The morning call., 1893-05-18


The New Ferry-Boat in Its Unfinished |
Condition.
cents per ton. when their deckhands |
loaded the goods on the steamer and un-
loaded them on the other side, for the same
goods they charged 81 Tor when the trahs-
fer companies carried them aboard.
About six months ago an active move
was made to interest men of means IN
starting an opposition ferry Local capt.
talists were found in Oakland and San
Francisco ready to go into the scheme
These men bought stock In the whitney
Transfer Company.
The directors of the company are: A
j. McGoVern, president; F. II. McHugh,
secretary; Captain NJ. j. Miller of Peta-
luna, George P. McNear Of Petaluma and
A. Fouie of East Oakland.
j. w. McHugh is to act as superinten-
dent Of the new ferry.
"Our main object is to save money in
our own freight" he said yesterday. The
Southern Pacific has always been illiberal
toward US. We were forced to pay just
the same rate per wagon for our thirty
five wagons travelling every day as the man
who crossed once a year. When we pro-
tested we were told to 90 around by the
way of San lose if we didn't like it.
THE $4,000 per month we had to pay them
VIII 90 q lOuR WAY LON hlu lHO luu-
ming expenses OF cur ferry.
'We will also carry outside freight and
passengers On freight we will make
reduction of from 80 TO 70 per cent on the
present rates.
I'VE will not have any elaborate accom-
modations for passengers. If they want
so travel with us we will have room and
will carry them for cents We will also
ssin books. good for thirty round trips, at
about 81. These books will be made I'D
of coupons and viii Dc transferable and
good till used up.
'1here is no doubt of the success of our
line. We have enough freight contracts
with San Francisco and Oakland mer-
chants to insure our expenses
1--WE will make five trips daily. The
first trip Will be from the Davie wharf. at
the foot of Harrison street, Oakland, at
A. NJ This hour is fixed to accommodate
our wagons. The return trip will be made
ats o'clock from the JackSon-street wharf.
Every two hours the boat will start, max
ing four hours between trips from each
wharf
"Should our adventure be upheld as it
gives promise of being we will put on sew
eral twin-screw steamers, to cost between
$4,000 and $50, coo apiece.
1--WE hope to make our first trip Monday
morning. We are only waiting for the
boilers for the steamer. They are being
made in Stocktoo, and should have been
ready last week. Mr.. McGovern is in
Stockton now pressing their completion"
The new ferry has many warm friends
among the Oakland merchants. Some Of
the heaviest shippers were seen yesterday.
w. Nj. Watson OF the firm of w.
M. Watson & Co. said: "We receive
about fifty tons of freight monthly on the
ferries. We will support the new ferry in
every way. We have contracted with
them to carry all our freight at figure
much lower than that ruling now"
George l.. Fish Of the firm Of Phelan q
Fish, wholesale grocers, said: II am de-
lighted that at last men have been found
with enough manhood to fight the grasp
ing corporation that has been robbing
Oakland merchants for so many years.
MY freight bills are often $1,000 per month.
Every pound of my goods will be car
ried by the new company even if the
Southern Pacific should promise to carry
them for nothing.
'.Why, sir, it has cost me more to bring
goods from San Francisco to Oakland than
it would to send them from San Francisco
to Portland. Or.
81 have signed contract with the new
company to have them carry my freight.
One of my neighbors refused to do so be-
cause he said the Southern Pacific would
make lower rates than the new ferry and
he didn't want to lose money. FoItu-
tunately there are very few of that kind oil
men here and most of them do small bust
nesses. know at least thirty merchant;
VINO nave ol6utu CUAtldCtS WIN tu6 Lew
company"
William Root, local manager of Whittier
Fuller & Co.. said NEARLY all our freight
is brought across the bay in schooners. II
the new line brings down freights will
patroniZe it, but will sign no contract
We don't know WHO is behind the scheme
yet. If it is the Jackson-street cable com.
pany, as some say, it will be all right
Neither McGovern nor McRugh are mel
of enough wealth to be able to run q ferr,
line that loses money"
John S. Glenn, manager of the Columbu!
Buggy Company, afraid the scheme wa
not Oh firm basis. I'VE don't want flurrl
in freight rates." he said, land then hav,
the Southern Pacific jump in. buy up th
new ferry and send rates higher than ever
want to see how the thing is going to rul
before l sign any contracts"
The company has bought the little rive
steamboat, Frank Silva. 1t is onl
about 80 feet long. 1t has been entirel
renovated and new machinery has been pu
in.
It is thought that the trip across the ba
will take about thirty-five minutes by til
new line. The electric cars run within
half block of the wharf OH the Oakland
side.
At Alameda Point. where the Fran
Silva now lies. the w0rkmen said that th
steamboat would not be fit for use till th
last of next week at the earliest.