New-York tribune., 1868-01-04
PERIIoUs NAVIGATION on THE NORTH AND
EAST RIVERS

The Thaw is full upon us, with all the dis
agreeable concoIntants OF sush and slime and mud and
ire making "aquatics the for city sports just
now, rather than "pcdeetrianlsm" No orc thinks OF
walking everybody swims wades founders, and prao
tces the hopspandjump when is necessary TO cross
the street The streets resemble extensive sewers and
the houses their walls, through which pass sometimes
torrcntlke and agan suFgshy the thy refuse OF the
the rivers in the form of fog, which was deltcr ana
darker than Egyptian night, closing every ordinary
land mark OF view, and almost coerchR the ferries
into suspension Inc lncohNcnlIncSs cO'scqu.I. uPo'
the irregular running OF the ferry boats to people en-
ssTETI stgober side 81 Jordan" are very great and
are only tolerated because what can't be cured
brought to terms but corporation, even II per,
slsting in evil doing, Is not to be reached
seen not felt by the public man. No hope, therefore,
Of a change IN the management OF ferries exists IEe
franchises Of tue East RIVER from the Battery TO Gather
ncsp, is undoubtedly the best managed ana The rec-
tors cOHdescend to furnish forth moro ample nc
cOnmOdODs for their patrons than any 0thcr company
on the river nevertheless, they either de- not VIII not or
and do not appreciate tho constant aud RAPID expansion
city and astonishing increase Of population large
Eerrv. fnr boas are run TO be sure the boats
now larger better furnished, and have some OF tho
modern improvement, such as steam gas, ana mirrors;
but they not equal TO the demand OF mo
millions Of human beings ferried the river annually
Larger and Of the IL the cry In tne weather;
what have been the deep anahemas OF the crowds
Yesterday morning the boats pressed down deep in
the water grOped their way snaiike TO the opposite
shore, the only things visible being the i0g ana the Jam
only thing heard the occasional beating OF the paddle
wheel the screeehng Of the seamwhiSte and the con
slant ringing OF the fog bells; and the only tnhg cone
hended was tedious oppressive delay Quartcrhour
trips haifhour trlps and three-qu0rter trips the
rule and for these there was no remedy nnt me morning
was well advanced and the fog lifted. long line OF
vehicles extended mp FultOnst Brooklyn, 10 Prospect
st. aud and drivers INDUCED in expressions not
taught in the sunday shoos In the evening similar
eUee that two long lines Of trucks carts cabs and coaches
stretched up and down southst on both sides OF tho
Tnon any ms is Sa out Of tie line Of and
appears to be operated chiefly for the aceommoda-
here are on quarter hour time, which was extended
10 time required the river ard return-a Glow
Atiantc-rt Brooklyn made good time, considering the
width Of the river at that point; but there were many
slips The HamitOn-ave feTy-bOats, connecting the
sOuthery part Of Brooklyn with New,iork at the
ernOr's island and succeeded. long time interyened
the departure Of tho boats aud AS consequence
That thrOnged the ferry and pressed upon them 10
reach this city Up the river at Wiansburgh the pres
10 reach downtown by the withdrawal OF the boats run
ming 10 Janessp This act caused rush for the Grand
and uOustOn-sts ferries, and two extra boats were
pressed the service to assist IN accommodating the
masses. The accommodation was imperfect OF course,
the boats remained long IN the slip The crowd and
crush dense and fearful at tunes tbat numbers
dared not 20 on board the BOATS qua m tc ae,
North River fog dense that during the early
morning hours, and the boats padded along slowly the
managers did their best to keep the boats up TO ordinary
but could not make the railroad time each trip AT
the Barclyst ferry HObOken the steamboats, Pater-
and hOrrisOwn narrowly escaped collision. AS the
MorristOwn leaving her Slip the Paterson suddenly
appeared. prompt backing Of the boats prevented
serious accident The PaYOnia ferry ran cautiously and
irregulary. boat seldom left the slip and when one
did go out, IL was not ineOnvenIently crowded The
Chrisophers ferry did as well at could be expected
under the circumstance Only those crossed by the
long route 30 Hoboken whose business required nmedi
ate attention. by what rule the Staten Island boats were
run IL would be dcRlt 10 determine possibly the Rule
OF Three All that 10 known OF them Is, that they
sowvery slow. But then, these boats have long run,
and perhaps IL vas well TO exercise caution. The Sound
steamers did not approach Hell Gate until the fog had
lifted IN the forenoon The Empire city, due Mt =.
reached her wharf in the afternoon The Norwich line
did better, and got In short time after the ad
yertsed hour In the afternoon the freight boats the
Bristol line arrived The outside line boats crCpt up
the bay in the afternoon As the steamtug Cater was
going down the Jersey shore she ran into lighter
ch0red on Hoboken damaging 1T so seriously that the
lighter sunk in few minutes Two hands board were
rescued The ice up the river is fast breaking pieces
aud large masses OF IL sweep past our piers.