Manual of the corporation of the city of New York, for the years .. . 63 to William Waltonand others to erect a market at Peck slip. 508 THE GREAT DOCK, As tlio \M\ri of tlio city earliest populated, and where the principaltrade was carried on, was that along the shore of the East River,or the Roadstead, as it was called, it was natural that theattention of the authorities should he directed towards its improve-ment at an early period ; and the progressive character of tlieirlabors in that direction will be treated upon in the order in whichthe several projects for that purpose were brought in
Manual of the corporation of the city of New York, for the years .. . 63 to William Waltonand others to erect a market at Peck slip. 508 THE GREAT DOCK, As tlio \M\ri of tlio city earliest populated, and where the principaltrade was carried on, was that along the shore of the East River,or the Roadstead, as it was called, it was natural that theattention of the authorities should he directed towards its improve-ment at an early period ; and the progressive character of tlieirlabors in that direction will be treated upon in the order in whichthe several projects for that purpose were brought into action. Before the city was granted a municipal government (which was inthe year 1653), no improvement or alteration of the natural conditionof the shore was made whatever, except the construction of a smallwharf for the landing of row-boats. The precise locality of thatwharf was on the present site of Moore street. Between that placeand the southerly point of the island was a beach, commonly called the Strand, having a number of large rocks exposed at THE POSmON OP THE ORIGINAL WHARF, FROM MAP, 1601. In 1653 the Government granted to the city liberty to erect aweigh-scales at the wharf, with power to make regulations as to theweighing of goods, and also as to the sealing and stamping of weightsand measures, the profits of which were to accrue to the city; andafter this period improvements began to be made in that vicinity. In July, 1659, the city magistrates published a placard, to thefol-lowing effect—that, whereas, the Burgomasters and Schepens havereceived from the Director-General and Councillors authority to takefrom traders and skippers, for the erection of a pier and the benefitthereof, eight stuyvers per last for loading and discharging at theaforesaid pier, and for less quantities in proportion, of which theskippers shall pay one-third and the owners of the goods two-thirds ;therefore all such persons are required to pay their quota to theproper office
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