New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-09
THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY.

The Committee TO whom was referred the matter Of
the Staten Island Feuy, to its safety and condtoa
report as follows:
The Committee engaged the services of oompe.cat
men to examine the steambosts-tho Sylph, the
Hunchback the Huguenot and the Slater Islander
now plying alternately on the ferry In question.
Mr. James NJ. Low, one Of the gentlemen thus So
gagged, and on whose intelligence and experience the
Committee rely has given them, in the form Of re-
port deliberately and carefully prepared the resaa d
his investigation He finds the four boats in questios
Improperly constructed for ferry purposes, and unsafe.
copy of bis report is annexed hereto.
The four boats in question not constructed %
the plan adopted by Mr.. Low, and which regard Tor
the public safety would seem to require
The Committee feel great reluctance in creating an
alarm of this nature in the public mind injurious TO
the interests of the island but of public duty
calls upon them to lay open the result OF their nvesi
cations.
The boats so employed upon the ferry are not only
unsafe but the Committee find that precautionary
means have been furnished by the proprietors OF the
ey for the escape protection of passengers IN case
of accident, to which the best regulated ferry may be
sometimes exposed.
The laws Of the United States, which are very
stringent and exactng, make provisions to guard
against accidents occurring on board of steamboats,;
and among other things require that they should be
provided with suitable small boats fol the protection
Of passengers but fcTTy-boats are exempt from the
operation Of these laws. A sufficient protection, 1t 10
supposed will be given by the authorities granting
the conse TO regulate the ferries as public con-
yeneuce and safety may require. But in the case II
the Staten Island ferry the propnetos OF the boats
now plying between Staten Island aud the City u
New-York have no licenses from the City Authorities:
aud the consequence IL that the travelling community
between these points is unprotected either by tho
laws Of the United States or by the terms and cond-
tions upon which ferDEcenses or leases usually
granted.
AT the landings both sides of the ferry are most in
adequate and unsuitable. They are so small and badly
provided that large majority of the passeugem, in
Guiding women and children, are oftentmes len ex-
posed without any shelter whatever to the inolemen-
ces of the season. comparison between the accom-
modatons provided by the proprietors Of the staten
Island ferry, the city side, with those furnished BY
| the South Ferry Company, on the same side, and
which invite comparison from their proximity, is bet
ter comment on this branch of their report than any
| which this Committee can make.
There is another matter connected with the ferry In
question: which the Committee find 1t their duty to re-
port upon. -. :.
yiduals who transact business in the City Of New
York and who reside in its suburbs. Ot these staten
Island has il fair proportion among when are some
of the most prominent business men Of the city. Pos
seseng a feIry-passage less obsructed by ice than
that between Brooklyn jersey City and the City OF
New-York there exists no reason IN the opinion OF
| this committee why the Staten Island Ferry should
that II NAV serve the purposes of the man oil moderate
as well the of large means. The suburbs fur
nish great relief to the renpayers OF the city, Hobo
ken Jersey City, and Williamsburgh have, however.
ceased to furnish cheap rents or at least IA cheap as
can be furnished on Staten Island, If the ferry there
should be regulated with due regard TO the making
OF early and late trips and occas0nally OF making
trips through the night IL il answer to this sugges
ton that the night trips not profitable To the pro-
pretors of the ferry. They not profitable To the
BROOKLYN or to the jersey City Ferry Companies; but
| the public convenience requires it, and their prohts
derived from these ferries generally enable them to
| make some small sacrifices to the public interest.
| The profits of the Staten Island Feuy will yield
net gain of so TO 60 per cent annually upon the capital
invested In the ferry properthat Is 10 say, upon the
to the fenywill enable them to make the same sac
| rfce TO the public convenience
After careful examination Of the subject. the Com
fntee have eoine to the conclusion that the de6cen.
ces Of the present ferry arise from two causes First,
it IL matter in which the public have deep interest,
but which they have controls being subject
| to the management Of q few men, It has been made
subservient to private rather than TO public ends.
Secondly the ferry not restricted and regulated by
any Of the terms and conditions which are usually
attached TO ferry licenses and which necessary
as well for the public safety as for their accommo-
| datOD.
Let there be organized a Ferry Company, OF which
the stock shall be generally distributed subject 10 tho
control of the usual ferry license, and the Committee
feel assured that the communication between tho CITY
and the island will become suitable and adequate,
while the undertaking would yield large profit upon
the investment. n. DANE ELLIsGwooD.
Chairman Of the COMMITTEES.