The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-18
THE WAR OF THR BOATS.

ErHUooLE FOE SUPREMACY AND SPEED nj THE
HARLEM STEAMBOAT coarPANIEs-ARE PAssRs-
GERS LIVES TO BE ENDANGERED?
For two years and more there bas been cease
less between the rival companies running
lines or steamboats, from Peck sup 10 the Harlem
Bridge. Every month during the summer season
furnishes material for newspaper notices or racing
and collisions between the boats OF these COM
panies-notlces written In the interest OF the
public TO warn IL OF danger, and which are
regarded as capital advertisements by the boat
owners. Tae superintendents OF these lines seem
10 think there Is 9 mania Tor encounsering risks
In the way OF travel by the entire American peo-
pie, and to be determined. II they cannot incur
real dangers Ia the OF navigation, to stimu-
late them.
The manner OF the persons interviewed oy the
writer yesterday seemed ia some sense 10 contra
uIct their speech, and while they admitted the
Intensity or tue rivalry existing and claimed that
passengers were crawn to them because their
boats were "iasresl" leach line claims the fastest
boats, they say mere Is no raelng-no attempts
NJ unusual speed.
SUPERINTENDENT TALLAAS INTERVIEWER.
Captain Tallman the superintendent OF the
Harlem and New York Navigation Company. lie
was found at his ONCE In Harlem, and made the
following statements :--"Tnere IS no sucn thing as
racing, so lar our boats are concerned, on THIS
route. We run no faster when We are with other
boats than we do wheu we make the trip alone.
IN al cases we keep away inside the limits OF the
steam we are allowed 10 carry. The inspectors
certificate permits the sylvan Dell to carry
Iorty.ave pounds or steam. and she don't
average thirty pounds. she IS the fastest boat on
the river. The shady side, or the other line.
having an extra landing to make before leaving
the Harlem River does not often get to the dock
~ the loot OF l2oth street.-the drst landing We
make going down-tin after the sylvan Den
leaves Ordinarily che Sylvan Del Is rom SIX 10
zen minutes ahead at Peck slip. This difference
In time Is caused IN part ~ the TACT that our boat
goes direct to PECK slip, While the opposition boat
goes across TO Astoria. We began running THIS
season u month ago to-day, and IN all that time
rne sylvan Den and the Snady side have been only
once together, and then Tor only ABOUT mile.
The truth Is. the Dell leaves first and remains
tong distance ahead ali the way down. The racing
Is done Dy The newspapers"
SUPERINTENDENT LoSGsTREET's STATEMENT
Captain Z. II. L0ngstrest. superintendent OF the
MorrisanIa Steamboat COMPANY, was next inter-
viewed lie said There Is no more racing now
than there has oeen Tor TWO or three years past.
We eacn strive make the best time "e eau
whether together or no.. When we are q
little anead We WON'T let them pass Il we can nep
az, and they won't let Us pass \ they can help II
We are allowed 10 carry nity POUNDS OF ST am on
the shady SIDE, and although on our ireght trips
pounds we sometimes run AZ up 70 iorb-nNe
wnen the boats are together IN the morning ana
evening. We are ootn wiliIng 10 take all Toe pas
Tne BOAT THAT GOES the FASTEST
gets the most People Ike TO travel last, ana
when the Uoats start together theg VIII crowd on
board because they ENJOY Inc racing. Why, we
couldn't GUY the amount 81 advertising We get oy
tue newspaper reference 10 tuese Tor $4,000
People Come all TIE way from me West ana from
Canada eamOoat men mosuy-to see tiese
boats they've heard SO much about mem. don't
IKE 70 have ny name mentioned, however. In
these matte 5. Every taing - ali flght so long as
nothing happens; nut oy ahd Ny, y an acciaens
suoud occur anu the passengers get burned or
drowned, every oooy responsible Oh the Inc "o95a
be banned by toe press and the puohc. We
nave nj cost any lives 50 Tar, and toe more excite
ment We nave the better It Is lor us.n
TEE CAPTAIN OF THE SYLVAN STREAM SPEAKS.
IL the pllot house OF TIE sylvan stream the
writer had long tax with Captain IL. H. Long,
street. WHO is nepnew OIL tue superintendent OF
the opposition line. the Captain SAID AT
twenty-five minutes past eight A. ~. tue sylvan
Del and tue shady SIDE, the iSstest ooats oi eaca
line. leave their dUegs AZ Harlem ana mott Haven
rogetner. rne snady Side makes Landing al toe
dock a. the terminus VI the PoTtcnester oraucn
OF Iae New YORK. Hartford and New Haven RAII.
road. winch - oay about 1000 ieet rom her start.
ing point. Inc sylvan Dell. however proceeds Gown
tue stream and makes her hrst landing ~ the loot
l2otn street. 1ne shady slue following, makes
landing OF The next oock, about 200 feet diss1nL
A. eDb ude the sylvan Dell - forced to BRING 10
with her DOW projecting toward the other dock
room Tor toe SHADY Sue 10 come into ner own
wharf wnen she arrives lew minutes later tnaa
she Del Last summer the shady side was 80
steeTed that on several occasions
SHE STUCK THE SYLVAN DELL on THK BOW
IN coming ~ her lanaing. damaging cue Dell.
Twice lois has occurred ms season. 10 preveat
The damages resulting rom these COLLISIONS q
piece OF timber was xed N TIE FORWARD cnock or
the SYLVAN Dell just aOaft the stem. ana was
allowed 70 project outward some turee ieeL InIs
was ADOPTED a. q meaus OF defence. aud " ward
on the blows Of the shady SIDE The last named
steamer was, however, taken 10 charge oY
Superintendent L0ngstreet, wno relieved the reg
nlar Captain. aud On coming ia " Der lanatug ~
al9bh street steered Tue boat a. 10 cut LIE
projecting isndcr IRON tue siae Of The sylvan
Dell, happily dong ner iurtuer injury. The
DalY action taken Dy our company was 10 put on
another lenaer toe nexs morning. As 70
TIE RELATIVE SPEED or THE BOATS
the sylvan Dell can leave harlem az tue same
tine with the shady Side. ana bOtn making the
same landings. Oeat her into PECK slip ~ ave
minutes. though DO not command one OF tue
last Doats, nave never let there was am danger
m their races. 1 suppose toe passengers do. l
am useg 10 toe river ana tue lie, aad am not 50
tlmorOus as those VINO ATE not | AN sure think
much Of my life as most people do Of theirs aud
would not run into DANCER, though II Was a little
aneAd o. another GOAT suouid tfy 10 stay there.
In running tue boats are driven whether tEeT are
together separate, and l don't s1ink there are
two minutes 0inerence between tRelr ordinary
~ n ANA ma fNafF M ~