The New York herald., 1868-03-18

when there was . considerable number OF people on
board. and thought everything was safe; the boats
ought 70 save vessel rom shaking; she ouoyancy Is
great boats were not lined when the Nebraska was
run INTO and sunk sne was run INTO twice; sne boats
Knew that ts. he was convinced. they must run
On lease had no recollection Of the con-
they took the leases for running the different ferries
did not remember the rates Of ares no rate OF speed
left to the pilots; Grand street lease expires in -
Roosevelt street ferry lease was renewed last fall
ease runs for ten years; didn't know the number OF
hands on each boat; thought there ought
20 be pilot on board didn't know as to
cleanliness how the boats are kept II six hundred
the DIRE he could not say how many. with life pre-
servers, might have been saved; he testified for the
the staten Island iu ery .koag
derolt was president OF Staten Island ferry; there
are old and new boats on the East river ferres old
boats are as good "a the new; the life preservers
were kept In the cabins, near the wheel.
houses; don't know anything about life preservers.
boats, Ac on board sometimes inquire into the con-
dtion Of the boats; did SO about six months ago.
having been out Of the city, whenever see anything
out OF the way inquire Into the reason Of II and
Of protection to passengers in case OF accidents
didn't know that the company charges more
tanning injury board a boat ought TO
bring suit against the company; as stockhoder he
largest stockhoder in the company; don't know
that he is now; Mr. Murphy. Mr. Ball aud Mr. Pol
directors
thought; can't say how many persons 1t would take
to keep boat clean the larger boats are used mostly
on the lower ferries: small boats are sometimes run
on the lower ferries; when exgency demands the
largest boats run from Roosevelt to South Seventh
street; the lease does not require that the boats
arrangement one sufficient to guard against accident
at the landings thought the ferry houses were kept
In proper condition.
The Chairman here informed Mr.. Low that CON-
plants had been entered against the filthy and un-
safe condition of the boats, and he tMr. Low not
hai into xufh fhnpN ha fhn (har ny
should be necessitated to make further Inquiries
from the more active members Of the company.
Mr.. John Greenwood, on being sworn, stated that
he knew very little OF the management OF the fer.
rics; ferries ought not to be made matter Of mere
ey aVs ~ ay
OF articles for papers demanding for Brooklyn the
same privilege as the city OF New York has in grant
cross ON the Fulton and Wall street ferries; cannot
say that any provisions are made on the Union
Ferry Companys boats for the protection of passen-
gers but was OF the opinion that the ferry companies
cannot provide for the safety OF passengers and yet
make money; Latham B. Morse was President Of the
Union Ferry Company Cyrus p. Smith Its Acting
Manager, Mr.. Smith was Secretary. Mr.. Greenwood
here offered suggestions as to the best manner OF
calcium lights would be OF service In the navigation
Of rivers In times OF dense fogs; he merely gave his
provided with facilities for the protection Of pas
sengers, but could not say how It would be in the
event of collision fire, &c.
had resided In Brooklyn nearly all his life and had
given much attention to the management OF ferries.
Mr.. Spooner then produced written statement TO
the following efect:-The Union Ferry Company paid
too much money to the city Of New York for its
but Instead Of Sa sl sum the &c company was compeIed
to pay slo3,ooO for ten years-or from 1860
to $50; 4 tn, this large price for the privilege
mitted the managers of the Union ferry could and
would reduce the price OF ferriage one-half /; the
ly :-In May, 1s45 an act was passed by the Legsla
ture which provided for the creation OF Board OF
to ry an p ns anS 10
docks and pay o fair rent on appraisal for
them t for public :, uses an ana 70 su
landings, &c.; and further contended that If this
commission was In operation the people would be
satisfied, and there would be trouble; 1t was,
the ferries were wholly managed for the benefit OF
stockholders, and run for the dividends they could
make; the Union Ferry Company ought to do vastly
better than 1t has done hitherto; II ought to be the
best in the world. Mr.. Spooner continued IN this
strain for some minutes, when, having. exhausted
James Howe, on being sworn, stated that he was
manager of the Union Ferry Company; was pecu
owned but one share Of STOCK and the entire board
were not interested to the extent OF $4,000; was
an oa Se a 20 epES as psss
originally going into the company's employ
as deck hands, when, If they evinced intelligence
and resolution, they were promoted In time TO the
pilot house; the boats were In excellent orders the
interest Of the managers lay In the Improvement OF
than at present and their efficiency maintained; the
boats were built solid at each end for fifty feet the
total thickness at the bow being sixteen inches; the
cabins were heated with steaH-no fires
being allowed on board except those under
the boilers-and lighted with gas; have
life saving appliances OF every kind on
each boat the Board OF Managers are satisfied that
gates on bridges are useless; something must be left
to the intelligence Of the public; millions crossed the
ferry and accidents were rarer than in Broadway;
ordinarily five or six men are employed on each
boat the stockholders have received for some years.
as dividend, ten per cent stock; but this the boats
had hardly earned; the salaries paid were moderate,
the highest not exceeding $4,000. Some evidence as
to the qualifications OF pilots was ELECTED from the
witness when the committee rose.
They SIT to-day at eleven O'Clock.