The New York herald., 1877-09-20
OUR FERRIES.
The Sinking Fund and the Corpora
tions at Loggerheads.
FERRY RECEIPTS and PERCENTAGES,
Argument of Corporation Counsel Whit
ney-Both Sides of the Controversy.

The Sinking Fund Commission met yesterday at the
City Hall, Mayor Ely, Comptroller Kelly, City Cham
berlain Tappan and Alderman keenan, being present.
The principal business Of the meeting the consl-
deraon OF the ferry leases, tho manner OF sale and
the compensation charged the various companies
for the privilege accorded them. This muddle be.
tween the ferry companies tho city authorities has
been tho subject OF several discussions witnn the past
few weeks before this Board The franchises Of
number Of ferries have boon advertised for sale, and
postponed from week to week, INJUNCTION being OBJ
tanned against the city on one occasion Comptroller
Kelly adjourned the sale twice. In order give the
companies opportunity of coming to an under
standing as to tho terms of these leases but nothing
In tnat direction has yet been accomplished At yes
terday's meeting of tho sinking Fund Commission
Mr. Kclly explained this condition Of affairs.
DIRECTIONS ny FERRY COMPANIES.
Objections to the system OF leasing wcre next
submitted by the Staten Island ana Barclay street
ferry companies. Tho former corporation contcndcd
that while n system Of uniform apprascmcnts OF ali
tho ferries such had been adopted was calculated
perhaps TO save labor In examination as to their values
It would work injustice to those who invested capital
Tor the purpose OF operating some OF them; that the
ferries varied considerably In the amount o gross re-
copts each year. in the expenses and profits, while all
compelled to pay Gvc per cent on their gross
ccipls. The company suggests that an appraiscmcnt
crty and OF the profits destined to bc realized by the
lcssee that the Staten Island ferry had been
operated at loss for the past two years. that the city
should therefore require the company 10 pay hvo
per Of Its gross receipts, while the Dock Depart
ment would charge thcm from $1,000 to $4,000
additional for the lease OF the dock at the foot OF
Whitehall street; that tho company had invested
about 81 0O0 900 their enterprise, and that
son duo regard should be had to the possibility OF
profits TO bc realized Tho company then suggests
that In place OF n uniform appraisal examination
should be madc TO result In valuation based a
consideration of tho possible profits to be roaized,
the expenses, ront, &c this appraisal to be made In
conjunction with appraisal by the Dock Department
Of tho wharf property to bc uscd that oppressive
burden should not be laid by the city upon the essces
Objection also made TO what Is designated the In
deniteness OF descrpt Of the tcrry which adver
tiscd to be leased" in the case OF the two Staten
Island ferries each being advertised to run from the
foot of Whitehall street to Staien Island This 1t
stated very indefinite. inasmuch as Staten Island
has a largo water front In order to remedy this It is
suggested that the landing place Of the ferry to be
be definitely established at each ond Of the
route and set forth the lease advertisement The
company further objects to the provision Of the lease
that the books the lessee might be examined by the
Conn ptroller auy person appointed by him. also to
the provision by which the city disclams all rcspon
sbilty OF providing landing places Tor ferries in this
city II Is urged that proper landing places be pro-
v,dcd by the Department OF Docks on the execution
Ut proper leases. In conclusion, protest Is made
against giving the Mayor and Comptroller powor under
the lease 10 prescribe tho number OF trips to made
daily tho number OF boats to bc used and the
ferrisgc.
The communication from tho Hoboken Company
nearly went over tho ground 10 the points Of
objection.
THE COMPANIES RECEIPTS.
An interesting paper next presented by the
Comptroller, which bud boen prepared by one OF the
clerks IN his Office giving statistics the receipts
OF the ferry companies during tho past Ave yesrs,
what they paid tue city during that period, ana
other Important Items II reads as ioiiows;I
Ferry from Foot Of Whitehall Street 10 Staten Island.
Staten Island Isdtiroad Company.
