The New York herald., 1867-02-07
OUR FERRIES.

the City Hall. observation-disclosures Made
60 the Commirtec-visit 20 the Ferries Of the
Union Company, &c.
The Committee on Commerce and Navigation, who
have recently made visit from Albany this city for
the purpose Of investigating thoroughly the alleged ir.
reguarities and inscienoy Of the ferry system hold
their hrst meeting yesterday morning at the City hail.
Brooklyn.
Several gentlemen appeared before the committee and
made statements in reference the existing arrange
mens for the ferEago Of passengers between Brooklyn
and New York.
The following members Of the committee were
present:-Mr. John Oakley, Chairman; Mr. g. h
wendover. MI. Thomas A Briggs and Mr. D. W. Travis
The resolutions empowering the committee to make the
investigation read as follows
Whereas the citizens OF New York and BROOKLYN
who daily passing over the ferries plying between
their respective cities, are at the present time suffering
great upon OF the inadequate ac-
commodaton furnished by the different ferry companies
Resolved That the Committee on Commerce and Navi-
CATION be authorized and directed to Immediately
gate the present system OF ferriaee on the East and
North rivers at the city Of New York. that they re-
port at early day to this House bill compelling the
ferry companies to afford better security and protection
Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce and Nav-
cation also be and they hereby authorized
as they may think proper to investigate the matters re.
ferred TO them in relation to the ferries of New York
and Brooklyn
| aCCOruanCo tneS0 roSOutlOnS C0mmtte0
published notice in the various newspapers OF New
York and Brooklyn, acquaintng the public with the
time and place Of their meetings and extending an in
vitaon TO citizens 10 appear before the committee aud
mako any statement Of facts suggest any possible
Improvements that might be effected reference the
present ferry systom.
At o'clock the committee organized and requested
ward After some little delay Alderman Fisher stepped
up and briefly welcomed the committee TO Brooklyn In
aludng tho ferries he spoke as ferries
system They lead TO New York; they the channel
V D.s S
should feehe people OF Brooklyn should particularly
feol-that whatever affects that channel affects them
vi ally II cannot be denied hat the citizens Of Brook
lyn have suffered tremendous inconveniences during
the past winter from tho dfculties Of crossing the
Of sns swS Ss ss e.
accommodation and c0nvenencss which might be
% y 70 sS
pose that an inspectonof the boats and Of tho
sncs, ,ns: A.. there prosia'd would perhaps .Ord
inoonveniencos to certain extent will leave their bus-
ne and come to that which perhaps they think It the
i has occurred to mo that In the ss place those bcats
DO not have proper ccnvenienccs or saving life In
hey .ss ssssa.y poySsS SsS1 wiz
boats 10 very common remark, IL cvesybody's
these boats end The Seas sSoad s. sanf srs loss q
would b indicted upon the ntsrsss Of Brooklyn nom
one such accident than We can easily calculate.
e the sso,Ism.s .s.. sIs Interested i
nothng-shsa those boats snkthat they are 90
built and have much wood about them they cannot
YOU'D sSs : sossssl e sssa: sssS
that question There 10 another suggestion that
q u;
upon the boa. whether y L s.fe o. nossafs either
or sass
gates could be arranged That s another practical quss
ion that the committee able 70 judge Of from aa
adaptability Of dinsrens Appliances, thsi might b
thought Of, any ess. Il Is nos any answer n
sss please ss R. ns. sa ns :.... .::
because We are 70 take mon - We nnd them
ss o q :
snUs syn S.s b devised q any Law
Vented Why single liz Z certainly s worth shs pss!ass 3 pre-
Of any law In other words convenience and trouble
think II the saving Of human nfs would result from
the passage OF some law subject The law s Ger
subject which has been much spoken Of this winter and
that Is the non adaptabiy Of the boats-the OF
times Sc psss. has Sssn sny asss spssSs
Is confidently asserted by those who should know thai
properly would rsss ss for A:
open, and would AFFORD convenient and regular
g see oS % hoSs
vessels also BY little activity Why should not the
East river In cold snap be capable Of being crossed
way through the leo in the Polar regiona think the
much stronger with usthat should be able 70
control the navigation Of the East river lying between
two cities like New York and Brooklyn and should
hope that your Investigation might lead legsia
some s proper osSos something q clear hs river and
keep u clear dursg these seasons Isupposs this 10
subject within legislative power. suppose g within
lice regulations respect the management Of feres
which are not merely and entirely private affair They
the public !. large s interested they enjoy certain
privileges that are in the nature q monopoly. and
they they % sss Wiling, % 70 provide &. % proper CON. con.
veniencca I would invite the special attention
the Eastern District running from South seventh street
70 Roosevelt street. and Grand street and Houston fer
res The boats Running on the Wall street and Fulton
boats they comfortable convenient boats although
they may be deficient in some !hinss that might Be-
that kind But the boats themselves comparatively
would meet instead Of = this CITY Hail. somewhere in
the neghbcrhood Of the foot Of South Seventh street
snss ~ sssnss ,Ss ~
agsmenf Of these srriea The complaint there II uni
versai = % the condition Of the oos The mode q run
much greater szsent han in regard 70 the fs.es
ss Ss Rsa sso 'n' IL rsn q I PPsSss Sss
would repay them 70 that psr Of the ferry manage
ment more especially. rather than that In this part Of
Mr. 0AKxY on behalf Of the committee briefly thanked
the city for the cordial welcome extended them The
committee determined 70 mako searching invee-
tgaton into the alleged grievances q passengers using
the ferries between New York and Brooklyn and II
possible, provide remedy. The charters granted BY
shs Legislature 70 the fsny companies carried With
them heavy responsibilities and he trusted the men who
had control OF those corporations would sndeavor 70 for
ward the present investigation
n. CnAHixs KxrsxY next addressed the committee
He said he felt deep interest In the management Of
the ferries was matter Of vital importance 10 the
cftISens or Brooklyn and New York He had been In
Brooklyn eighty three years. and Of the getters
up OF the South ferry and after running for some years
united with the Union Ferry Company and subsequently
the Hamilton avenue ferry was opened Those three
forres were q cent eriage successfully There
was no instance Of delay In the fifteen years during which
hs WAS connected with this company, They ran the
the three ferries upon capital OF less than 5000 OOO
paying per cent 10 the sockhoide laying By