The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-30
The JrRsrr Cry FEnnr AND OUR Como,

The JERSEY Cry FERRY AND OUR COMMON
CouNcIL.-The inexplicable hardness of the Com
mitteeson Ferries and Wkarves, of the Board of
assistant Aldermen in this city, to report on the
resolution introduced by Assistant Alderman
Smith, some few weeks since, relative to the Jer-
sey CITY Ferry Company, forms tue subject of
much comment IN this city and in New Jersey. 1t
IS even in'imated that there is some secret cause
Tor this delay-that there is, in plain terms, some
movement going on, that if brought to light,
would give cue TO the mysterious delay in
making this report.
What has caused this delay we cannot say, bu,
the members of that board know as well as we
do, that the CITY treasury loses some sixteen or
eighteen thousand dollars annually, so long as
the slip at the foot of Courtlandt stree, remains
occupied by the Jersey City Ferry Company, at
the miserable and inadequate rent of four thou
sand dollars year. All we know is, that
there has been delay, and that this Board has met
once week regularly since the resolution was
placed IN the hands of the Committee, and yet
there Is no report, Notwithstanding that no diff
Guilty existed to prevent the Committee reporting
the first night they met after it was committed to
them.
Ihls negligence on the part of the Committee,
10 use no stronger term, is positively criminal
Here is one of our most valuable slips occupied
by an neutrality-suspicious. of another State-at
four thousand dollars, when it is well known that
II put up at public auction it would bring at least
twenty thousand, and perhaps thirty-causing q
direct loss to the city treasury OF the difference
between those sums, and that too at time when
the city taxes are higher than they ever were UNI
der any administration.
Now, we ask the gentlemen of that committee
IL they can suppose for a moment that their con-
duct is not viewed in the proper light by the tax
payers of the city? What do they suppose will
their constituents say 10 them, when their party
comes forth next Spring for reelection, boil
ing over with patriotism, and laundering forth
promises OF economy and pledges, when they
have 1t In their power, by drawing up a report on
the resolution referred to, to increase the receipts
OF the treasury some sixteen thousand dollars
year, or more! We shall take good care that il
shall not slip their memories when the proper
time arrives
The State of New York is now in the posses.
sion Of the wings, and they will strain every
nerve to get this city in the spring. For
this purpose, they will carefully collect all
the facts they can that may operate to their
Can 1t be possible that the locofoco party will of
itself provide them with weapon like this,
which, if properly used, would defeat any party
direct and wilful neglect of the city interests
plump refusal to add sixteen thousand dollars
or more to the city treasury! We shall wait a
little longer, and see whether the Board of Assis-
tants will recover their of propriety and du-
ty, and act as they ought in this matter. If they
do not, the ides of March will tell tale.
ny the way, we undcrsta,,d that this JERSEY
Ferry Co., intend to reduce the price of ferriage
to four cents next spring. We do not give the de
rectors the slightest amount of credit for it, be-
cause we believe it will be done with the view OF
getting a lease of their ferry rights at the same
rent they have paid for number of years past
The movement will not, we think, succeed
Our Common Council must put up the slip at
auction, rent it to the highest bidder who
will contrac; to run ferry that will provide
suitable accommodations for the public, and
charge no more than three cents.
We want cheap ferriage very much, and we
will have it-and we will have full value for our
slip, too. Two can play the game of "'possum."