New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-02-11
The UNAUTHORIZED FERRY AT THE
BATTERY

Tie Committee on Ferries Aid. MURRAY Chairman
met Yesterday forenoon to take into consideration the
new and unauthorized ferry at the Battery, and the
communication and suggestions Of the Controller in
lation thereto. The Controller had recommended that
the Common Council memorabilia the Legislature for
authority to establish ferry at the East River e1trem
ity of the Battery or to change the tenure by which
the Battery is held. The communication was read
after which Aid. ADAMS asked Mr.. Jacob l.. Smith,
the nominal lessee of the Staten Island ferry If he
would be examined to the authority of the Company
to run ferry boats from the Battery grounds!
Mr.. SMIfH replied that he did not know anything
Fout the Few ferry and could give no information on
the subject.
George Law, who was present, was then asked the
question if the new ferry from the Battery was his,
and he replied that it was not but he would relate all
be knew in regard 10 it.nT1.
AR. Law was then examined under oath by Aid.
Adas and stated in substance that he President
Of the CorpOrationfnown the Staten Island Ferry
Company. He not the contractor for the enlarge.
ment OF the Battery, but he had an assignment OF
three fourtbs OF the contract security for money
loaned by him to the contractor, Mr.. Conklin The
pier or bridge from which the ferry TO NewBrighton,
Facoryvile and Bergen Point was run was not built
by him. but by the contractor for the purpose OF land
ing stone for the Battery wall. The bridge had not
long been ured for that purpose when the Street Com.
missioner and City Engineer interered and prevented
the contractor from proceeding with the wall for the
that in their opinion the stone filling OF the
work was not sufficiently settled.
Aid. ADAMS remarked that It was pretty wen set
tied now for il had washed out into the channel.
The channel at this rate would be filed in before the
proposed enlargement accomplished. The Con.
mttee on Ferries had been TO visit the Battery and
were surprised to discover ferry established there
without authority, and without revenue to the city.
lie would ike Mr.. Law to give some information as
to the authority Of tie Staten Island Ferry Company
10 use il.
Mr. Law replied that he knew nothing OF the mat
ter. The Directors Of the Company, he thought,
mutt have caused the boats to be run. The pier be-
eide the bridge of the contractor was built by Mr..
Vanderbilt some years ago. for ferry to Staten
Island and subsequently sold to other parties Boats
had run from that section before the bridge was
erected and they have continued ever since. lie Ola
rot know any more regarding i.
AID ADAss remarked that it strange that no
one seemed to know by what right boats had been run
from that place which the Controller had estimated
to be worth 5000 year to the city leased tor terry
purposes. lie again inteFOgated Mr.. Smith on the
subject
MIR. SMITH stated again that he knew nothing about
it. The boats he however thought, had been run
from the point in question for upward OF SIX years. or
perhaps longer !,
AID ADAMS thought strange of this, and remarked
that if anything detrimental to the Ferry Company
had occurred while Mr.. Smith was lessee he mr. 81
would 20 doubt have been posted.
Aid. MURRAY asked Mr. Law who were the securi
ties for the Battery enlargement contract.
Mr. l.. did not know; all he knew about the Battery
enlargement Was that he loaned money and had a. Sc
curity an assignment on three-quarters OF the con-
tract.
AID ADAMS said the Committee, under the circum-
stances far got at would have TO report against the
Ferry Company for q grave violation OF the laws
No other Interested parties beside the above ap-
peaIed, and the Committee after directing the CLERK
10 notify suDdry parties the engineer, contractor ana
others 10 attend the next meeting, adjourned TO III
O'Clock, Thursday.