New-York tribune., 1868-03-23
TIE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE FERRY INyrsncA.


The legislative Committee which adjourned
On Wednesday last met again on Saturday, the Metro
potan Hotel aud resumed their investigation OF the
cement, or allege. the mismanagement OF
the different ferries. particularly those OF Brooklyn and
WiIamsburgh. Considerable testimony was taken, but
few facts were elected Several witnesses, pecuniary
dslnterested Informed the Committee that there were
many improvements needed; that OF the boats were
uucleany and unserceable and the employees unaccom-
modating inpOhte careless ana DegnEent directors
supernteDdeus and stockholders on the contrary, es
ned that the DoAts were lnOls oi anu aceol
DOdatOn that the DIVIDENDS OF e companies were very
small that boats made their trips regularly according
10 the time schedule ana tat u %ou1 Vc no o
nun the boats oftcner MI SorneHus NanoeIDiit' inc
first witness called SAID that he not interested IN
steam vessels Of any Eind Mr. Roland johnson Of
Orange, " j.. the next witness was NOT interested III
Rarosd lie knew very little about ferries excepting
those plying between New York and HObOken He spoke
made in the Barclay Christopherst ferries consist
ing Of new buildings slips, bridges, and floats the
should four boats the Barcayst Ferry instead Of
two as is now the case; the boats were supplied WIN
all the nfesayng apparatus required by law; there had
tTegIar running of the boats but II was unavoidable
In eenseauence OK the ice distractions did not know II the
boats would sink in case OF collision the h9ls were
LINED I Th nar n boxes 10 Of 5' the fee
Of Hoboken we're Germans, many Of whom
smoked in the ladies' cabin; improvements
had been mainly opposed by Mr. stevens. who il the
principal stockhOlder in the Hoboken Land and Improve
ment Company. Mr.. Joseph j. ODOnOhue testified that
he formerly resided in Williamsburgh but was now
New Yorker; he director and stOcRhOldef IN tHe
Brooklyn Ferry Company the boats were IN good con
itOD and OF sufficient capacity the dividend last year
was 10 cent there IL surplus; there were TWO su
perintendents, who authorized 10 employ ana as
charge the employees; had never heard OF any complaints
In reference TO the seats had only been director one
could not say what profit the company had made,
making this year. Mr.. G. g. Baxter Of The Eret
fDg Post regarded the Wamsburghferie as anusance;
he described the ferry houses and cabins being IN
hby condtOn the pilots did they pleased running the
boats at Irregular intervals during the night there was
scarcity OF ebOats and preservers the ferries had been
repeatedly complained OF through the press,
the traffic the ferry good. Mr. Richard
pOillOn, a director and stockhOlder OF the Brook
lyn Ferry Company, considered the boats good
condition the company contemplate improvements; II
Is proposed reft the ferry houses the York
side the kept clean the directors desire
comnodate the travelling public; Messrs. Chapel and
Cole superintendents own about worth Of
stock; the capital stock II u 100000 can't remember tie
dividends OF last year for -four years the dividends have
averaged eight aud 0neha per cent; one year de-
cared twelve per cent the assets last year greater
than before could not tell how much paid for
my stock; no land has been purchased since became
stockhOldeT the boats cannot sink below the guards
the Nebraska did not sink below the guards cannot
how much Of the stock owned In Kings county the in
teTest however 10 large. Mr. Thomas BulRnd, pilot
the Green Point ferry saw very little TO complain Of
The company did every thing they could for the comfort
81 the passengers; II the boats could be built with water
light compartments II would be great improvement;
a. the event OF fire boat In the midst OF the oe tie
paseDgers would nave to get the ice and trust 10 for
i"De The bridges were n good condition. and would sus