New-York tribune., 1867-02-07
FERRY INTESTTGATION.

MEETING At BROOKLYN or TIE LEGISLATIVE COM
MrrTEE on COMMERCE. AND NAVIGATION.
Yesterday Mt 10 o'clock, tho Committee on Com
neree and Navigation. especially directed by the State
Assembly TO inquire into the system OF ferIage on the
East and North Rivers. met In the Common Council
Chamber OF the Brooklyn City Hall and there organized
preparatory 10 commencing The inIesugation Inc mem
bers OF the Committee present at tho session were John
ba County, aud Thomas a Briggs Of Greeps A0YpISS
esq present during the scssIon The Chairman Mr.
Oakley opened tho proceedings by reading tho following
comnities had assembled: '''' FN''N' '''
T1r'aThs Brooklyn daily p,slag
Tie ferries pns between their reee cities Il hr present
suerrrs upon inadequate
Rsored Navigation be author
M sui directed 10 Immediately Investigate the present esg
o. The las, AID North Rivers Z, The C Of Eeso n that bey
port an early DAY 10 this house bl compelling the r companies to
And the following resolution passed February p 1867:
hsy hisSj sS authorized 70 send G person. papers
% Ss place S S S h$ :. ia s' .n y a n P & % S and i
The Chairman then remarked that IN pursuance of these
resolutions the Committee had assembled having pre-
vouay given notice through tho OF their intention
II was the design OF the Committee to make thorough
and gid investigation into the grievances OF the citizens
Of New York and Brooklyn, aud take such means as
would induce the Legislature now In session 70 remedy
them. Tho President Of the Board OF Common Council
men. Dir. Charles Fisher addressed the Chairman and
whatever hospitality and aid he could render in their
eeodings Respecting the Ferries between Brooklyn and
several facts In connection with the Inconvenience and
danger OF the travel In many instances the danger 10
life from the reckcssness Of the passcngcfs but
this wise usfes carcessness the part Of the
Ferry Companies Even II man be drowned by his own
folly In eapng from the boat before fastened In the
Slip Il Ia vndcatlon OF the breach OF duty the part
Of the Ferry officials 20 give proper security TO life.
Again. whom tho ice floating In the river all
communication between the two cities
times entirely suspended and the boats frequently found
themselves unequal TO the task OF forcing passage
through the fOes IL had often been urged that lee
boat would be inestmably valuable auxiliary 10 each
OF the es yet no such thing has been provided by any
OF the lines. He also particularly called the attention OF
the committee 10 tho two lines between Grandst. and
Houstonst ia the Eastern District lie considered that
their management inferior 10 that OF the Union
Ferry Company. Mr.. oakley In responding, thanked Mr.
Fisher for hs proposed hospitality and said that he hoped
tho citizens most nearly concerned. Mr.. Silliman,O
behalf of the Managers OF the Union Ferry Company ten
dered the members OF the committee any aid or nfOrmn-
tiOn In tho pursuanceJOf their investigation that would
facilitate their proceedings and also offered TO lay before
them any statistics aud facts Of interest In his
possesson Mr. Charles Kelsey OF South Brooklyn said
that for the past thirty he had bcena resident OF
Brooklyn, and for many years he was manager OF the
first Union Of Ferry Companies The Union consisted OF
the South Wast and Fulton Ferries These ferries for
time successfully ut the rate OF cent faro for
foot passengers and eight cents for vehicles. The boats
then remained IN the slips for than five min
ues at time, and beside they efficiently managed
by competent During the Winter OF 637 the Ice
abundant than II has been since and even then
delay rarely OccasOned, and never for than
two hours were the boats actually stopped.
The Committee will meet this morning, Mt 10 o'clock.
In the Council Chamber, Brooklyn, and VIII proceed at
10 business and the investigation prior to
nected With the ferry companies Will be examined before
tho Committee,