The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-01-26

Five of these boats are held in reserve. But for
them navigation during one or two days III the
present winter would have been partially sus-
pended, the wheels OF the boats in use having
been greatly damaged by coming in contact with
the heavy cakes OF ice that filled the river at times
from shore to shore.
1t is a fact, of which, however, but few are
aware that the Hamilton, South Wall and Catharine
street ferries are at loss of about $l00,000
year to the company, and were it not for the re-
ceipts at the Fulton ferry, which greatly exceed
the expenses, wonld have been suspended long
ago. The daily earnings of the Union Ferry Com
pany average in the summer about ~ 500, and in
the winter months about 81, 500.
The police regulations are fair, and the boats,
which carry upwards Of forty million passengers
annually from shore to shore, are kept in toerabe
condition. This much may be said in praise OF the
boats:- The cabins appropriated to the ladies are
not in the condition OF pigpens, and gentleman
may even enter the apartment appropriated to
the use of males aud stand or ait without being
covered with filth, although his clothes may in the
short. transit become thoroughly saturated with
tobacco smoke. There are employed, including
pilots, engineers, bridgmen, &C., three hundred
and fifty men, with salaries according to rank,
ranging from $40 to $3.50 per month.
The fare on these ferries il two cents per pas
senger Seventeen tickets, however, can be pur-
chased for twenty-five cents Vehicles are charged
from twelve cents upward. The company have
made and arc contemplating important improve
ments at their different landings. Tho large iron
| structures erected within the past two years at
the foot of Fulton and Whitehall streets, this city,
| are not only real ornaments to the localities
named, but give evidence of the liberality Of the
| stockholders.
The ferry company next in Importance On the
| East river IL the
BROOKLYN AND NEW YORK
This company has paid in capital Of 81 ,090 900.
II controls four ferrics-the Grand street. Division
avenue, South Seventh and Bridge streets.
ON TIE GRAND STREET FERRY
two boats are run, namely, the Oneida (built
in 1851, 2 % tons burthcn), and the Minnesota
boat is run every half hour from twelve until five
in the morning.
Nineteen men are employed in this capacity Of
ferrymasters, pilots, engineers, &c, on this line.
THE DIVISION AVENUE FERRY
has two boats, the Cayuga Quilt in 1850, and 292
tons burthen), and the Canada Constructed in
1861, and OF the same tonnage as the Cayuga).
These boats run until mignght, when they are
withdrawn. The same number OF hands are en-
ploycd on the Division avenue as on tho Grand
street boats.
Although the hulls and engines on these boats
are pronounced good by the government inspect
ors they are not fit for passengers. The cabins
are small and inconvenent, and in stormy weather
we have found them leaky. There Is no reason
why there should not be as good boats on these
lines as on the Bridge street ferry. The average
time OF the trips made on these ferries ID about
ten minutes.
rHE ROOSEVELT STREET FERRY
has five boats-namely, the Idaho, built In 1864,
496 tons burden; the Arizona, constructed In the
built IN 1862, $40 tons the Warren, built in 1859,
| $50 tons; the Commodore Perry, built in 1860,
purchased by the government in 1862, and recon.
struced by the company In 1867 63s tons; the Com
m0dore Barney constructed in 1861, and rebuilt
IN 1857, having been purchased and used with
| the Perry "a gunboat in 1862 and the Nebraska
the most unfortunate OF boats built In 1854 and
| s93 tons burden. These are by the inspectors
pronounced sound in hull and boiler, but, like tue
boats on the Grand street and Division avenue
ferries, are not suited to the constantly increasing
business OF the company. Passengers complain
greatly OF the filth and the irreguarity in the
time oil these boats, and when the employees are
demonstrated with they too often receive insolent
replies. There 10 money enough expended IN
keeping tho boats clean, and women are
constantly engaged with swabs wiping up
the floors, but apparently to little purpose.
Inc route long one, nearly two
miles, and in that time a denssly packed
crowd OF tobacco smokers and chewers make sad
work with the previous labors OF the char-women.
The boats are equipped according to law with
life saving apparatus, but in the event of accident
would be Of not the slightest service
THE BRIDGE STREET PERRY
has two boats in constant use--namely the George
Washington and the George Law These are sis.
ter boats. They were built in 1866, and each
| measure Ala tons.
The New York and Brooklyn Ferry Company
I employ upward Of two hundred men. They have
thirteen slips and bridges. Tho fare on ali their
ferries IL three cents perxpassenger. Tickets may
be purchased at a del ltion OF eipht per cent.
The receipts from oil tie ferries syeyaao IN the