Engineering . 
1876.] 
I 4 T 
A paper has recently been read before the American Society of Civil 
Engineers, on “The Water Front of New York,” which furnishes some very 
interesting particulars of the engineering works undertaken for the accommo- 
dation of the trade of that port. The extent of available accommodation for 
shipping is shown by the fad that the city has 25 miles of water front within 
the limits of the island, and this has lately been largely increased by the 
acquisition of territory north of the Harlem River, all of which is available for 
quay and wharf purposes. The upper bay includes within its area 13 square 
miles of safe anchorage for large vessels, and the lower bay about 88 square 
miles. The average rise and fall of its tides is less than 5 feet. The lower 
part of the island is generally formed of sand and gravel overlying granitic 
rock. The upper portion, which is high on the west side, is generally rocky, 
the rock being granite, gneiss, mica-schist, and blue holders, of a quality fit 
only for ordinary foundations. A considerable depth of black and blue mud 
overlies the sand, gravel, or rock of its shores. The earliest record connected 
with wharves and docks in the city is one dated 1654, when Daniel Litchoe, 
tavern-keeper, was authorised to build a dock on the strand ; and in 1660 the 
burgomasters received permission from the DireCtor-General to take a certain 
sum from shippers and owners for the erection of a pier for the accommodation 
of the inhabitants. The growth of the wharfage extent was gradual up to the 
commencement of the present century. The form of the construction of the 
early wharves, where hard bottom could be reached at ordinary depths, 
consisted in alternate cribs of wood filled with stone, and bridgeways of from 
10 to 20 feet span. When holding-ground for piles could be found, piles were 
in many instances used. The retaining walls, or bulk-heads, were constructed 
of cribs, as now, but the carpentry was of the rudest kind. In 1867, the value 
of existing wharves, piers, and slips owned by the city of New York was 
estimated at nearly 16 millions of dollars. In 1870 a Department of Docks 
was established, who initiated a plan of permanent improvement of the water 
front of the city. For the new river wall, the general system adopted in 1871 
was the same as that established so far back as 1782, namely, a system of 
narrow wharves and slips, affording the longest wharf and quay-line for the 
shortest extent of water frontage, combined with readiness of access. The 
river wall is composed of beton blocks weighing from 25 to 50 tons each, 
extending from the foundation to within about 2 feet of low water mark, and, 
above this level, of concrete laid in mass faced with ashlar granite masonry. The 
blocks are composed of — by volume— 1 part of Portland cement, 2 of sand, 
and 5 of stone broken to pass through a 2-inch ring. These proportions have 
lately been changed to 1 part of cement, 2\ of sand, and 6 of broken stone. 
When concrete is laid loose under water, the proportions are changed respec- 
tively to 1, 2, and 3 or 4 parts. The wharves are all constructed of wood. 
The pier-heads are the only novel features in these structures ; they are 
constructed of built-up columns, 20 inches by 20 inches in section, and 75 feet 
in length, placed in rows 12I feet apart and feet apart in the rows. The 
rows are sheathed from low water up to the girders on both sides with 5-inch 
planking, the ends of which are protected with boiler .plates. The heads of 
the columns are securely framed into the caps and girders. The piles used 
in the pier, some of which are 95 feet long, are driven in rows 8 feet apart, 5 feet 
apart in the row, and securely braced. The square timber is 12 inches by 12 
inches in section. The columns are likewise braced with ij-inch rods, extending 
from the bottom to low water. 
A new addition has, within the past few years, been made to the list of 
Scientific Societies by the establishment of the “Association of Municipal and 
Sanitary Engineers and Surveyors.” The inaugural meeting of this association 
was held in May 1873, at the Institution of Civil Engineers. The Association 
has since held meetings in various provincial towns, and several very interesting 
papers relating to drainage, sewerage, ventilation of sewers, the treatment and 
disposal of sewage, water supply, and cognate subjects have been contributed 
by its members. We shall watch with much interest the progress of this 
young society, and shall, on a future occasion, refer more particularly to the 
papers read at its meetings. 
