Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1839-04-27
TSs Ruas>a and ssash Berriss-The Pubsss
- sh~Up~~ulnauRu.

!. solution to unite the South and Fulton Ferries
after the LIST Of May. The Board Of Assistants are
10 act on this Monday next, and will pro-
bably pass il also. Mayor Clark will then have to
sign or veto the measure, as he may think proper.
This is the state Of the at present Now before
we comment upon this measure, let us briefly run
over the rise and progress Of these two ierre ana
examine their relative position.
In 1874 lease OF the Fulton Ferry was granted TO
Robert Fulton and William Cutting, Tor 70 years.
which lease expires next Tuesday. Tins was IN
tended 10 benefit Futons heirs, but hardly any one
was benefited but the heirs of Cutting. The yearly
rent paid was never than 81 800, which Is all
that is paid at this day. The old lessees, or their
agents, behaved very badly in this business; tney
neglected the ferry allowed boats to run across the
river that endangered the lives OF the passengers;
they preserved no order regularity in the time OF
running, and, in short, the abuses became 50 mon
strous, that between two and three years ago the
people in their might, held meetings, subscribed
100000, and finally bought out all the interest OF
the old lessees and their heirs in the ferry, boats
and every thing connected Herewith. although the
real value Of the same was not more than $4,000
This sacrifice was made by the subscribers of the
900 900, who then became the stockholders of the
Ferry in order to have the first place good ferry
and in the hope that ultimately they might be able to
repay themselves by procuring extension OF the
lease from the corporation, after the LIST OF May,
1889. Up to the present hour they never reserved
more than per cent interest on the original outlay,
and never contem pated to do so at any future time
All the surplus revenue has been expended hitherto
to improve the ferry; new beats have been built at
great expense, new docks have been made on the
Brooklyn side and the trustees have incurred debt
of $4,000. IL the lease was renewed after Tuesday
next, they intended to reduce the fare Immediately
TO cents certain issue passage tickets and sell them
to the working classes at SO for 81; allow the com
muters to pass at all hours of the day and night for
SO year; bald new boats and docks, expend more
money in various improvements, and put the ferry
into such a state the wants of the community re.
quire.
This is brief history Of the Fulton Ferry. The
present lessees the peoples there are nearly 400
stockholders; their affairs managed by trustees,
who perform the labor gratuitousy, and who have in
fact borrowed money for the improvement of the
Ferry upon their personal liability. II they re-
ceive renewal Of the lease, we shall obtain what
we desire, better ferry than ever, at reduction
Of fare; if the two ferries united the fare will be
kept up and the ferry become a instead Of
better.
The history Of the South Ferry is history Of in
trigue, speculation, profigacy and folly. In the
met together in Wall street, and concluded upon
purchasing the land on the Brooklyn side
in the vicinity Of the present South Ferry. They
then laid it into lots; had drawings made of
Ties palaces squares crescents, temples, and all sorts
Of trash got the corrupt specializing press OF Wall
street to puff up their lots sold gave away some
to members Of the Common Council, and finally OBJ
aaiued a law to establish the South Ferry. They
were told and knew that the Ferry would not pay
expenses for years. This they cared nothing
the Ferry, which sum they have lost; because the
Ferry enabled them to make profits their
lots For Instance, great number Of lets that were
selling for $500 lot before the Ferry establish
ed, were sold for $500 each soon after the boats
began to run.
This is but one striking instance Of the mass of
corruption and inisuity that has been brought into
play in this matter. The specializing clique who
owned the lots and controlled the Ferry, instead Of
building small and economical boats, just sufficient
for the purposes Of transit built boats large strong
aud splendid enough to run to Albany,
Providence on . pinch. "Damn the expense" was
their cry,"Whilst we live, let ms live," was their
motto; NO matter who suffered. eff we have cheap
boats and cheap Ferry say they, eve shall have
cheap population; and that will do" Motley
are determined to be exclusive, aud to sacrifice the
best interests Of the public generally to their
selfish schemes Of personal aggrandizsment. The
panic in trade affected their land speculstions; the
price Of their lots fell Tremendously; they could sell
none-they could raise money. Then they were
troubled about the loss Of money the Ferry, and
found they must burst up, unless they could have
the credit Of the Fulton Ferry 10 sustain their sink
ing fortunes. This was followed by an application
to the Common Council for union Of the two ferries
which stands in the position we stated q. the COM
mencement OF this article
We think that the Beard o. Assistants will concur
with the other board and pass the resolution to unite
the two ferries Indeed, from the corrupt influences
that have been brought to bear upon this point, We
have not the least doubt in the world that this will
be the ease. The owners Of lots, and spectators
and rognes OF all kinds, and every sized cabre and
condition, have been lobbying round the Common
Cosaci for the last six months. All sorts Of induce
nsnts have been held out to the members TO get them
to consent to the union Of the two ferries; brides
have doubtless been offered in every possible way
and shapes and we do not say that none Of them have
been accepted. Some Of the members of the Com
mon Council have lent the South Ferry spectators
money; others connected Herewith by marriage
others BY interest, and others by roguery In short,
all sorts Of ties, influences, and m achinery have
been brought to bear upon this subject; and the
members Of the Common Council must be made of
- 49,