Report OF gross receipts Tor 1872 $ls229 96
Report of gross receipts for 1873. 1855 sD5 90
Report OF gross receipts Tor lS74...... pol 9lS IS
Report OF gross rcccipts Tor lS75....... O32 81
Total for Ave years. s9ii ,4o4 81
per cent $22 1856 81 amounting per year Tor the city
last ton years ending May l. 1871, inclusive for tho
Ferry from root Of whitehall Street TO Staten Island
Socoiied North Shore Ferry
Report of gross receipts for 1o12. l42 60J IS
Report OF gross receipts for 1s73..... 1874 1852 80
Report OF gross receipts for 1874 llI973 28
Report OF gross receipts Tor ls75. 1913 SIS 81
Report of gross receipts for 1876 l2951s 81
Total Tor Ave years Se47 ssl 81
per cent sl6 1877 20 amounting per year Tor the city
TO a2a9 A. The above named Terry mas paid the city
partment OF Docks for pier No $40. 900 per year
Ferries from Foot IF Chambers Street and West 1,pent
third Stree, the So.caaed Pacond Ferries, Belonging
10 the Erie Raitroad.
Report OF gross receipts for 1872. $22y Sl3 .2
Report OF gross receipts for 1878. ... 23s 0i3 20
Report OF gross receipts for 1874. 2i9 l63 0s
Report OF gross receipts Tor 1875. .... 234 2s6 Os
Report OF gross receipts ior 1916. 225O,2 "a
Total for Eve years........... ... 81 la0 $40 72
For the New York ha,r ts573 1879 so) at lvo
per cent S2S6 40 pcr year for the CITY 20
S5, 3l So The Eric Railroad paid the CITY for the
franchise Of Their lcrrics from May L. 1876 to May
1871 2s per cent gross receipts on 81 G2 75
So 6l5 81 SUBJECT to rent Tor the picrs OF 900
Ferry om Foot Of Cortiard street, Beiong,ng the
| Associates oj the Jersey Raitroad Company
Report Uf gross receipts ivr the New YORK only
from 5lsi July 1870 TO 3lst July 1871 SIlO $50 -
"a per cent, 81 1863 49, wbrch amount is paid to tho
Docks collects Tor the dock pier 81 $40 per year
which amount they paid before round rent for the
Ferry from Foot Of De,broscs Street eonging 10 the
Associates cf the Jersey Rait,oad Company.
Report OF gross receipts Tor tho New York side only
from January 81, 1875, to May I, 1877. or eighteen
mouths, $lOs,Ojz ~, At 2k per cent 81, ,70I 49, or
$lsOo IS per year. SAID Terry PAID 1000 year bo
lore
Ferry from Foot Of barclay Street 10 Hoboke, Beiong.
ing 70 ne Hoooken Land and Improvement Company
from December 81 1875 to July 81 1877 or eighteen
months, $ls3.l47 40, at "a per cent s4,57s 70, or
$1,000 ~ per year Tor the franchise. SAID Terry paid
yearly rcnt to tho city OF 81, 100 por year.
Ferry from foot Of Chrisopner 10 Hoboken, be-
longing 10 TIE Hoboken Land and improvement Com
| pony
Report Of gross receipts the New York side only,
| from May l. 1874 TO July 81 1877, three and one
| fourth years, S520, G02 90 at ga per cent,
$5,296 80; which amounts are collected by the
Department ol Docks without authority. they navng
gwen lease for dock TO ssid company or SO 00U
| per year, Inclusive oil tho franchise. without any au-
| thorIty from the Commissioners Of tho sinking Fund
winch Is "a loss to the CITY o sldz9 ~ year. SAID
ferry paid yearly rent 10 the city before oil $500 per
| year.
Ferry from joo Of 7weniy.ihird street. East Rrey 10
Greenpoin, Long Island, belonging 10 g. G h. s.
Knapp
Report OF gross receipts for the New York side only
from November 1875 10 July 81 1877, or twcnty-one
months, $TS0s9 90. at 70 per cent, fl,s52 ~, or
Slll5 81 per year tor the ranchise subject to 81 600
per year their dock SAID ferry paid yearly rent