New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-10-16
Williamsburgh Ferries.

IT, iis Editor 81 Ths Tribaas
The inhabitants OF the various cities and villages
around NewYork are wholly dependant o. It's CorPo.
ration for Ferry stations land and receive passenger,
sni 81 vehicles and hence arises part Of the seeming
indifference which the inhabitants OF places requiring
this accommodation exhibit. they leaving It's regulation
20 the sagscious Spectators Joint stock companies,
who manage as bes, they can for their own peculiar
benefit
some twelve months ago the present Williamsburgh
Company applied to the Newl0rk Board OF Aldermen
foy renewal OF their Lease Of Grand-st and Peck slip
stations AZ this juncture = few individuals brought
together perhaps nifty OF the inhabitants Of Williams
hurgh their ostensible object being 20 call upon the
Company 20 know whether they intended to incresse
the facilities for crossing the river and reduce the rates
OF fare.
The meeting was opened by an slluson TO the spph.
cation by the present Company for renewal OF their
lease for years and 10 stated that this Was the
time for the citizens OF Wismsburgh 70 endeayor 10
procure certain Just and reasonable srpaaiions 10
the rates OF fare and increased facilities Commiteo
was appointed % nier with the Directors for the pres
ent Company ami proposed that In order % force
the Company into just concessions the persons present
should became subscribers % the stock n new Asso-
citation and 5000 instantly subscribed. In a
week after another meeting WAS called, ss was sup
posed BIZ ne hear the report OF the
Committee, but no written report offered Il WAS
verbally stated, however that the presen, Company
said they would put another boat On Peck slip Ferry
II they obtained new lease.
printed pamphlet was handed round. entitled Ar.
tcles OF the Union Ferry Association IN Snort The
object OF the movers TO apply for grant for hepi
and they sdroit enough 10 u and quiet the
public and the present Company I'll they nearly attained
their object
They procured the passage Of resolve by the Board
Of Aldermen that the Ferry slips should not be let
thereafter by private contract but put up at auction 10
the highest bidders, leaving Il TO be Inferred that The
old Company would have equal chance with the
new No appeal was made 10 the FERRY | SING public
the village looked on with seeming indifference.
Why have the tour Williamsburgh newspapers been
sieut' For rhaf 40 support them Was It not their
imperative duty 70 have called public attention 10 the
que ston Of cheap. efficient, and convenient ferry
communication with New Nork during the next Oyears'
Demostnenes refused TO consult the oracle at Dephos
tie was asked why. said he, Delphi Philipzes Are
any OF editors in the interest OF stock lo5tHrs
than Of their rosdersi II not why do they not show
their cOOrs
Letme suggest the inquiry whether the condition OF
Winisnsburgh taking into view rs natural increase
during the ten years from Let OF May next VIII or VIII
not justify US In demanding fares and accommodations
On the footing of Brooklyn The new lease 49, ioitu
nstely not delivered yet
In ISL the present company obtained lease tor
seven years agreeing to receive cts Tor foot psssen
gers Al Peckshp Ferry, and cts AZ drsnd ST. Oar
population then over b,Un
la consequence OF the competition of the Houston 81
Ferry the reduced 10 cts al Peck slip and
? cts At Grand-st during two years With these 70
/
/ the proceeds and then raised the rates again.
When the state Census was was taken in - The VII
age showed an increase OF no per cent on IL popua
| ton and Il seems reasonable 10 infer, that IN May
lSlq Williamsburgh will contain 5000 inhabitants
and in 1859 about 5000. Suppose then, the new les
sees to double their expense for boats, &c. Their,
would be no additional cost for whsryes or ferry agents
| Why are not the public shown statement ON oath
In detail of the receipts and expenditures OF the las
seven years Why lease given privately TO hYt
persons in the teeth of the public published resolution
Was not this deception Perhaps Alderman Chsrlick
could cnlighten us
lam told that the Ferry profits enormous bui
everything is kept secret fthere were not cash 10 be
made Ia abundance there would be less heat and com
petition among the spectators why not enlishten US
10 the profits
Would il not be better for New-lork to regulate all
the ferries by general laws well considered, than 10
play into the hands OF dealers In stocks sc IL Is the
Interest of New York that Wilamsburgh and the coun
try round should have easy % the City markets
and that the pentup citizens OF your great emporium
should have every possible facility given them 20 take
exercise in the country by the cheapest avenues both
by land and water Even In death. cheap access 10
the new Catholic and other burial grounds on our side
il very desirable and il is 10 be wished that before
this great thOrOu ghfsre Wiamsburgh Ia converted
into job for the gain Of any i've or ten keen and sharp
managers the interests of the 100000 persons, Tor
whom the Corporation Of New York agents will be
fully secured If your City Council knew the vast
vast number OF mechanics and laborers who use the
ferries and have but small they would not con
ign them aac0pdh0aaiy tor 10 years TO any Company
whatever JOHN FITCH