New-York tribune., 1867-02-08
THE FERRIES.
CHARGES As TO THB WANT oP MANAGEMENT : BxoR-
BTTANr FARES BAD PILOTS, AND POOR ACCoMsiODA'
TION-TRsTIMONY IN FAVOR OF REFORM.

their second session in the Common Council Chamber OF the
City Hall, Brooklyn. The whole Committee was present
llr David stono the senior editor Of The Journal Of Com
,ecc first addressed tho Committee For many years
he had been IN the habit OF regularly crossing on tho
Walst Ferry and he thought the grievance arose less
from InismGna cement than from want Of management
There has been want Of executive ability in the man
agcment Of the different ferries There is needed young
active man. who could, when accident happened to
interrupt travel proceed at the spot investigate
the cause and remedy the disaster During the recent ice
blockade for two hours nearly 2OCO people waited on
the NewYOrk side watching Of the Walst boatsthe
Rosyn-moving UP and down, In open water, to find
opening IN the fee to The other boat Of the line
was during the whole OF this time waiting at the Slip In
through tho fee to NcwYork took the EOslyns passen
gers who had just been landed that boat being unable to
eross aud proceeded To B.ookyn WIN teIrpy over
crowded deck IL observed that the Rosyn had long
been looked upon rs an,unsaie boat Mr stone saio II
was oyidont that the Ierry companies should DC nade 20
feel by legislative action that great responsibility rests
with them AS the matter stands they have no mo
tive TO urge them 10 secure either executive aD Tor the
cement Of the boats comfort for their passengers
Neither the boats the service rendered as good now
as it was six years ago f the Walst ana Fulton Fer
res I'm competition better boats would be used the
trips would be regular and better accommodations
TO control over the Union Ferry Company IL can only
be considered as gross imposition the citizens OF
brooklyn that should cost them 100000 per for
such inferior transport rs tlgt gwen them. -,
Mr. PieUopOut stOckholder ana director OF the Union
Ferry Company to make an explanation TO tue COl-
mttee OF OF the illusions In Mr. stones remarks
General superintendent VI these Mr. Cyrus Smith, an
active and energetic man, had been engaged and under
him were assistants also young men well adapted Tor
their positions The Chief Engineer another eompetens
person, has been IN the employ OF the Company SINCE
fitted for the ythey perform In the commencement
OF tho Rebellion the Government bought seven OF these
no time was lost IN supplying their places as far as was
possible, by Others. Luckily during the sue
So SSes cs in winters tbs river a and thus the Inconvenience
necessarily arising was IN part avoided Ihe S formation
the only evll with which the Union Ferry Company has
10 contend As TO the surplus funds Of the Company, Il
Of 10 per cent was to be divided between the Brooklyn
Hospital and the Brooklyn Observatory The Company
lated am outstanding debt Of 100000 The Fulton Ferry
Is the supporter of the other ferries OF the Company
the last year the exPendtre II s management was in
excess OF its income $4,000. Whenever 1t pleases
lions Of improvements, the matter Is always LAID
before the directors at their weekly meeting and should
During ice blocides similar to that which seriously
mpeded navigation few weeks since 1t impossible for
through the heavy OF odden and ice blocks
Some years snce when travel between Brooklyn and New
Company chartered the boat Vim. H. Webb, the most
powerful ting in the harbor and offered her Captain 500
dn Of great labor and risk the passage was forced but
the boat was Injured AID shaken by the exeron and be-
Sides the passage closed Immediately and the expenditure
The Chairman to Mr. Pierrcpont-I understood Mr.
attempted to make the passage and failed after two
hours trial, and that Immediately thereafter the ReRu
lie came frCm her slip and forced her way through Row
Mr. PieTTepon~I should be unable to assign any reason
two hours trial the RoSlyn put back IL was doubtless
owing to some accident Her place would ~ thas a. case ee
we're 70 make trips with much regard TO the passengers
% % os M sTe oi also 90 n that the bSSs ased
by tho COpay were as large as the pilots assert can be
safely used IN 50 nhfoy channel and In such strong
eddics IS found IN the East River
Br A. johnson, resident OF Brooklyn, said that he
wished 90 make a few remarks before the Committee and
Mr. Picrrcpont. lie wished TO know why II the Union
Ferry Company could make an enormous outlay In pur-
chasing real estate In Brooklyn, they could not expend
H. why net sell their stock and allow Others Try their
sil In the nagement OK tho different nes He would
also ask OF SIR Perropont information concerning the
propcr v purchased,by them in HamLton-aye.
