The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-01-19
Our Ferrie. and Their Shortcomings.

Complaints about the management Of the
Brooklyn ferries are becoming every day more
numerous. The companies seem to forget that
they are the servants and not the masters of
the people, that they receive their franchises
by the consent of the voters through their re-
representatives. and are employed and paid by
the people for the conveniences and comforts
of travel. As the ferries are managed there
is Very little of either convenience or comfort
about them. The boats are run at intervals to
suit the ferrymasters and deck hands, and are
often detained after nightfall an uncomfortable
time without any necessity but the whim Of the
employees. Courtesy and good conduct on the
part Of these people arc the exception and not
the rule. They are generally abusive in their
manner and not unfrequently positively
offensive in their language. Some Of the
employees Of the Fulton Ferry Company on the
Fulton street line are remarkable for their
brutality, even to ladies. II citizen attempts
to resent any affront he is likely to be set upon
by whole gang Of attaches and seriously ILL
treated. There il no protection to be expected
from the attendant policeman who keeps guard
at the ferry houses; for he appears to be in the
interest Of the company and is naturally on
the side Of Its employees Thus both ladies and
gentlemen are constantly exposed to rudeness
and insult for the least inadvertent violation
OF the "rules" of the company, which very few
know anything at all about There are also
constant complaints against the company for
permitting two opposing crowds to meet when
l. hvsI NJ ~
side. One crowd is anxious to get OF the boat
and the other is equally anxious to get on, and
in their determination to pass each other there
is always more or less danger of some one
slipping between the boat and the bridge.
II the directors Of the company would display
less obstinacy this cause Of complaint and
attendant danger could be very easily re-
moved.
These are some of the grievances of which
the public have to complain. And in addition
there is the ilibcrality displayed in furnishing
light on board the boats and waiting rooms
What with the delays and tediousness of travel
ii is almost essential that passengers should be
enabled to read their newspapers; but this
little comfort is denied to them in consequence
of tho miserable gas light supplied through
the smallest possible burners. Then IL is very
properly complained Of that thirty or forty
thousand people who cross these ferries every
| day do so at the risk of their lives, dependent
only on the mercy of Providence for staving Off
accidents, for there is no provision at all made
by the companies for saving life in case OF
| collisions or fires or explosions. Not an
available lifeboat or life preserver nor even a
rope is on hand.
When we remember that q very large por-
ton of our metropolitan population are COM
PEELED by high rents to reside In Brooklyn and
cross the East river ut least twice day, IL be-
comes matter Of some Importance that these
accomplished OF deliquencies on the part Of
the ferry companies should be put an end to,
and we suggest to the directors thpt as the
Legislature has the right to abolish, restrict or
revise the franchises Of the ferry companies,
| il would be wise Of them to reform the system
altogether, and make some provision for the
comfort and safety of.the public.
| The Asfsr House Congregational Commistec On
Reveuue Frauds.