New-York daily tribune., 1859-12-27
THE PERRY RIGHTS or NEwYoRK.


ignorance Of the lawsi as TO the rghts OF the TWO
cities, we propose 70 eve, clearly and brey as poe
sble account OF the grants, charters, Co'ona,
and State laws s.d judicial decisions bearing upon the
matter in question.
The 6rst official notice Of ferry from Nsw-York is
dated July 4, 1854 when the Director-Generl Gov.
suyvesant) and the Council in order 70 secure PromP.
crossing st reasonable rates ordered that no person
should ferry across the East River without license
There was undoubtedly regular ferry at that time,
but th, dste Of its establishment is unknown -Four
yearb sferward the Burgomasters were Petluoned TO
confirm the rent Of the ferry and ia l6Co compliant
made against the ferryuan for overcbargfpg Ia ioS5
THE city being then under English rule The Ma! or and
Abermen-created by the Gov. Nieholls's act OF IN
corporation of 1665-peitoned Gov. Dongan to grant
several valuable privileges, and among them tae
ferry now between this city and Long isiand,
iicb hereafter shall be appointed between the sad
" city OF any other place." The ferry named was
granted in December, 1888, with proviso that two
boats for psssen eIs and for cattle, should be KEEP
on each side of the river but no ferry in any othe
place .lloH ed but wha. is already"
Coming 10 the famous Dongan Charter OF 1886
which rtairmed and established all the ancient priy
eees Of tie City, we find the ferry enumerated, and in
the secoId section Of the charter the Governor grant
ed gave ratified and confirmed unto the Mayor, Al"
dermeD and CommoDalty their successors and assigns
the aforementioned ferry, with the rgh's, members
and appurtenances and the rents issues and pronts
Of the said ferry together with full power to estso-
sh appoint, order and direct The establishing max
ing and lay ing out of all ferries and bridges and
throughout the said city Of New-YoIk, and Manhat-
,sn Island aore said and for all passengers there"
Under bs grant, the CRY leased the ferry at auetion
November 1891 to John Arrenson, for seven years at
f4 per snnum and the next year il was ordered that
no other person should bring over any passengers or
produce of the Long island between Red Hook and
the Walabout under penalty. In it9i was proposed
to mort gage the ferry for three years as security Tor
| Ioan Of f2O0 and such mortgage was executed on
u 1871 of April In 1893 elaborate ordinances were
paced regulating the whole business Of the ferry to
BROOKLYN, and rates. payable in silver or wampum,
were established. In 1902 the Common Council pet-
toned Lord Cornbuy for special ferry charter, ask
| ing for a grant of all unoccupied land from
| high 70 low water mark along the Brooklyn
shore from the Wallabout TO Red Hook; but action
was taken beyond receiving the protest Of the Trustees
of Brooklyn. In l707 an effort was made TO set up
another ferry but the Corporation asked the Governor
to reject the petition the ground that the existing
ferry would be ruined Anticipating renewal OF the
difficulty the Corporation again asked for the grant OF
land on the Brooklyn shore with additional power 10
establish and regulate ferries This was conceded and
tie document is known the Cornbury Charter
There was a reservation however, allowing persons
near the water side 10 transport their goods in
their own boats without penalty. This grant OF land
by the Cornlury Charter has been contested in theory
at least by the Brooklyn people, bat we think has
never been shaken. From l6S6-how much earlier we
IL buoxp IN 17I7 the ferry brslneES
controlled by the Common Council without question
In the latter year. the Provincial Assembly passed an
act :, euating rates. &c. to last years. and this
act was renewed in 1924.
At meeting of the Common Council, March %, l729,
il was resolved to apply 70 the Governcr MOntgomere
fer new charter and committee raised to report
what spec privileges should be asked for. On the Sd
or August carefully orawn petition was presented 70
H.. Governor who referred TO the Council. Nearly
all that was askedor was conceded and the 18th Of
Junuary, $780, the famous Montgomerie Charter was
duly granted il was resented with grave formalities
TO The Mayor OH the llth Of February following. Ths
il. in fact. the Chatter of New York. All former
grants whssoeyer given by the Dutch and recognized
by the English Government are carefully recited and
many new ones are added. 1t is very ful elaborate,
and guarded in expression and there be no mistake
CA to its meaning On the subject Of Ferries says In
&C. Is:
And re do further, for us our heirs and success
ors give grant and confirm unto the Mayor, Alder.
men and CommonaltY Of the City OF New-YOrk, and
their successors forever that the Common Council ot
the said city, for the time being, or the major part oi
them bui no other person or persons whomsoevef,
without the consent grant license of the said Com
mon Council of the sad city for the time being or the
major part fthem) from time TO time, and al al tunes
hereafter shall and may have the SOLE full and whole
power and authority of settling, appointing establish
l.. l,e.ro nd aha
appoint establish order, aud direct such and so many
feIr,es around Manhattans Island, alias New-York
Island, for the carrying. and Transporting people,
borYes cattle goods, and chaties from the SAID Island
of Manhattan 10 Nassau leland and from thence back
To Msnhattans and also from the said Island Man
halans TO any Of the opposite shores all around the
Fame sland in such and so many places as the sala
Common Council, the major part OF them, shall
thint III, who have hereby, likewise, full power to
let ret or otherwise dispose Of, all or any OF such
ferries, 10 any person or persons whomsoever; ana
the rents issues profits ferriages, fees ana other ad
vsntages arising and accrung from all ana every suen
ferries we do hereby fully and freely for us, our hea
and SUCCESSOR give and grant unto The Mayor Alder
men and Commonalty Of the City OF New-fofk afore-
said and their forever, 10 have take hold
and enjoy the same to their own use, without beng
accountable to u.s. heirs successors for the same
or any part thereof.
And further in Section 81, after granting the City
Hail. isils, court. rooms, FIVE markethouses, dock,
crane wharf sewer, and po wder ns gazire, it says:
And the ferry and ferries on both sides Of the East
river and all other ferries now and hereafter 10 be
erected and established all round the Island OF Man"
aisns and The management and rule of and all fees,
ferrisges and perqui-ites TO the same, or any part
thereof belonging 10 belong; and also the ferry
houses Oh Nassau Island, with the barns stables pen
also all the ground sol land between high water
and low-water mark on the said Island Of Nassau,
from the sas side of The place called Wallabont 10 the
wekt side OF Red Hook, and also ~ make laws and
l. ILL.,. oil fl.