MIR FcIlepOn IN explanation said that the real estate
po f ectin thereon repairshops where their business
could be done far cheaper rate than at private yards
but the situation proving unsuitable for the intended
pgrross Il was afterSaTd Sold the Company merely re-
serving small portion FOR coayard and property at
the foot Of Atlancst leased where the shops were
Mr. Briggs, a member OF the Committee, asked Mr..
johnson which ho considered would result in the greater
accommodation 20 the citizens Of Brooklyn, an increased
nunbnr OF trips or n reduction OF farei Mr. Johnson
considered the reduction OF fare the desirable
form He also said that the Company, Ia Issuing con-
toc had given them oct a rate OF more than 100 per
cent over what private individual could have secured
them a Thus he claimed that the IRON ierryhouse at
the foot Of Fulto-s, NewlOrk, could have been con
taced for or SOo0oo If the Company had been as care
fil of expense private person would have been.
Tho Chsirman, Mr.. Oakley said that the charges made
by Mr. johnson were OF very serious nature, ana
lir. Edwin Ferris Of No ls2 Washingtonst made
a statement which speaks for itself with regard TO
the alleged monopoy OF the Union Ferry Com
pany His statement Is as follows: "On tho
Jersey City Ferry for cart loaded usloaded. to cross
and return q cents is charged. For truck crossing
loaded 81 cents returning light IS cents the round trip
& ior tnG M S bo,t 1 e than m bat be distance tbe
charges run thus: For cart TO cross and return, with
tickets cents without tickets, "a cents For truck,
with tickets light 30 cents loaded 40 cents and for the
truck To do the same journey In the same condition
without ckcts IA cents extra, ~ cents is Charged 50
truck crossing forth and back the Jersey CITY Ferry
pays y cents less than is charged by the Union Ferry for
Mr. Joseph H. Patten Of Brooklyn next addressed the
Committee. He said that there Were two things TO be
and secondly. the duties Of tho Ferry Companies II the
residents Of Brooklyn had the right To leave or return 10
n but corporation allowed by law TO transport 20
and from their homes that corporation should be also
She people and grant them their rights Even n0w after
O'Clock a night IL is impossible 10 cross at the Walst
Ferry, The crossing of the ferry In the day time bad
enough As far as accommodation concerned the com
pany has little O bOast Of On the boats there arc two
cabins 1t Is nearly impossible for decent man
to walt In the former Tor on every side no Ia
right TO breathe Gods pure air is denied one Mr. Patton
also referred to the competency OF tho crews OF the
concluded by offering suggestion that it would
be advisable TO have appointed by the Government in
could be made when neglect shown. and who could
secure at once safety and comfort
Mr. j. r. Madden NewYOrk pilot Of thirty years
peroce practical hints and suggestions with
regard 10 the building OF boats. He Thought that they
should be constructed at least In part OF ron and built
with watertight compartments so that In OF col
lson they could not sink Mr. Madden also stated that
during thu few days when the river covered with
floating lee he had watched the boats being across
and frequently he had seen men at the wheel who, by
their actions he considered quite incompetent for the pO
sOn OF pilot During the strike OF the feryboat p
lots, he knew that who had had but few months
experience deck hands, taken 10 the wheel
house and ntrsed with the helm He also thought that
power sheud he introduced into the boats and that
they should carry more steam.
Dr. H. Hic OF Brooklyn said that he coincided with the
remarks OF Mr. Madden To the boats being built of iron,
md fhnnrhI IlnY ahnnn he nnIrlpd lnfn nffncI