New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-02-08
STATEN ISLAND FERRY.


To ne Hs~6ers Of tAt Legi,latuye
A. the people demand relief against the present
buttons and oppressve monopoly, we propose 70 give
you its history that you nay act uuderstsndingly
In s45 the Common Council, by resolution authorized
the construction Of pier fronting the east end Of The
Battery and granted irs use for nine years to c. Van
derJilt, 0. Mauran, and the Richmond Turnpike Gem
parry for the purpose Of a ferry 70 Staten Island. In
1916 was provided that the pier should he built at the
expense of the Company. In lsi9 this grant, with q
ferry franchise to Staten leland, was confirmed TO G.
Vanderbilt. In 1853 Vanderbilt transferred the ferry
to company Of which George Law is the principal
asst cate. In 1856 the fery Lease wac extended 70
George Law g. Co. for ten years, but excluding tbs
use Of the westerly side o. the pier.
TIE frat fact ~ which we call attention ID that the
eraH and lease are roid, the per haring been eos-
strvcled cakout the authority Of The Stat, "a tront
ofte Battery and portion of the Battery thrown into
the street, 10 give accees to it.
That the Corporation conid not legally make the
grant, Vanderbilt and Law notified, BY the re-
strcons on the Battery title and the maps Of the city,
Still! tuev have rad the uninterrupted Of the pier,
and George Law has even had the hardihood In de-
tapee of the restrictions, AID without authority 70
ran for come seven years rasf what he calls ferry,
froo the westerly side OF the rAer.
Tie only oundation for the grant Of ferry franchise
by The city If the ancient charter which confers an ex
elusive ferry right &" all around Manhattan Island 70
tie opposite shores thereof" may well be doubted
whether this extends to Staten Island, but il is certain
tina, there can be no lgai ferry from terminus In
the cy beyond the control Of either grantee or Corpo
ration.
H. 1859 Mr. Vanderbilt emboldened by bis ir
the Of the State property under
acity title andhaving obtained ike grant from the City
Cor grafton of pier opposite tie northern part Of the
Ba tery applied TO the Legislature for It's confirmation.
Ge5,ge Laws company lkewire applied for law su-
,holog the Ciy Corporation " lease to them mot for
ten years but long they might agee, two hundred
and tity feet more of Battery frcnt.
Each eouented with his share Of the proposed specu
lt H. the two of course acted in harmony and Robert
Cbri.te, the representative from Richmond County in
the assembly EcaTly succeeded In having the incubus
fastened upon the island Of eonfdi the keys OF lie
communication with the city, 20 the rval Comodores
VII have retarded its grow III fifteen yeaTs.
j. 1850 Vanderbilt again nearly succeeded in effect
ing ais object but no lii introduced on behalf OF
George Laws Comp8oy petition, however from
the PEOPLE of Staten Island signed by about 80 resi-
dents presented to the seuae Feb. 20 ana ein
introduced in both Senate and Assembly with the fol.
low ing provisions:
sporIox empower, the Commissioners Of the Sinking fnnd
OF the City Of TO establish q e.e Of not G 90
OF SewYOrk ,nd eh point. Staten leland osween ,h.
Snug BARBER o. The h and 81. cSaSSes. 70 i
SIC Renew ais CT like period. 20 be made at pub
Ne aaeon the notice 70 .fs as term. .1d s1Hd 81 %
!. s AZ sa and the .Stas on. g.
lat BY the CoHnis iou,-' for the unuinsof the Ferry
err II the property which they cu be subject to .Ppss
this claim be investigated by ComneoIep and ths Dc
psy for such property appraisal to be made By COmmi,on
obe .RPoint.d By the supreme Court s,,
the ferry landing. Of the former essees whether such a
Pc oe Ts. Of The stns fund may .DrO
pirate Staten Island ferry ndngs much q esch aide lie
.uj,ab pi-r sgd 10 dive proper scee. the i'm
provemrn made be .u sppr-s ssai";t neg sa.'
vrrne Of don ain through conimiss ne to oe,
pon ed BY the supreme Court whaevt1 property tne
sone Of the sipkiss Fund nay determine 70 Se Necessary
ferry purpose. IRE amount Of tho s.esed value Of the eep
TO be paid BY the e,see to the Cl o. G
vested IN the Supervisor OF the town IN wiea me poP
be ways devoted to the purposes sny The lessee;
such ferry aecommodation,ss the Conm.'i ps -
Sinking may direct sud tie cad OF bis sase 70 eas
to have saeA N ~ % r.Ss Sd sor ID. fee With
ou ineie,t hut with dcduc ion for depreciation "hn u
hay. taken place In the Improvements or any eh,ms upn
property at the ro'e Of IL. sa1hion ana So n''
SEC prosids. for notice 70 unknown ofproPefy
SIC Sroyi ie. that the and future fies
Island shall be wholly subject 70 hs coz w ~
ons CoDis,ioners Of the sinking quo - 20 cur
&c termT Of fIie. ho@r. .od n, & %, ,r
REQUIRED BY Colnnsson-rs ana ooa" ue'eiA's " SA'
w vi able are TO be Withdrawn -. H. a.. co,,rI.
SKc Rules aud gnaons are 10 be MADE oy mo oonu,
,ionrs and revived every three months Inc Iee
re!uued upon the principle that ater inh tnasd
- ny 10 the balance OF the Income ~ DC
to promote the pubc comfort and convenience
W lent 10 enforce observance Of the resaon; h
b, the Comn Il h. be- Appointed ava h ssii, - -
81, m but ~ 4 paid nut Of the Terry ecrp,s, su
90. a.. 10 ave 20 the Commissioner. every TO-. A..
oNeuer II rcqucd ,return, under OATH OF the i0o'P
bu -srm-uts Of thu ferry. r., ~unui violation Il
rule, established by ComnIssoaefs ,,, 81 fairy ,sryice
sAC H. IN Gaze. Of unforeseen ~ sv ,;ca 49,,
SIC i2 Fee. Of Commis.ioners Of APPrsa PAPER S''' "
b. psid by new lessee NJ
SIC 10 Act to take eject Immediately . o.
The bill af or beios fav orsby reported by pe 10
nittee Of Commerce Ia the Assembly, anu 80 Il
moved before the COMMITTEE Oh Niue, py "iS,aI
Mr. Christie at his request, and fsvora6iy IePc 80,
MA rrf.rre1 10 a Select Committee, By tnas III,
nittee Il was reported I'll dmend~eSr. i';1It;on
uents consisted of change OF title, and suos,H
of Mr. Cbrties bill Of 1859 giving TO ueoise E ,hs
additional n t,ery front. II Is method OF iheeons
people prayer for relief by an attempt 70 81 Tss
sbackle. MA exposed by the cor'ehponoeh' " I.f
TnIguxE aid sicnall, filed-tbOlgh no o'n''
was afforded to the people. Liza.
The len.e under with George Law runs ~ T.
Id frr;es VIVA granted on lis behalf to Jseoo -
Sn;,b Of rresent a member of the Assembly .n,er,.
,as covenants TO run as many safe and somio a.
Losts 10 be approved by tho Commissioner, IT, nav
Sinking Fund aud AS frequently US .ne pun. ".ss II
,enni,e and that the lessee will obey az snv
the Corporaion and acts Of the Legislature slA'
time may be passed. "a
Applcnion was made the first year ior rear rss "a
the commissioners Of the Sinking Fund, WHO VA 800
approved according 70 the lease any III 90 SssoA A.