New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-06

THIRSTY NEWCOMERS HAD ONLY To
CROSS THE NORTH RIVER FOR BEER.

THE FERRIES WERE ovERcRowDED CARRYING
THE THRoNGs TO HoBoKEN AND JERSEY
CITY-A FIELD DAY FOR sAIooNKEEP-
Frs IN BOTH PLAcEs-PREPARA-
TONS WELL MADE FOR ENTER
TANNING THE VISITORS
The Raincs bill is heartily indoreed by the
Jersey City saloonkeepers. especially those in the
vicinity Of the ferries. The ferry bats were
crowded with thirsty men who orC ssed from
NewYork. and all the saloons did thriving
trade
The visitors. a rule. patronized the most
accessible saloons. and those in Exchange Place
near the Pennsylvania Railroad station were
crowded all day. The proprietors Of these bar
rooms declare that they had never Known sucn
an active day. The rusn began early in the
morning. and extra bart enders had TO be engaged
to attend to the wants Of numerous patrons who
were driven from New-York by the -trict en-
forcement Of the law. Those who succeeded in
quenchng their thirst In Jersey City returned 10
this city 10 smile al the police In the afternoon
the crowd was so dense in the favored saloons
that the visitors were forced 10 find places where
they could be served. They xr.rienced no
difficulty in finding them. and all the dramshops
enormous business
These, however. were not the only rumsellers
benefited Thousands Of men rode on the troll
ey-cars to Jersey City Heights Greenville and
Bayonne. to find beer gardens and saloons. The
traffic SO great on the trolley lines that it
resembled a midsummer holiday. Several en-
terprising proprietors Of beer gardens had
drummers at the ferry to inform the visitors
how to reach the finest establishment in the
county. at which to slakc their thirst.
The saoonkeepers evidently anticipated
increased business yesterday. the quality and
quantity Of the free lunch counter was improved
and the attendants were kept busy. The
luncheon vanished so rapidly that the larder
had TO be replenShed and the small grocers on
the side streets. who know no holidays, did
spirited trade in crackers. cheese. sausages
canned meats and pickles
The crews Of the ferryboats regretted the en-
actment OF the Ralnes law. Their work was
greatly increased. they had 70 suppress and
care for those who had imbibed too much or
were quarrelsome Th- majority Of the
drunken men were jovial. and no serious quar-
Ies occurred
There is Sunday law on the statute books OF
New-Jersey. ir fact the old blue laws have
not been repealed The enforce men. Of the
law. however. is limited to prohibiting the
Nquor-sellers from keeping heir front doors
open and from doing can trade. The saloons
are all provided with side doors. and thes-
were permitted TO swing both ways as long as
the rush continued
II the saloonkeepers in Jersey city kept open
house. those in Hoboken were not far behind.
In that city. whose name Is synonymous with
beer and free lunch. front doors and side doors
swung 10 and fro with ease and regularity
that were comforting to the thirsty New
Workers they Were remuneratVe 10 Inc pro-
prietors.
Never before in the history 81 Hoboken has
there been such an influx u people. all % whom
seemed - be imbued With a strong desire -
drown all recollections Of John Raines and his
famous bill The saloons In the lower part Of
the city within four or five blocks u the Chris
topher-st. ferries and Barclay-st FERRIES were
crowded all day long and did rushing business
which causei the prOprietcrs 10 smile bIancly
and speak in complimentary terms about the
practical workings OF the Raines Law. a similar
condition OF affairs existed in Fourteenth-st.
Every boat was crowded with thirsty ones. VINO
soon made their way into neighboring saloons
or boarded trolley-cars tor the Heights, "here
they found all the beer and liberty they wanted.
Many OF the saloonkeepers were caught nap
ping as they did not anticipate that the en-
forcement OF the new excise law wou'u nav
the effect Of driving such large numbers OF peo-
pie TO their. city. -.
A Tribune reporter stood at the entrance OF
the lower ferry In Hoboken yesterday afternoon
when the influx was the greatest. and he noted
the fact that while many OF the VISITORS "ouid
make a Decline for . saloon and rap AT the sue
door. others. who had probably been in Hoboken
before walked boldly In the front entrance ana
relieved the uncomfortable feeling they had
brought across the Hudson
The crowds In the various saloons were or
d.rIv on The whole but toward nightfal the
effects OF the Jersey veto OF the Ranes Dill ne
came apparent in the innumerable instances OF
staggering and ud-talking men who q TED
toward the ferry boats and their dry homes. The
poljce did not interfere with anybody VINO was
able 10 take care OF himself. and consequently
the dav passed happily for the average Hoboken
4 UOTNTiIN WITH 4 HOLE THROt On IT.