The New York herald., 1868-03-19

being unexpected, but from the fact that II un-
Der Of the department. Is to be dismissed for the
Board TO hold private session. The Commissioners
are c - NO honest man M
on the force moment after he has been proven TO
be unworthy Of The department.
OUR FERRIES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT.
~~~~~~~~-~>~~>
Second Day Of the Session Of the Legislative
Committee on Commerce and Navigation-
The Ferries, Their Management, Profits and
LOSSES - Interesting Statements -Adjsurn-
sment Of the Committee Until Saturday.
The Legislative Committee on Commerce and Navt
CATION, Mr. L. d. Herman, chairman, convened yes
terday morning at the Metropolitan Hotel for the
purpose OF ofcontinuing the investigation Of the man.
agement OF the New York ferries.
Mr.. J. s. 7. Stranahan, st0ckholder in the Union
Ferry Company, sworn-This gentleman deposed
that he was conversant with the management OF the
ferries known as the Catharine, Fulton, Wall street
and Hamilton avenue ferries; was of the opinion
that the accommodations were fair for carrying the
public; the trustees Of the ferry studied defects
and remedied them when possible; the defects
at present were slight; the chief defect during
the past winter was found in the endeavor Of
the boats to force way with the usual head
Of steam through the ice; the boats are well
houses are commodlous; . new ferry house
is much needed on the Brooklyn side Hamilton
avenue ferry boats are run all night; the number Of
boats are decreased at night and increased In the
morning; II is . matter Of discretion with the toll
gatherer to the charges levied large trucks the
boats leave the slips with twenty-five pounds
Of steam, but this force Is reduced In cross
ing the river to fifteen pounds; the company has O
trips as the
company are very wstchfu; the adding OF
could be obtained the managers would increase their
facilities; Of the ferries Of the company the Wall
the most profitable OF them all.
Mr.. J. r. Mathews sworn. The witness stated that
he was United States Local Inspector Of Steamboats,
boats; they are inspected annually and generally ara
found In good condition; never found any violations
number OF Of life f, preservers; some Of them carry
one and some two lifeboats; the boilers
have always stood the test required by the laws;
have heard complaints OF their mismanagement; the
pilots on the ferryboats, not being licensed are ire
sponsible; we have no control over them; they
government or the public; only pilots plying between
two States are required to be licensed; this he re-
gsraed as great defect would have more rel. eDosts ats
event Of accident they could be lowered to the water
but in event would life preservers and boats prove
boats have no control over them. To question Mr..
Mathews added that he thought the Union Ferry
Company the best regulated Of any navigating the
Mr.. John M. Stearns, sworn-Resides in Williams
burg; am lawyer; am not interested In any ferry;
about OF the boats are sucent for the
evening they are not as at those hours the aborng
fearfully crowded; did not think all the boats on
the Williamsburg ferries ns ,,io for use, use the the
no to n @
are not comfortable In heavy weather the boats are
sent across Grand street, thought iron instead Of
the sterns Of them particularly; think II gates were
placed on the bridges many accidents would be
to the detention these would involve in preference to
taking the risk OF drowning by jumping on the boats
they left the brdges the boats run pretty regularly
except when there are fogs or ce his impression was
that the fare the Williamsburg ferries ought not
to exceed two cents; the Williamsburg Ferry Com
provemcnt can be made unless the Legislature inter-
venes; the profits OF the company are expended % n
purchasing land On ths re- river which ney S sell wisn
pany own about two blocks from South
Ninth to South Seventh street, and thus
monopolize the river; the boats run as they
please; did not know the terms Of the lease;
the boats as to time, are governed by the
taken in going from slip to Slip did not know how
much the dividends OF the company were; they were
owges an the ferries for as other cap
talists would; their policy s perhaps shortsighted,
but they make money; there were lne-preservers
Mr.. 7. Dyson sworn-Resdes in Williamsburg; is
reporter on the Brooklyn Times; the boats on the
lyn, the jersey city or Hoboken ferries; this morn
ing could not nnd seat on the boats,
they were so dirty; many, Of Of the. the boats boats
on the Williamsburg side are too small; the water
closets exceedingly dirty; the Grand street boats
are slow; the South Seventh particularly so; the
amount OF fare is three cents new boats should be
placed on the Grand street route; could not ascer-
tain the earnings OF the company; the hands on the
ha paao wi r1do a ms
the ladies' cabins are generally covered with tobacco
juice; the boats are generally dirty; ladies com.
plain that their dresses are s0ied with
Tobacco Juice; have no new boats building;
ON the bridges the carriage Is divided from the
passenger way; the company do not suilicenty care
for the interest and comfort Of passengers thinks
about twenty minutes are on the average, taken In
running from South Seventh street. Williamsburg, to
James slip, New York; have seen one hundred per-
sons at time waiting: boats in the evening are
often overloaded; he had waited for another boat
rather than risk his life in crowded one; the gen.
tiemen's cabin Is generally dirty the ladies' cabins
covered with tobacco juice: had seen no action
taken to prevent expectoration In these boats.
sworn-Reside at Bay Ridge; am treasurer, director
and stockholder In the Union Ferry Company have
been thrtythrce years connected with the company:
the ferries are worked to the best OF our ability the
boats are rs perfect IA money can make them; could
suggest no Improvement; machinery and boats are
In the best order and quality; cabins are as large
and as comfortable as they can be made; boats, In
the event Of accident, are as safe as they can be
made; the fe-preserving apparatus are sufcient 10
sustain in the water from two to three hundred
people could not say positively how many could be
saved in case Of accident; in such an event have
triangle each boat, which, under instructions,
must be sounded by the pilots, which alarm would
bring 10 the boat In danger twelve thirteen others
the managers are considering o system Of Heating
boats under every circumstances; the boats are per-
fecy safe, however crowded. unless there Is
panic, which, OF course, cannot be provided
AGAINST; the erection OF new house on
tho Brooklyn side at Fulton ferry u In con-
temptation, but the structure would be more
for appearance than for the accommodation OF pas.
sengers: the water front OF the Fulton ferry Is about
two hundred and ffty feet; have three slips on the
Brooklyn side; have no place to land on the New
York side but the present slips II there were another
on this side the company would run other boats
capital stock OF the company IL 1000, 900; assets
paid rom sic5 10 ais per month: deck hands re.
ceive $50 per month; engineers ts5; one fireman
on boat at q time; the hours Of labor OF
o fireman are longer than are those Of an
ennnecr. axerare fIne inhor ahouf eQht