The New York herald., 1877-09-20

sum II, In their judgment tho value Of the fran
cnse was nve per cent OF The gross recepis collected
appraisal IN that form and TO adopt resolution that
the franchises should not be sold for less Than such
nve per cent Whatever might bs thought Of the nd
vlsao'lly OF making an appraisal ~ this manner,
there could be no question as to ts legality. IL was
ins l'cIsa nlac. 'Sa' sss description Of ho land,
from whitehall street TO that place. was too indea-
nite that tho termination should have been lxcd at
tho loot OF the Richmond turnpike, to which point
tho ferry from Whitehall street has been heretofore
run. IL was raural that the old lessee OF tho White
hall ferry should raise this objection Such lessee II
the owner OF the landing the foot OF the Richmond
turnpike on Staten Island, and consequently Il wouli
be impossible Tor any other person run fcrry from
Whitehall street to that point II by The terms OF
sale boats TO DO this ferry were req ured 10
land at this point no one but the old essees could bd
Tor the franchise The object OF allowing tue landing
place TO DO situated at other point was TO permit
OF competition IN tho bidding and enable tho city 10
realize the largest possible sum for such franchise.
TnH PROVIDING wnAKyEs
II was objected, the Corporation Counsel said that
tho proposed lease contains claus" IN which the
city declares that u will not undertake 10 provide
wharf property TO the successful bidder Tor tns
chse. Thus objection Is frivolous The Commission
ers OF the SINKING Fund nave authority TO sell ferry
franchises The wharf property ~ TO be sold by tho
Dock Department. The lease IN which SAID clause 10
contained lease OF the franchise ony and the city
not, by that INSTRUMENT, undertake TO iurnsh
the lessee of the ferry franch with wharf prop
erty Tho wharf property lie to be obtained from tho
Dock Department. and is to be leased to the highcst
bidder by another and separate instrument This
clause was inserted as matter OF abundant
franchise setting up claim that because the Comms-
soners OF the sinking Fund had sold nn ferry frau
chsc they were bound to provide him win wharf
property over which thcy have no control. II 10 also
objected thai by tho terms OF the proposed lease tho
number OF boats TO be run and trips 20 be made ana
the rate OF orriage subject to the regulation ana
control of the Common Council or the Mayor aud
Comptroller. These provisions are not new, out have
been aincd In nearly all leases OF ferries ever made
by tho CITY. Mr.. whitney read from printed compt'
latlon OF Jerry leases to substanate TINS statement
He referred particularly to leases granted OF The
Grand street, Houston street, Thriyiourth street.
Chambers street, street and Christopher street.
erres and showed mat the leases heretofore granted
acy the same provisions as those In the proposed
lease, aud which objected to. He also stated
that AS ferry was practically monopoly II would
not do 10 leave the public ut the mercy OF the ferry
companies. There must DO some provisions In lease
giving the Common Council or some other city au.
th0rty me power to regulate the number OF boats
ana trips and the rate OF ferra-e H0 how.
cvcr that perhaps this matter could bo investigated
with reference the uf the public NJ each ferry
aud that tue lease could contain provisions declaring
exactly how many boats should be and how often
trips should bc made ana the max xmum ratio OF fer.
riago be charged TINS course, no thought, would
obvatc all tho objections which have bcen made ~
to tho lorm OF tho lease.
PRESENT
When tho Corporation Counsel had concluded Comp
troor Kelly stated that The owners o these ferries
invited 70 the meeting but they had not put In
appearance. New points had been raired by tho
Corporation Counsel which IL would be nscessary Tor
tho commission 10 consider. ue would therefore,
suggest the post poncment OF tho sale of ferry frun
cnses for another week. Ho thought tho companies
ought to no abe TO pay at least i've per cent on ther
gross receipts.
Tho commission then adjourned to Tuesday next
vcd 10 be through representatives upon that
occasion.