orth river Proper bamber of pie s specisily alapiei to the grain business, some of which shat! permit the ton of suitabie grain eievators and sat paris ak others tor four; others again, in dufereat paris the water front, for tay Coal, orick aud bomber bi nes. &c, Via It 18 also recommende: that tn over section of the waver front a saitavle number of piers shall reserved lor Lue zeueral purpuses oc commerce, and, not confined to tue use of parti ul.7 lines of vessels; for uncer the exisuag arrangements merchauts often subjected to great aitlica.ty aud expense the impos-1billty of Onding wharf accommodal for transient vessels near their Warenvuses, Und the new arrangement it sees obvious tuat the concerned in the warevouse business will find Most couventens and econommea w locate tI buildings along the line of tue river streeis. The gegeral plaus to be adoptea musi tnvolve construction of piers with supports of -uch a nal a8 to over the least possible oustraction io the water. The wide practical departure tvom this principle one of the inost serious defects of tue existing ayia tem, I have examiuved all the plans sabmittted to you: considerstion, The only information which tix contain are general ideas Whick tae projeciors # should be adop.ed; but the waut of Kuowledge tue ground, which 1s a mutrer javolving tne labot 008 BUTVeYs NOW In progress, deprives then of prage Levers value, except as suggestions for ag neral Byae 1u brief, the general system proposed t8:— Fi ‘oO coustiact & pera ient river wall Béton and masonry or aloue, go far outside of eXtsiing oulkhead as to “ive a river street 250 Ke Wide aiong the North river, 200 lees wide on Fasi river, (rom the Batiery to Thirty-drst street end 176 feet wide oorth of taat pout. | Sccond—To build piers projecting from the th wall, of ample dimeustons, adequate construction and, £0 far as possiule, agording au unobsiru passage for the water, Ihd—\Whenever it ts necessary, wo cover tl Piers witn sacsianuial sheds suitale to the req Hienta ot each case. } Ja carrying ito execution the proposed 'mprove- ments along the water front ot New York, it 130) vious (hat thoy siould be extended only as the quirements of commerce demand. ‘che commerce ot New \ork ts now accomnod: by tae following exteat of whari facies, viZ.:— Noztu river, (rom the Battery to Sixty-rst street @ baikhead with an augreg te length of 23,143 feet @ud AD axgregate length of piers of 81,229 feet, Wi @ pier Area Of 1,506,004 #4 Uare fect, East river, from tre bastery to Fifty-first st a4 feet Of bulkhead, and an aggregate leugth piers of 19,19 feed, with 4 ptor area of 110,044 aq. feet. ‘Thas the buikhead and | ters together give a wh: Une of Loy, 29% feet, or 25 44 muies, with & pier area 2,322,668 square “leet. “dy woarl line us meant all that portion of the rtver watl and p.ers tal vi can approach. Cousideravie poraons of this whal Hue are practically useless trom insuiiictent dept of water and otner causes. ‘The proposed arral ment of te waier Iront, luctud. ag the pew ri wail, and a far betier disposition of the piers, give on the North river, from the Battery to Sixty-til street, @ river wal kne of 7#s feel, and » length of 37,520 feet, Win & pier urca Of 2,325, syuare feet; and on the mast river, from the Battery , to Furty-’ strees, a river wal! tine of 199 fee! anda pier lengta Of about 23,09) feet, with @ pi area of aout 1,780,000 square fect, Tavs ia the proposed system the plers and rr Wail togetier will give a whaci ine of abOUs 195, vastly greater than tiat which now Mas its way the Water iront of New York. dt would thus appear foat. sor a very loag time eome, it wiil ve ne cy Wo extand the new systel over a portion only of Lué water Iroat between SIxiys fitst sleet, Noxia river, aud Filly-Grst st.cot, Kast river. Nearly all the commerce of New York ts now I cated between Ursad steet, va the East river, a Tae foot ot Vest Bh uu ste, We Noven rivers From tue msuMicient vreadca of ine iualority of tf ok OF WIth Ne rive. ‘ets, and th pm di Meuity Of access, UMS quarter of Un city is cnitrely teo crowded, aad ub is apossidle to Creusact UIC shippiug business satisiac! ry in very region where it is mo ¢ than provable thac heavy gencra: business of (he port must always condacied. : 1b 15 therefore evident that the new system shou! be first applied to this portion o” tae river ‘runt, ‘der ly ufferd reiief as soon as practicable. The propoved ngenent Wil give, betwi Grand street and West bi¢venth stree,, a whari lint Of 21 43-100 nines (greater than the witole existh quay Ing of Liverpool, uiciuding Lue new caastru tions at birkenhead, whicd alouis La ail to abot 20% miles), agatost an existia 2 Within the lumits Of 20 {-100 miles, end from the superiority tie arrangement in (he Moreascd widti Of the pI 8.lps and river streets, and the greater uepth woter making every oot avaliable for use, Wil commodate With ease u Lauch greater coram than now eXis6s. The cost of ihe Eis posed system between Gran@ street aud West bleventit sticet will be about am follows.— 435-100 miles of river wail, at 2,500,000 per mile. 810,826) Piers, oo . I Total Or, per mite of wh In the above estimate tut Line, $94,271. for the cost of the river wall the filling of tue river strect 1s inciuded, bus not thé, avin. Pan the estimate for the plers provision has beet! mate for a jew into the construction of whic! masonry and iron wit enter, bat ihe great masorit are W be of preserved woot, brit mM the best mane | ner, and sar superior to the existing system. THE | question of building piers of auisonry oF iron is | eimp!y one of co-t, and they can Ye applied Co where sloug tue river front whevever it 18 consi ered desiravie to oso. But the cost of building permanent piers 19 80 great that I have not thought it advisable to recoms mend their general use, expeciaily av a time wil money is of sneh great value and when taxation fi an purposes is 80 lcavy & Darden upon the commus nity. Thave no donbt as to the immediate necessity wideaing te river streets and buliding a perumaoent river Wall as recommende.; bat i think it sound) policy to content ourselyes for the present with cons — structing plers that will afford eli necessary facilly” Lies in thie Way 0: space, general arrangeuient and Ktrength, but mostly of 2 cheap material, leaving If i } \ for other generations, rieher thao We are, Lo replace, them by permanent structures whenever it oecomes, proper to do 30. Iv is to be understood that the proposed location and dimensions Of the p.ers are haute to ve chan; when the question comes up for selution in eacl particular case—r. 7, & plerlald down as cigaty fe in Wid ma,, to serve sone special purpose in ‘ue, be Changed to Luv feet or sixty tet, and vical versa, 30,100, any special stip may have to widened or narrowed tu accommodate to the be advantage the commerce of tie adjacent piers. Slicds are not inciuded in the avove estimates, their construction must vary with the use to wi they are Wo be it may be vesting to cali atrention to 90 facta in reference to the coat of tie Liverpool London docks. ‘The Liverpool docks, up WO 1354, ae cording to Sir John Keane, had cost avout $50,000,000 (in gold), and the qnay line obtuined by) this expenditure was 14 mies Li? yards—toat 18, about 24,500,000 In gold per nile, or, bearing mM Taind the low cost of labor aad material at the tm ys " xecuied, sheild unk 1b nok these works were @ ‘dy we in New York for doudie that amount, Againg oe ae docks (not tac dock systein in Lonaon| have @ capital of $2,000,000 (gol ti and this capi 11s bsheved, Was wholly eXoented in tie docks, warehouses, &c, These docks have a quay line © 9,670 Jeet, ahd hence, aecording tothe above st ment, cost at tue rate of $11,000,000 im gold per mti¢ of quay Jing. Agd sirotlarty the St. Katharine’ docks of London, with a quay line of 5,110 ieet, cos at the rate of $10,600,000 per mile, In a Word, the mature of the water front of York is such tant doce factiities equa: to those o Liverpoo! can be obtained, under the arrangement proposed, ab a cost ibcomparably less thaa that o those super con-tructons, In terminating (hia report it may be proper to re. peat iMat iets not considered advisable tu Propo to apply the new arrangement of: river wall au piers to the entire water trout of the city at once, 07 im the immediate future, but to provid promptly for the requirements of the existing com Merce, and then to extend the new constraction tat commerce increases and requires additio facilities, #0 vai the expenditare shall be diswit Uted over & convideranle time, and the burden 4 posed be in Just proportion to te COMMerCE 1) 15 tenned to recolmmutare. servant, Very respectruily, your 0° GbONGA N. Nesu ,