The New York herald., 1867-02-08
OUR FERRIES.

meeting yesterday morning AZ the City Hall, Brooklyn
for the purpose Of receiving any evidence that nigh,
offered in reference the alleged grievances Of ferry
passengers. together with any suggestions for remedy
ing the evils complained Of
Mr.. D. n. STONE who stated that he had been con-
stant passenger for eighteen years. said that Il appeared
- him that the dificulty 50 much msmausee-
mont a want OF management The managing director
OF the Union Company estimabis gentleman but
younger ana % more active man would perhaps better
OF meeting tnem little competition or legislative
supervision ~, might do great deal Of good As
push business forward or to increase their re-.
cept since their charter limited their dvidends Il had
oesS ramosed taas they employed their friends to make
repair and paid them pretty literally 20 Is TO get nd Of
ene surplus money They city OF New York was acting
aoominaby in the matter Of The ferries and the COM
troll over the river and the exaon Of SO0 900 Dor an
mum from the people Of Brooklyn for the privilege Of
ccsons ccs vas % gross imposition The Legislature had
ee the validity OF the act but the ferry company had
obtained possession Of both sides Of the suit and had
NJ hsassrosr, director Of shs company in rsply 10
M Stone, stated that Mr. Smith, the managing director
mac n.r s some 20 Of them ysung and active
holders 10 Brooklyn, and interested In making the
feriase between New York and Brooklyn as convenient
as possible SO ~ to attract people 70 that side Of the
river Everything that the company made above the
ten per cent allowed by law expended In improve
n10ns6 fIeTTepOut spoke ~ Io0Gtn defending the
company fom the charges msde against them but the
ac have been already stated by previous witnesses be-
toro the committee.
Mr. PATTON said that some reform was absolutely
necessary In the management Of the ferries The
me rom accidents every year must be terrible while all
barrier or gate which might be closed before the boat
started and 30 prevent people from attempting Jump
after i had started The practice of smoking any
paI Of the boats should be abolished Gentlemen who
did not smoke driven the ladies' cabin and there
occupied seats, while the fairer sex were frequently
compelled to stand. Instead OF the old commutation
tickets the company sold packages Of ferry tickets
most OF them greasy and filthy, aud infected probably
win disease. Something ought certainly be done to
remedy the existing discomfort and danger to which pas.
sengers were subjected
Mr.. MADDEN said be presumed the evidence in regard
70 the abuses Of the ferry companies and the lack of
accommodation was unanimous The only Question
was how could this state of things remediedp The
shree requirements to be regarded in the working of
Iefry company were speed safety and comfort Having
had some years OF experience boatman and also as
seaman, ne was enabled to judge somewhat particu-
regard to safety he believed that was impossible to
avoid collisions, though the number Of such accidents
ns pc oeas oO1 p employing class Of
board Of examination. II notorious fact known
20 every one acquainted at all with boating the river
that $50 TO 500 month would not hire good pilot
aud yet that was the pay Of the employed by the
ferry companies to steer their boats between the two
shores At one time there a combination among
the pss for the purpose of ensurne each member the
Same amount OF wages The ferry companies In order
- break up that combination took green hands, men who
mad scarcely ever water put them into the pilot
house, and called them pilots During the time OF the
Ice gorge the pilots OF the East river erryboats would
sometimes 60 two thirds Of the way up 10 He'll Gate be-
tore they got out Of the ce to be able reach
opposite side. These so called pilots had never had the
requisite schooling to qualify them for their calling To
ensure safety. the companies should also b required 70
build their boats Of ron to preclude the possibility
Of are Al least the engine and boiler rooms and the
cabins either side Of the carriagcway should be con-
sueted Of iron. The boat should be lighted exclusively
with gas and oil and tacw used little possible and
~.
'Hachinery, &c The oil ropm should also be eproof
Tho boats should also be built with waterght conpart-
and II adopted they would life prsssrvsn slmos
!%S 1. sysbS:rS Scs E, ;,dns In ,ss sss soshs
means Of securing voIld undoubtedly be 70
run moro boats and rph them oftener and with a
Peck alp especially remiss in the matter Of speed
Inos: boats wi the tide in their favor made the pas
nss @ .SSS3 nine minutes but with the s!ds against
ninss % 60. across The passsnsss h.S in sEs i.sg
tnssaos to pray for change Of tide in order to reach
A:ss :ss YOU'D = a. !. ss ZIP: aSs
coutsr Of the passengera No would mind standing
up fsr Ave O. ten minutes He would BE- strongly in
oonn.iss 2 employ men = pllcS Who competent,
as :bou ' had 70 them e. es 4
thsl ne company did their duty.
NJ AIsssfsoG next appeared before the committee.
70 Nh By ne ohairman He said be had been pilot Tor
1ssn ysazs IN the employ fthe Union Ferry Company
=: II w'; s.so mot ssn hand: = bad S:'p .;.
Every man before hs became pilot vas required
70 psaeice with the regular pilot until pronounced
whs wsFe PRACTISING now Some men wsrs in course Of
training for two years before they wss used - pilots
: Sss S .% s re.. e: s On e. e s
and al.s:a ys..s xoss q sS.s S:s o.is.ssiv BEEN
ssass q tss Eass rvsr In shs recent difnouy With
the Ice, he had received instructions 70 h boat
aeS . possible s~ s 's s s
men on each boat, two deckhands, the engineer nre
man aad pilot the latter being considered captain None
running Q. The Fulton ferry were ls.s than Ave yean
old though many Of them had second clas machinery.
ass e a Il.
drew SIX or seven feet He did NOT believe possible %
gss through the Ice when & the river w.s S bockaded
or the other. the most experienced piIot IN the
sSs: ss sS tho ISS would b 90.
THAI be doubted the power Of the engine 70 drive Is over
He thought that about one accident per week occued
che dock 70 the boat falling overheard but there
nos than fatal case in year. The pilots got
from sixty Ave hundred and ten dollars PEI month
There were four running Fulton ferry. He did
NOT think that It would be good plan 70 carry passeu.
gers in one boat and vehicles IN another for already
three four blocks waiting TO be fsrred and such
plan would compel them TO walt longer. The moro
powerful the engine the easier might the boat be
aged There might, without doubt Be more powerful
engines employed In the boats than at present
Mr. Juxc said he had discovered that the Union Ferry
Company owned twenty-four twenty.Rv houses In
Brooklyn He did not for what purpose the company
wished 10 hold real estate Perhaps n the rents ct which
chose houses were leased were known, the question
might Be solved Possibly, too, some Of these houses
occasionally sold At extremely low prices He
director present. who could enlishten the committee
upon this point
Mr. PsRnxroSr, the gentleman referred TO, aid that
4he company had found Il necessary 70 buy prop
crynear the ferry for tho purposes Of their busins
Thsowners Of that property would not sell tho parcu-
lar tece Of land the company needed, and they had
beei forced 70 buy than they really wanted That
was tue whole explanation Of the matter.
rr CHARLn JoSE said he had been In the habit Of
crossing tho ferries Of the Union Company for series
OF years and he wished TO say that The good manage
ment Of The company, through IL pilots and other
ON srs had been quite remarkable He had crossed at
night and fogs, and he bad never known heard Of
any accidert during all that hme owing 70 the
leasnem Of the company's employea There were, Of
ourse deys In consequences Of the Toe, which science
might psrhips in way prevent and do away With
The genera Impression among the people cr Brooklyn
was that tn management Of the Union Company had