The evening world., 1894-10-02
NO FERRY IN SIGHT.
Messrs. Starln AMI Carroll Are
Still Out Of the City.
What Will Staten Island Commuters
Do with October Books I?
Stated that the Transit Company Is
Reaping u Harvest.

The fact that Howard Carroll or John
Fl. Starin has purchased the franchise
of the ferry from the foot of Whitehall
street to Staten Island, does not seem
to have occasioned as much uneasiness
among the residents of the island as
does the dilatory manner in which How
ard Carroll goes about executing the
lease. If he means to execute 1t at all.
There are not few people on the
island who profess to believe that here
after thede will be rival ferries in opera
ton between New York and Staten ISL
and.
There Is to-day a practically aban-
doned horse-car line, which for a short
distance goes more nearly through the
centre of the island than daes the pres
ent steam railroad line which, for the
greater part of its route, skirts the
shore. 1t Is limited that 1t is Mr. Car
rolls, or Mr.. Starins, intention to con-
vert this horse-car line into a trolley
road, and extend 1t from one end of the
island to the other, with many radiating
branches.
If this be done, instead of getting a
setback, Staten Island would, in all
probability, enjoy an unprecedented
boom.
But whether or not such line will
be put in operation seems to depend
entirely upon Mr.. Carroll or Mr.. Starin.
Both gentlemen were expected at their
offices this morning, and 1t was even
said that Mr.. Carroll intended to ex-
at noon to-day in the Comptrollers
office. Neither of them, however, put
in an appearance.
General Superintendent Cannon, of the
1cla PaniI Transit n
said to-day:
ut seems to me that Mr.. starin and
Mr.. Carroll are showing a great dis
| regard for the rights and well-being of
the public. AS soon as the lease is ex-
ecuted we will have to stop running
our boats, as after that moment we
slip. At present we are doing what we
! can to help the public out of its dilemma
but we do not mean to do 1t much
| longer"
Comptroller Fitch viewed the situation
with great equanimity.
1T is true" said he, that Mr.. Car
| roll promised to execute the lease in a
| day or two. Two days Fave elapsed, but
| he has not put in an appearance yet.
| However, he did not say positively that
| he would be here to-day and, therefore,
it may be that he intends to come to-
| morrow. There is nothing In the situa-
ton which should make the citizens I'M
| easy. Mr.. Carroll has deposited $l1 900
| in cash, which may be forfeited in the
| event Oh MS ldllure 10 execute tne
lease.
There is no definite time fixed in
| which 1t Is compulsory that the lease
| should be executed. A reasonable time
| is the stipulation, and 1t will not do for
the city to be too harsh in this matters
as we do not desire that all ferry com
munieation between Staten Island and
When asked If the Staten Island Rapid
| Transit Company would have to pay the
old rate of per cent. Of its gross re-
ceipts while It is operating without a
| franchise, the Comptroller said:
THAT is matter which must be left
for future settlement"
| 1t would appear from this that the
Rapid Transit Company is not having
is dallying over the signing of the lease.
| The probabilities are that 1t will refuse
| to pay the per centage to the city, in
| view of General Supt Gannon's asser-
boats solely for the benefit of the pub
lie. Indeed, there are some Staten
| Islanders who profess to believe that the
boats will run as long as there is a
| good clear profit in it for the Rapid
| Transit Company.
Supt. Cannon may surprise these
doubling Thomases, however, by with
| drawing the boats next Thursday night.
Mean time, the advent of Messrs. Starin
and Carroll is impatiently awaited.
Another phase of the ferry trouble
is disclosed in this letter to 1.-The
Evening World:
| The Staten Island commuters are somewhat
| anxious 20 know what provision The Ferry and
| Rapid Transit Company intend making for theiI
| patrons, who have purchased their October com
| mutation book Of tickets. While believe the
| Company will do what is right still during this
| period Of uncertainty as to the future ferry ar.
| rsngement, Information the subject through
your columns would be Of great interest to Staten
Islanders generally. tsgned) CoMMUTER.