No visitor to New York should omit visiting the wharves of the North and
East rivers. A day may be profitably spent on the shore of each stream.
The docks do not compare favorably with the massive structures of
Liverpool, or London, or the other great seaports of the world. They are
wretched, half decayed and dirty; but ere long they are to be replaced
with a system of magnificent stone and iron piers, which will afford all
the desired facilities, and render New York in this respect one of the
best provided ports on the globe.
Beginning at the Battery on the North River side, we find first the pier
of the famous Camden and Amboy Railway Company, from which passengers and
freights are conveyed to the railway by steamer. Above this are the
piers of the great European steamship lines, the coast steamers, and the
steamboats plying between the city and the neighboring towns. The Boston
boats, all of which run to points in Connecticut and Rhode Island, where
they make connections with the railways to Boston, are fine steamers.
Those of the Narragansett Steamship Company, the Bristol and Providence
by name, are the most magnificent steamers in the world. They cost
$1,250,000 apiece. They are simply floating palaces, as are also the
Albany night boats. The foreign steamers are huge iron vessels, carrying
thousands of tons of freight and hundreds of passengers. The sailing of
one of these ships always draws a crowd to her pier, and though from five
to eight of them leave the port every week, the attraction still
continues.
The ferries to Jersey City and Hoboken are all located on this river, and
are full of interest to the stranger. The Bethel, or floating chapel for
seamen, is also worth visiting. The ice trade of the city is carried on
on this front, the principal supply of that article being obtained along
the river, about one hundred miles above the city.
[Picture: BOAT STORES.]
The oyster boats, or boat stores, are peculiar to New York. They lie
chiefly in the vicinity of Christopher street, and are sources of
considerable profit to their owners. The Hay Scales are also curious
objects. At the foot of Fifty-fourth street the numerous telegraph lines
which connect New York with the States south of it, cross the Hudson.
They gain the Jersey shore in the vicinity of the Elysian Fields at
Hoboken, and thence continue their way to every part of the States
mentioned.
The East River front is the terminus of the ferry lines to Brooklyn, Long
Island City, and Hunter's Point. The shipping here consists almost
entirely of sailing vessels. The craft plying between New York and the
New England towns have their stations here, and here also are the
California clippers. The huge Indiamen lie here receiving or discharging
cargo. The whole river front is covered with merchandise representing
the products of every land under the sun.
The Floating Docks are among the principal sights of the East River, as
are also the vast coal and ship yards. This stream will soon he spanned
by an immense suspension bridge which is to connect the City Hall in New
York with the City Hall in Brooklyn. The total length of the bridge and
its approaches is to be 5878 feet. The bridge is to rest on cables,
supported by massive stone towers at the water's edge on each side. The
span between these towers is to be 1616 feet. From each tower the
flooring is to be carried a further distance of 940 feet to the land
approaches. The New York approach is to be 1441 feet, and the Brooklyn
approach 941 feet in length. The approaches will, in some instances, be
on a level with the tops of the houses in the cities through which they
pass. The total height of the bridge above the tide is to be 268 feet.
The work is now progressing rapidly, and will be completed in about three
years.
Accidents are very common in every large port, but the peculiar
construction of the New York ferry houses renders the number of cases of
drowning doubly great. In order to guard against this, and to afford
timely assistance to persons in danger of drowning, "rescue stations"
have been established along the water front of the city. There is one at
each ferry house, and the others are located at the points where
accidents are most likely to occur. These stations are each provided
with a ladder of sufficient length to reach from the pier to the water at
low tide, with hooks at one end, by means of which it is attached firmly
to the pier; a boat hook fastened to a long pole; a life preserver or
float, and a coil of rope. These are merely deposited in a conspicuous
place. In case of accident, any one may use them for the purpose of
rescuing a person in danger of drowning, but at other times it is
punishable by law to interfere with them, or to remove them. The station
is in charge of the policeman attached to the "beat" in which it is
located, and he has the exclusive right in the absence of one of his
superior officers to direct all proceedings. At the same time, he is
required to comply strictly with the law regulating such service on his
part, and to render every assistance in his power. The law for the
government of persons using the "rescue apparatus" is posted
conspicuously by the side of the implements, as are also concise and
simple directions as to the best method of attempting to resuscitate
drowned persons. These stations have been of the greatest use since
their establishment, and reflect the highest credit upon those who
originated and introduced them.