The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-11-18
New York Hsrald.l

New York Hsradl
But few people probably have any idea
| how many persons make daily trips be-
tween New York and Brooklyn and New
York and Williamsburg, and how largely
the ferry accommodations, extensive as
they are, are patronzed. Without count
ing the ferries that run between Roosevelt,
Grand, and Houston streets and Willisms-
burg the five ferries that are held by the
Union Ferry Company carry an average
OF As, 100000 persons yearly. These ferries
are known US Fulton, South, Hamilton,
Wall-Street, and Catbarine-Sueet ferries.
The following figures procured from the
Office OF the company give an idea OF the
i number OF passengers that crowd the ferry
boats in one day, and are record OF days
traffic in fair weather Fulton, $1,000 per-
sons; Wall-Street. $1,000; South. $4,000 !;
Hamilton, 10000; Catherine, 10000. The
greatest rush for the ferries is in the morn
ing and evening-in the morning when
BROOKLYN, so to speak, empties herself into
| New York, and in the evening, when tie
host OF businessmen hurry home after
their DAVIS work. The suburbs OF Brooklyn
and Williamsburg act as vast dormltorles
to New York, for there it is that large
proportion OF men who are engaged in
every branch OF business in this city make
their homes. The exodus from Brooklyn
commences in the early morning. The fare
across from 8 A. M. until half-past is only
q cent. Almost before the sun is up throngs
of laborers and mecbaoics fill the boats,
starting off for their days work with their
tools strung over their shoulders Pine in
mouth, they congregate in the forepart OF
the ferry.boat, il the weather is fine, and
enjoy the freshness OF the morning air as 1t
| l. riy aud cpp6s them IN work
| with will.
Fulton ferry is by far the most largely
patronixed, and here at stated periods du-
ring the day are 10 be seen passengers
swarming by thousands, when at the other
ferries they may he counted by tens or hum
dreds, Although the ferries are used eX-
tensively by every class OF persons, and at
nearly each trip may be seen every descrip-
tion OF vehicle, from the fashionable turn
ont. with prancing steeds and liveried SER
wants, 10 the market-wagOn. Yet the chief
patrons are undoubtedly the businessmen
who have their offices and stores in this city,
where they toll the dag long, and then,
anxious at the close OF the days work to
yet as far as possible from business associa-
tions, rush for the ferries, and are quickly
transported TO the sister city.
THE RUSH OVER THE River.
From until 10 O'Clock in the morning
there is continual stream OF persons pour
ing into the ferry on the Brooklyn side.
They rush down TO the ferry in a hurry (;
they seem in bury while on the boat, as
! il the few minutes they are occupied IN Ia
| king them across the river were waste OF
so much valuable time; and as the boat
nears the landing they crowd to the front,
and, as il there was handsome reward ior
the one who got ashore first, spring from
the boat before it has touched the land'ng,
and then tear away TO their various places
OF business.
The boats in the forenoon also bring a
large number OF ladies, who come over for
days shopping and pleasure, ana many a
modest Young miss may be seen In the Ia
| dies, cabin with a roll of music under her
arm-probably coming to the city for ln-
struction. And often the cabin is made to
ring with the merry laugh OF children, who
ALWAYS find trip on the ferryboat exciting.
To look down Fulton street at O'Clock, or
between the hours OF 5 and in the eve
ming, one would think that there bad been
a frightiul catastrophe in the neighbor-
hood. and that half the downtown
population OF the city were hurrying
10 the scene OF the disaster; but 1t Is only
| the crowd OF businessmen making their
| way TO the ferry. At this time OF the after
noon the approach is made unusually unat-
tractive by the rush OF vehicles and wagons
OF every description which block the way,
and at times it takes two stalwaIt police.
linen, shouting and gesticulating in me-
nacing manner, TO make a way for the foot
passengers. When the latter get safely
across the read they are attacked by small
army OF newspaper-boys with the evening
papers, who keep up continual din OUT
side tie ferry-houses. AS the crowd OF pas
sengers pour in through the entrance
gate it is interesting 10 see the Iacii-
Iity with which the men who take the
pennies dispose OF the passing multitude,
and the rapidity with which they give
change. II makes very little difference whe-
ther il is a two.dollar bill or quarter that
wants changing, one hand dives into the
howl OF pennies and another into the silver,
and in an instant the correct change Is
slammed down on the counter. These mo-
ney.cbancers have hard and monotonous
task. They have to keep sharp lookout to
see that no one gets through the narrow
passage without parting with the necessary
coin, and at the same time their hands are
kent busy in shoyelling in The money or
dealing out the change.
OBSTRUCTIVE OLD LADIES.
| AS rule passengers are prepared with
their fare, and just put 1t down as they pass
through without pausing an instant. III
things go on smoothly between fifty and
hundred per minute can pass through tne
narrow passage, pay their money, and In
some cases get change. Occasionally, how
ever, through the stupidity or pigheaded-
ness OF some person, there is a oiock ior
awhile, and the patience OF the crowd
and the good nature Of the mdney.taker
are taxed TO the utmost. For instance,
after the crowd has been passing
through In an uninterrupted stream
| for minutes some stout old lady, who
Is almost enough in herself 10 cause block,
will come to standstill outside The ticket
Office, and will ask the collector, Please, sir,
bow much is II TO 60 to BROOKLYN" On
being told the fare she will hutter about
and dive into the corner Of several pockets
| for the cent that she Is certain she has
secreted somewhere. Finally, being po-
litely told to hurry up, she produces dol
| lar bill and asks the money-tsker II ne
thinks he can change II for her. Al the
sight OF Il be takes 1t from her ana the
change Is given In a twInkling, Tnen
she invariably wants to stop and count u
over two or three times to see u II Is cor
rect. but this Is too much. The omcer, W'tn