The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-11-14
The Union Ferry Gouge-How to Stop 1,

The Union Ferry Gouge-How to Stop It..
We recently took occasion to call public
attention to the history of the Union ferry mo.
Eopoly and to the extortionate character of its
operations. We did so in the expectation thatas
the leases Of this company are about to expire,
they would be provoked into coming for
ward and stating tie grounds on which they
base their pretensions to renewal of
them. To justify the concession for further
term Of such valuable privileges yielding, as
we have shown, returns to the amount of more
than million and quarter annually, they
should be in condition to prove that they
have fulfilled honorably and fairly the stpula-
| tons under which they were originally granted
| by the Legislature. How is their continued
silence to be interpreted, in position which
demands at least show Of Difference to public
opinion? What is the world, moreover, to
think Of their reserve, after the serious imputa-
tons that have been thrown out against them?
Taken in conjunction with the charge publicly
made by Mr.. Kelsey, now member of
the Assembly of their having employed
bribery to defeat his nomination and to
secure that of their own candidate, their care
full avoidance Of all controversy or discussion
would lead to the conclusion that they dare
not venture into print. They no doubt pre-
fer working in the dark, trusting rather to the
additional strength gained to their interests in
the Legislature by the weight of their money
and to their chances Of buying up the Common
~ 1l,o:n 49, c..
ing and useful public company.
IT is to be hoped that such efforts will be
made by the people Of the two cities as will
defeat all the underhand scheming and corrup-
ton by which it will be sought to carry the re-
newal of the present ferry leases. While we
admit the force Of the argument that the union
of several ferries in the hands of one company
is likely to insure their better administration,
we contend that under no circumstances should
| this consideration be allowed to lead to the
creation Of a monopoly The city, in granting
| these leases, should look less to the amount of
! money that it is to get for them than to the
character of the applicants, and to the pros
pect of their keeping faith with the public.
But, more than this, the leases themselves
should only be granted on such conditions as
would prevent all possibility of the hold
ers levying, at their pleasure, an unjustifable
amount of taxation on the public. From
the facts stated by us the other day, it is evil
dent that on the Union ferries cent fare and
low Communication would leave large annual
profit. Under what pretence, therefore, can a
company which has greedily duplicated its fares
and abolished the communication principle, with
out offering any corresponding increase in the
facilities of the traffic, come forward and claim
a renewal Of the trust which was granted to
them merely for the public accommodation?
There is no installing the game which is
being played by this monopoly. They will try
to bride their way first to their object; and il
they should fail in that they have another card
which they look upon as almost equally sure.
Lately, just as their leases are approaching
their termination, they have commenced adding
largely to their usual outlay in new boats, the
extension Of slips, and in their working mate
rial generally. The motive for this is
apparent. They want to defeat the chances
of rival applicants, by increasing the
amount of capital that would be required to
purchase out their improvements. It would
take million Of dollars on the part Of any
new company getting these leases to enterupon
possession. Formidable as these combinations
are, it would be easy to break them down, IL the
honesty of the incoming Common Council could
be depended upon. One cifectual means Of
doing it would be by Letting the
ferries separately, and providing by stringent
clauses against coalition. But, as we have
just observed, as there is positive advantage
In giving the ferries to strong companies, two,
or even three of them, might be granted to one
corporation under siailar guarspces. % long