Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-01-20
----7SN -
THE uIRInrrH IEysNSsrMss.

strred!" Thank Con.
-
THE DUBUQUE TRANSFER.
Thu citizens of Dubuque seem thoroughly
aroused, at last, TO the Importance Of cor
rectng the abuses in the transfer business
a, that city.
In December The Common Council ap
pointed committee to take this snlject
under consideration, and report at future
mesting. AZ q special session, on Saturday
last, this committee made report, which is
printed in full in the Dubuquo Times of Mon
day.
The chsrter'sivcs the city " the exclusive
right to hcesss and regu iats, ferries, and to
establish rates of frrriaGe between Dubuque
and the opposite bank Of the Mississippi
river" 1t is set forth by the committee that
TIE contract made with sthe Company has
been violated, in that two goad steamboats,
have mot been kept TO operate the ferry
that enormous rates have been charged The
business unprompily done, and that the
ans'erof grain and other freight has been
refused for the purpose Of compelling hold.
ers to sell below the market value.
A communication frem the Board OF Trslo
OF pnbuqo was furnished by the committee,
which fully suhstantates these charges, and
seems TO come with an earnest desire for
some decided measures FOR ths protection
Of our commercial interests"
The committee also presented communi
cation from platt Smith, President of The
ID & s. &. r. Il. Company which we Ic.
print.
D:DvQvg Jan. icth, 1864
To II. l.. stout, and Oti,,g, Committee:
GENTLEMEN: - In reply TO your inquiry
about the cost Of transferring railroad rrcishts
crossing the Mississippi at Dubuque, will
state that in the year 1864, the through
freishtS crossed at Dubuque going ives; we're
] ,l93 car loads, and going east, 1881 car
loads. The average cost per car for freight
west was $.OS3, and for gain going east
Sl3.99: for other freight going cast 500
fetal GTnragc for both ways &i3.16 per car
!"ad. The total amount received for trans.
ierring vas $500 This does rot include
The passage business. We pay for passcn
gers ard baggage, fifty cents each passenger,
which also includes omnibus fare.
shs mode Of transferring railroad ?reighs
hy teams On thu steam ferry, subject The
goods to much delay and causes considerable
confusion. as well as a very heavy expense,
10 our railroad company in re leading the
goods.
In relation TO your inquiry about The legal
Figst 70 the ferry franchise at DubuQuc,
viii state that tbs Dubuque ( Sioux City
Railroad Company. by express legislation,
have the right TO ferry their lreights and pas
scngcrS going east, under tue act Of April
9th, 1868 laws OF lows, 1864, page les.
The company also, by the same act, have
the right te bridge the liver.
The transfer company has so far exercised
Che right without the interference OF our
company. know Of no reason why the
Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad Company
would not transfer the right to ferry 10 any
party who would furnish more expeditions
and c5mmodiouS accommodations or give a
sufficient guarantee to DO so.
| am Informed by one Of the Illinois Cen
tFal Railroad officers that such accommoda-
tons will be furnished at the Instance OF that
company, but am not aware that anything
has yet actuslly been done to accomplish SO
desirable an object.
! will state in reply TO your enquiry as
whether the present mode of transfer is the
mos: efficient and cheap, ths! have caused
ne subject to be investigated, and iind lhat
at the ferry at Clinton, the railroad freights
and passengers srs crossed by two ferry boats,
the combined cost Of which was about $50.
600; only one boat is used at a time, the
other being kept as q reserve. The average
cost of fe!rying a car load of freight is
fraction less than three dollars. This mode
Of transferring freight. docs not require one
tenth part Of the men and no horses or wag
ons. ltrrqnircs very small outlay Of cap
ital TO start with and is far more efficient and
satisfactory. With boats built for the pur
pose and tracks properly arranged, cars can
be crossed on ferry boat without the slight
est difficulty. at ali stages Of water and with
less than one third the expense of crossing
frcights by horses and wagons carried on
Gerry boat
The business at this point has a'resdy
crowns so large that it is impossible to do it
promptly by ferrying teams. In my opinion
the shippers Of freight living in the city of
Dubuque and along the line Of our road
have suffered damage in consequence Of the
jnaieqUacy Of tho present system of transfer
at this point 70 an amount greater than that
paid for the transfer Of freight.
Comparative statistics Of the transfer bust
ness at this point and Clinton are ia my pos
session, and can be referred to or examined
by you If you see proper.
If The Illinois Central Railroad would con-
sent to receive and deliver their iowa freights
on tGis side of the river, should recommend
the establishment Of ferry for the transfer
Of cars. believe that such ferry can be
established that will make trips of less than
one third the length Of the trips heretofore
made by the Dubuque Ferry.
Respectfully submitted
.. PLATT SMITH, rrest.
The difficult part Of the committees work
was in The suggestion Of remedy. The
iilnoiS Central Railroad Compsny had bcca
addressed on the subject and the inquiry
made as to whether that Company "would
be willing to enter into a contract with
nno,h r responsible company who would
perform the transfer business more promptly
and at much less prices" but no reply had
baen received. The committee could not be-
hove that that great corporation was iadiffer.
ent 10 the great interests involved, and rec
enmcnd a committee Of shippers to wait on
Las Officers Of that road, and urgc co opera,