The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-18
THE NEW YORK FERRIES.
Report of the Legislative COmmittec-The
Condition and Mana cement of the Ferries.
ALBANY April II, 1863.


The Assembly Committee on Commerce and Navi-
cation submitted to-day their report on the condition
and management of the ferries plying to and from
New York. The investigation was promptly and
thoroughly made, and the result Is the Introduction
of bill which promises their better regulation and
the correction of the evils which have been long
complained ot The chairman, Mr.. L. d. Herman,
and his associates Of the committee Messrs. Burns,
McKiever, Trainer and Cameron, have reversed the
precedents OF such investigations and present no
embarrassing" report but one impartial in its
judgment upon the condition and management OF
these institutions. The bill accompanying the report
will probably be introduced in few days in the
Senate in order that action may be taken upon 1t In
both houses with view Of making it q law.
The following is the report
| To THE HONORABLE THE ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE
OF NEW York;
The Committee on Commerce and Navigation, in
pursuance of resolution adopted March IL, 1858, In
sttuted an investigation OF the condition and man
agement Of the ferries plying to and from New YORK
city, ana beg leaye herewith 70 snpn sne at
which the investigation was ordered, and the press
ing necessity upon the committee of accomplishing
as much as possible within the few days allotted
Them have prevented them from being rs diifuse In
the character OF the testimony taken as they might
desire. They have had but short time within
which to make examinations, but the witnesses
called have been for the greater part essential and
Important and the evidence adduced has been mate
rial and positive The committee also recognized the
fact that prOmptness was required In conducting the
investigation, in order that the measures which they
should recommend for the remedy OF the
evils complained Of might be reported in
sufficient time for legislative action this SEES
proper to make use of the testimony ELECTED in the
investigation OF last year. which, with the dispositions
OF the recent inquiries in New York, accompany
this report. The testimony in full embraces over nine
hundred pages Of legal cap.
The committee proceeded to their work with due
Of the responsibility attaching to the subject OF
the ferries, which annually transport one hundred
and twenty-five millions Of human beings between
the metropolis aud the adjacent Cities towns and vii
lages The complaints which accumulate year after
year, nay, day after day, are indicative Of griev
ances OF no frivolous or imaginary nature. Tnou-
sands OF lives are endangered every twenty -four
hours on the one hand by the lack of the proper
facilities for the rescue OF passengers In or acct
dent and on the other by the tendency to accident
and the liability to disaster. or these matters
tae report will speak more In detail further
To those who anxious for further information the
testimony accompanying the report will AFFORD ample
knowledge OF the condition and management OF the
ferries. The combined voice OF the public and the
press has made demand for an investigation which
been able to act in the matter. The investigation
has been as thorough as it was possible to make 1t
within the time permitted. All persons interested
In or connected with the neutrality-suspicious., mana
gers, directors pilots engineers, bridgemen and the
travelling pubc-have consecutive,y appeared upon
or have been subppnaed to the witness stand, in
prosecution of the labors of the committees; and
propose to give brief abstract of the general cOnd
ton of the ferries as deduced from our examination,
beginning with
TaE NEW YORK AND BROOKLYN FERRY COMPANY.
The attention Of the committee was particularly
directed to the condition and management OF the
ferries plying to the Eastern District OF Brooklyn,
formerly known az Williamsburg. Under the system
which was in operation before the present company
took hold OF the route the village or town Of VII
liamsburg, numbering in 1s45 less than ten thousand
Inhabitants, had increased In 1855 to- a.cy OF nearly
one hundred thousand population. This prosperity
has under the present regime received check, pre-
dc 70 e OF 1ne a te more par
for in the expansion OF It's towns and the enhance
ment OF its real estate lies the wealth of the Common
wealth. The ferries on the routes indicated are four
in number, crossing from New York at various points
from Roosevelt street oGrand street. the East river
shore OF New York. The patrons of the company are
almost entirely unanimous in condemnation Of the
management OF the ferries within this section and
the evidence elected before the committee goes to
show that these complaints not without founda.
ton in truth. The testimony on the point OF irrcgu-
arity in the running of the boats was in general OF
the same character and shows negligence OF most
gross nature. The rights OF the travelling cOmmu
nifty have been nagrantly dsregarded nor has the
safety OF the lives of passengers been properly ade-
quately provided for The danger from accident has
been frequent Disaster has been likely to occur
nature. One witness testified that he could and
upon one occasion had actually penetrated
parsimony OF the company in running their
boats under small head or steam with o view OF
Cause that has ayered EXPLOSIONS that could not
been attended with less than fearful sacrifice OF
Il not an ahe eDgnccrs on the various ferries around
New York were not licensed-a very reprehensble
fact. The COMMITTEES would ask that this fact be
borne IN mind when suggestions offered for the
ameli0ratiOn OF matters connected with the ferries.
The facilities for saving life In OF q sudden acct
dent like that OF fire or explosion are wholly insuif
cent. The testimony shows the fact that less than
one hundred life preservers allotted each boat
whereas each steamer at certain hours of the day q
loaded with not less than thousand pas
sengers. There Is also disregard for the COM
fort, convenience and pleasure OF the passengers.
The ferry houses small incommodOus and un.
clearly, while the boats are ever the cause OF CON-
plant for similar defects. Yet this company has
n nfprfn
real estate at present Is estimated by experts to be
worth threequarters OF million OF dollars. This IL
equipment OF the ferries system of Communication
should be enforced the boats of this company II
the present rate OF fare-three cents-s persisted in
The investigation ELECTED the fact that the stock
holders are mostly non-residents OF the vicinity Of
be c eres OF eec o. e 70 which fact may
the rights and comforts Of their patrons. There IL
general demand for reduction OF the fare on these
ferries, and the committee would suggest the enact
ment Of general law on the subject.
THE UNION FERRY COMPANY.
The ferries connecting Brooklyn pr0perswith New
York five In number crossing the East river at
various points between the South ferry, Battery,
and the foot OF Catharine street. For the most part
they are wen regulated especially as compared with
other ferries on both the East and North rivers.
desire to accommodate the public is certainly evnced
IN their management. There are, however, points
which suggestions may be useful, II indeed legsla-
tive action be not necessary. The running OF the
the South ana Hamilton avenue ferries. on these
two latter routes more accommodation IL necessary
the late hours OF the night. A bill already reported
from the committee provides for the attainment
OF one Of these objects. The traIlc on the
Fulton ferry Is so great at all hours OF the day that
the expedency OF an independent set OF boats
for freight and vehicles has received the consdera
ton Of the committee. such division OF the busi-
ness OF the ferry would tend on the side to the
comfort and satisfaction Of foot passengers and on
the other TO pr0mptness and regularity In the transit
OF such articles and goods az cross this route in veh-
cles The business OF the ferry IL large enough to
warrant q demand upon the company for such an
asse a mi
In enabling the company 10 get possession OF the ad
joining ferry facilities OF what is known "a Burno
slip In order that the improvements contemplated by
them and suggested by this report may be carried
out Each boat, again, should be provided with
some more efficient means OF preventing the dangers
at present employed are mere legal expedents 10
save the company from the penalties OF lawsuits.
THR HOB0KEN FERRY COMPANY.
The ferries offhs cornnratlon nly hntMeen Hnhnknn