The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-09-03
PURCHASE OF THE BAYOU FERRY
BY THE BRIDGE COMPANY.

BY THE BRIDGE COMPANY.
As forcshadowcd i'll last weeks issue
Of the GRIEF, the Donaldsonyille Bridge
Company has purchased from the heirs
of Marx schonberg the privilege to oper-
ate a ferry on Bayou Lafourche at Don
aldsonyille granted to Mark Schonberg
and VIM. Murrell by Act No. 16 of the
General Assembly of 1870. The term Of
the grant was twenty years, hence it has
eight years yet to run. The price Of adj
judication agreed upon was $4,000, pay
able in annual installments Of $1,000 each,
at the Canal Bank in New Orleans, be-
ginning one year from the date Of the
sale The transaction was consummatcd
last Saturday afternoon, the act of sale
being signed on behalf Of the Bridge
Company by Capt. Jno. L. Nolan, Jr., its
President, by Hon. NJ. Marks as tutor of
the minor Schonberg heirs. and by Messrs.
T.. and S. Schonberg, major heirs, the
latter representing himself and David
and Sarah Sclonberg, two other heirs Of
age, who reside in Cincinnati. The act
was drawn up by Judge r. N. Sims, at
torney for the Bridge Company, and
passed before Paul Leche, Esq, Notary
Public, in presence Of Messrs. L. B. Ear
hart and Adolph Gondran, witnesses. A
special session Of the Town Council was
held after the sale had been negotiated,
and, rs will be seen by the official pro
ceedings published i'll another column,
the town rciinqu;shed all claim to the
$40 per month which tho owners Of the
ferry privilege have been required to pay
to the town Of Donaldsonville. This re-
linquishment is to date from the time
the bridge is opened for business.
A number of persons have expressed
the opinion that tho Bridge Company
has paid an exorbitant price for the ferry
privilege, but all things considered, VIC
can not share in this view. 1t is well
known fact that the privilege is val
liable one; it has leased for $4,000 per an
nun, at which price the lessee must
have made a satisfactory profit, as he
was anxious to extend his lease, but the
owners would not consent, preftrring to
operate tho ferry themselves. 1t is not
would have been surrendered without q
struggle, and the nature of the questions
involved would have readily enabled the
ferry owners, i'll default Of a victory i'll
tho State courts, to carry tho litigation
into tho Federal tribunals, even to the
Supreme Court Of the United States.
The familiar issue of " the obligation Of
Il contract" would have been promptly
raised, and the position taken that the
Act of 1870 constituted contract be-
tween the State and the ferry owners
which would be violated by the opera
tons of the privileges granted the Bridge
Company. It. was this consideration
which led some OF the best lawyers in
tho General Assembly to oppose the
measure which has been several times
introduced looking to the repeal Of Act
1G. That the ferry owners would have
vigorously asserted their claims through
the courts there is no reason to doubt,
and whatever might be the ultimate re-
suit, there was prospect of three or
four years Of litigation with its vcxatious
delays and heavy cost, pending which
the capital Of the Bridge Company would
perhaps have lain idle. SO far as the
general public is concerned, the purchase
Of the ferry privilege by tho Bridge Com
pany must be regarded as a fortunate
contamination, since it assures the early
establishment Of tho bridge in undis-
puted operation; and while some of the
stockholders of the company may feel
disposed to complain Of the extraordinary
and unexpected tax to which they are
subjected by this transaction, we are of
the opinion means can be devised to COM
penSate them III great measure Tor as
sumng this additional burden in the
public interest
With the obstruction Of litigation en-
tircly removed from its path the Bridge
Company will enter upon the enjoyment
Of its franchise without question or dis
pute. We can not doubt that its stock
will be regarded as a solid and paying
investment, and that any shareholder
trouble in disposing Of his stock at par
st. James Jottings.
Notes About the Rice and Cane Crops-An
Influx of Tramps-Two Men Drowned