New-York tribune., 1872-02-13
THE FERRY QUESTION.
WHAT 1T COSTS TO RUN EAST RIVER FERRIES
GEORGE LAW on TIE STAND.

|
| The Committee on Commerce and Naviga-
ton instructed by the State Legislature to examine into
the condition of the NewYork and Brooklyn ferry lines
held long session in the Office OF the NewYork and
Brooklyn Ferry Company, yesterday. The Committee
is composed Of Geo. {. Bennett Chairman, Daniel L.
| Babcock and Timothy ]. Campbell
VIM RaveBstne, the Chief Clerk OF the Ferry Com
pany testfed The present capital OF the Company is
| sicOOCCO; theCompany own IA boats worth over
| seOOOoO; the real estate taxed amounts TO
| t29l, 900.
Mr. BennettI understand your capital, according 10
the statement your Company sent 10 the Legislature at
Albany was 1911 S5sl264 81 how do you account tor
| this discrepancy
Mr. RayenstiDe-The annual expenses Of the Company
must be included in the 100000; have coal, labor
rent taxes and various other items that amount to
large sum in the of year. Our labor costs us
over $4,000 per year, our coal costs $4,000
per year our rents are are t, Oyer s per
believe the city is trying now TO collect all that has
accrued IN the share OF since the or
great expense is the iron and timber used or repairs
the tax & on our res e Sna cSS1 S eI1 m
its cash hand at the beginning OF its fiscal year OK 1872
was $9 600 the amount taken In daily on our different
routes averages $500. and In the months OF July anu
August the average daily receipts are $40; liabilities we
jude cook. counsel for the company-we have an
swered every question the resolution that was passed Dy
the Legislature calls for, and should we volunteer any
ton, should be doing very impudent thing
Mr.. Ravenstine-The fare for O truck with single
horse the Wiamsburgh Ferry is 20 cents, and for
twohorse truck 40 cents At the Brdgeave. Ferry the
rates for vehicles are just onehaf what they are at
Wiamsburgh. ~
Mr. Bennett dwelt at length the injustice OF this
system aud thought there should be difference in the
prices where one company owned several lines
each other George Law said the charges were so un-
equal the fact that the latter ferry did not do nearly
large business the former and they might as well
make up the difference IN the prices OF errage as any
thing else.
testified.
gard TO the number OF boats owned by us; consider
that boats better built and larger than those or
the Union Ferry Company the Warren cost $4,000; tie
Superior COO the Arizona and Idaho both cost $4,000
the CayuPa aud Minnesota eaeh cost about $4,000; the
Canada and Nebraska $4,000 each; the Conn., Perry
and Com Barney were both sold 10 the Government and
afeTward repurchased and fitted mp again for ferry
boats both at an expense of s65OOO the Nevada was
built in 1870 at cost of 100000 consider these boats
all more valuable than when purchased, as they
were almost all bought about the time the war broke
out, and labor and material both more expeDsive;
besides they have all been repaired and had new boilers
put into them we pay our pilots S25 per month, and
our engineers $90 the present Company was chartered
in 1854, with capital stock of 81 100000.
Mr. BeDDett-In the County Clerks office the records
show that Law and others started ferry with capital
OF $4,000 only and there also filed affidavit TO that
eject sworn TO by How do account for that
Mr.. Law-Tbat IL not so. I never made affidavit to
such effect and DEFY any take the Company now
and run 10 as IL should be rum for 81 per year We
have TO pay for our water privileges while the Union
Company get theirs for thing from the city.
Mr. BenDett-HOw is IL, II your capital ls II O00O
that you only pay taxes on $4,000
Mr. Law-I don't know how that is: II the Assessor
does not. for that amount IL is fault
There is bill now before the Legislature, hear, pro-
posing 10 reduce the rates on this ferry 33 per cent
this would IL passed ultimately be the deetruction Of
tie Company. Adjourned.