New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-10
TIKI FERRY sQUATTER.


terry, the question arises, why has not Mr.. Con-
troller Haws been equally prompt with that other
Battery trespasser George Law? If Mr.. Van
derbilt, for simply sinking pier for his private
use, at the Battery, is to be enjolned and COM
PEELED to undo all that he has done, why
should not Mr.. Law, who did the same eight
wears ago, also be brought up with round
turnl True, the Controller fenced in the en-
trance to the pier, O month or two ago; but he
knows perfectly well that Law immediately OBJ
tanned access to the ferry landing through the
gates of tie Staten Island Ferry, so that the
fence amounted to nothing.
The truth is there is an inscrutable mystery
surrounding the dealings of George Law with
the corporate authorities of New-York. 1t
would seem that whatever he covetS he Is at
liberty to take without let or hindrance. Who
but Law could deal with New York, in regard
to her ferries as he does Would any one else
be permitted to make ferry slip on public
property, as he has done at the Battery, and
run ferry for eight years, free of all cost,
without molestation from the city authorities
Would the corporation of any city, save this,
having sold ferry franchise, as in the Peck
slip case, for the large sum of $4,000, for ten
years, under substantial guarantees, turn right
around and gire a,eay, contrary to law, adjoining
slips to q rival ferryman, uphold him in breaking
down the legal franchise just sold aid him to the
uttermost in running the paying tenants of the
city, and rendering yalueless lease so proit-
able to the treasury All this the corporation
of New-York did, and Law succeeded in doing
with their assistance, what he never could have
| effected without it. Having broken down the
| Peck-slip Company, and compelled them to JON
| their fortunes with his own, Law took possession
| of the Peck-slp and Grand street ferries, and
| for about a year has run them without paying
one copper of compensation to the city. why
| he has not been held to q stricter account, we
cannot learn. The Controller long ago threat
| ened to bring him to settlement; but he seems
to be still as far from it as ever. He says that
| the Corporation Counsel has had the case IN
| hand for six months; but that official has not
yet taken the first step toward sustaining the
! tights of the taxpayers.
In course of time, finding it to his interest to
| close the Peck-slip Ferry, Law does it as cooly
| as though he were the great Tycoon himself, and
| New-York an integral part instead OF an outy-
| ing dependency of japan, and compeS whole
community to follow after him to one of the
vilest localities in the city. We had supposed
that an old.established ferry like great high
way, could not be closed at the will of one man
But it has been done; n valuable franchise ha:
been wiped out aud the slip already seized upon
for commercial purposes, apparently without at
tracing the slightest notice from the man tC
whom the keys of the City Treasury have been
| confded. In like manner, without exciting q
word of censure from that officer, the Common
Council has voted away to this great cOrruptiOn'
st franchise after franchise, interest after in.
terest, by which the city has been robbed of many
| thousands Of dollars. Let us briefly recapitulate
| few of the "big things that have been con-
| fcrred on Mr.. Law, or which he has been allowed
| to quietly appropriate to himself. First in order
| is the Battery Pier, south of Pier No. | East
River, which he took and subsequently the right
to build bulkhead 200 feet along the Battery
front, which was given to him. by this act the
| Common Council alienated the Battery from the
| city, the terms Of its ccssion requiring it to be
maintained inviolate as public pleasure-ground
forever, on penalty of lis reversOn to the State.
| From hs miserable single landing at James slip,
| he was authorized to move to Roosevelt street,
and take the double slips, at the same paltry
rent; there, breaking down Peck slip, he seized
| UpOn that also, and held it rent free for year,
meanwhile getting the Common Council to give
him the right to run ferry from that place to
Fulton street, Brooklyn. His old ferry at James
| slip was, by the same agency made ferry to
| Hunters Point at the old nominal rent, though,
Island Railroad, the privilege was main
| festly far more valuable. Going further up the
East River, we find him in possession of both
| ferries at Grand street, one of which was sold
| for $4,000 a year to the Company which he
subsequently, broke down, and which be has
since rum owing nearly years rent upon il to
| the city; the other, to South Seventh street,
! Williamsbureh, he has run for two years, with
out lease, and Of course free of rent. All OF
these franchises and gifts he got through the Com
mon Council, in direct violation Of the Charter
which expressly provides that they shall be ad
yertised aud sold at public auction
We submit that it is high time the rights of
the city we're looked after. Honest tax-pay er-
are assessed mcndurably to meet the extroya.
cant OUTLAWS of our City Government while the
Common Council and the Mayor cOnspire to
assist such men as Law to deprive the city of
her legitimate revenues. How much longer il
ni. .p,orp,rc, will Brssrs uaRs and Bronson