The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-02-13
OUR FE r RE S +.


Meetins Or the Ferry Investigating Commit
tee &C Washiasten Hall. WILLIAMSBURG -The
WILLIAMSBURG and GreenDoint Ferries-Ths
Evidence, &c.
The Committee on Commerce and Navigation held
their nna session yesterday at Washington Hail. vii
liamsburg.
Mr. wan one Of the directors Of tho Williamsburg
ferry continued the defence OF the company which he
opened yesterday against the charges brought against
them He began by making statement OF the financial
condition OF the company In order TO rebut the ntima
ton made by several the that the ferry was
extremely remunerave and that the company could
afford furnish better accommodations 70 the public
Mr. Oakley suggested that IL would greatly facilitate
the progress OF the investigators II some gentleman
would conduct the behalf OF the people and 20
conne the evidence TO the facts which constitute Tho
especial grounds Of complaint Judge Thomson, after
little discussion, agreed to undertake this position
Judge Thomson then requested the lease Of the d.
vision Avenue ferry, which the witness promised the
day previously to produce.
Mr. Wall said that the lease in New York, in the
possession Of Mr. Laton he would pledge himself to
hand TO the committee; the boats ought to leave the
South Seventh slip every i've minutes; the men
employed by the company might sometimes be neglect
full; pilots who found guilty Of careessness were
dismissed witness had stated the ferry not
well fifteen years ago. the company then having
town; property not deprecated In Williamsburg a.
had been stated witness knew OF case in which
house which had been bought In 1850 Ter $4,000 would
now bring $4,000; there were generally three
boats to Roosevelt street, though sometimes when
boat got out Of repair there only two the value OF
the property held by the company boats ferry houses,
slips and real estate was according to an inventory made
Judge Thomson-was tina. made by yourself or some
one else
Mr. VAULT estimate made by men standing as
high your honor
Judge Thompson--Don't get angry about n9
Mr.. Wall-Yes, sir, will If any such insinuatons
Mr. Oakley the chairman said he did not think II in
the province Of the committee to take such evidence;
all that the committee had power to do was 10 invests
gate the abuses OF the ferry.
Judge Thomson said the witness had excused the
pany for Of accommodations the plea that
the ferry did pay, and he thought therefore tho
evidence relevant
Mr. Oakley explained that the committee were OF
opinion that the ferries ought to be we'll and
properly whether It paid the company or not
great deal Of discussion here ensued octween Judge
pany which side had wasted most time, Guiding in
threat the part Of the former that II the examine
conducted different manner, he would
Mr. Oakley said that the evidence to be taken by
question and answer simply, and that there must De
Mr. wall continued-Upon the Division Avenue line
boat night and two boats In the day. witness had
many complaints from his Charles who was
q cordage manufacturer, on Long Island, about the
ferries; but be was natural grumber, and he would
complain about ANYTHING; the stock Of the ferry com.
mOntnS
know that any had been sold ut $50.
Mr. Oakey-How do you account for II, Mr. Wall, that
stock which does not give good per centage sells above
Mr. Wall did not know how It was. but such thinas
happened; there was no regular price for the stock:
would not sell his stock Mt hundred and ten, but
would at hundred and fty life preservers had neen
on the in boxes for about and half; they
the idaho thew were TO the lower deck 20 q 70
be more convenient In Of accident
THE GREENroTxr FERRY.
Henry Bellows being sworn-Residod at Greenpolnt;
Greenpoint growing place fact entirely ignored
or forgotten by Greenpont Ferry Company the res
dents Greenpont thought there certain things 10
quste good ferry; the boats should not only be con-
speedy and cheap; there attempt venats The
boats OF the 0reenpoint ferry some days Il was i'm
aurns the wRoe passage rom crosnpu.
New York; the boats should be moro reguar II was
matter Of luck as to the time when the boats would run
the boats he believed not safe Ia OF Are or
collision; the fares charged by the Greenpoint Ferry
Company larger than those charged BY any other
ferry company the East North rivers the rates had
been gradually Increased as Greenpont grew larger
more people, more fare" seemed to be the principle Of
that they could as they pleased and disregard the
law they CHOSE, TO refuse JUSTICE and At tho same
time, laugh In the face Of the aggricved people.
William R Gibson being sworn-Was pilot In the
employ OF the South Seventh ferry had been in
pilot: did not think license was necessary; his only
qualification for the post was that he accustomed %
ns ana AZ s
now carried about fifteen. sixteen eighteeo
make forty trips Mf.o eo.n Soa
and then they run hour ps unless obstruced or him
~ s o. we the ms
possibe nearly all the pilots experienced and
had been In The employ o. the company good many
Of the company we're as good any on tho rver the
ferry master started the boat At any time ne chose
during the night but the pilots had the control during
the day when there fog leo the pilots started
boats night and day; witness in running boat had
never consulted tho safety OF the boat than the
convenience Of the passengers; had frequently shut
let the boat drift down the stream no
did that there another boat in the slip, and
there in running quicker he tboeght the boats
had plenty steam; bad received Instructions
save steam could not make the trip in hall the limo
with the steam now used upon the boats did not know
thai boat had taken Twenty-Five minutes 10 run across
that morning ora no, Know .na .Se ss q NY
engineers the slips had not been in very good order but
he did not think that was grsat cause Of detention;
had pilots being discharged in consequence or
having had their boats injured; larger boats mixht b
run but they could not be very well handled; they
Oliver A. Gibson sworn-was engineer In chief Of the
| Brooklyn Ferry Company the company had thirteen
chinery and boats In good repair NIL the machinery
| In good repair all the boats; had never known Q
could be thrust through IL; the safety valves Of the
b)ats weighted to carry twenty Ave pounds Of
Se Of aid no Snk The SS
could be quicker they had more steam: the boats
now ran regularly the cabins , were heated y
thus kept warm enough 10 be comfortable; witness
examined every engine on all the boats every day. the
boilers the Minnesota and Nebraska the odost;
the boats not laid up for the purpose Of having
their boilers repaired frequently than on any other
ferry; had been la the employ Of any other con-
pany; all the coal that the boat required without limit
was given TO the engneers the instructions from me
company were 10 run the fast possble the
boilers tested by the United States inspectors 70
carry certain amount OF steam; somesengines would
work better with fifteen than with wenty-0v pounds
OF steam. owing TO the incapacy Of the condenser
thought sdewhec boats the fastest the boats could run
every Eve minutes with the samc amount OF steam as
used; did think the engine OF the Superior too
small for the or the boat witness had been 10 the
employ OF the company for eight years "
j. ~ Madden being sworn-For three or four years
had resided In williamsburg the South seventh street
boats required fifteen minutes more time 10 AZ ebb
than at food tide witness had been thirtynve minutes
crossing the fcrry . flood tide tho boats ought TO
cross in three minutes instead Of which they generally
took ten or twelve minutes
r. H. Hnntley being swCrr--For seventeen years had
crossed the ferry the average time with iar tide WINS
eight minutes, aud sanst the TIDE twelve minutes