The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-05
FERRY CHANGE THAT'S LEFT.
Sometimes $40 Week That the
Thrifty Ticket Seller Can't Give
NIL N, IL nnn.r,nrS

Sometimes $40 a Week That ths
Thrifty Ticket Seller Can't Give
Back to the Owners.
From the New York Sun.
1t was just thirty seconds before the
midnight boat for Jersey City was due
to start. and the tall man seemed 10 real
lie IT, for he rushed into the ferryhouse,
tossed a nicpeI to the toll taker, and made
rush for the gaze. The two cents change
which the ticket man thrust toward him
was ignored.
Hi, there. here's yer chauge!" shouted
the agent after the disappearing fugure.
The man paid no attention, and a second
later the gateman banged the door behind
him; there was a creaking Of chains, a
prolonged whistle, and the boat pulled
out of the slip. The ticket man smiled
put the two cents in with pile of small
coins which he had arranged at one side
Of the regular receipts, and turned to a
sun reporter, who had been asking him
questions about an overdue train.
mot 80 bad since 4 O'Clock this after
noon" he said, smoothing the pile of
coins with is heand.
DO you mean that all that money came
in the same way that that two cents did?'
asked the reporter.
'Oh, it isn't so much; only about 81
said the ferryman.
That's the way IL came. though" he
continued, You'd be surprised at the
way people throw away their small
change. The usual way is jusl as that
fellow did. They come rushing in, chuck
over a coin, and never wait for any
change. You can holer after them until
you're black in the face and they never
Ia, ne
pie deliberately throw away their money.
It's either absent mindedness or ignorance
OF what the fare is r, erything else is a
nickel at least in New York. SO most
strangers think the ferry fare is a nickel.
It's in bits Of two cents, like this. that
most of it comes in, although I've had fell
lows give up a quarter and never wait for
change. You can understand a mans
letting a couple OF cents 20 when it's a
case of catching the boat but it's a Pc
cuiiar fact that many Of them leave the
change when they've got plenty of tine
for the boat It's in the rush hours that
we get the best Of it. Then you see, a
man gets pushed along by those behind
him, and a man like me hasn't got time to
give more than one yell after him. Some
times they come back for the change, but
more often they don't. You see it de-
pends on how soon the ticket man calls"
What becomes of the money?''
Now, that's it," said the ferryman.
lingering the pie Lovingly; chats precise
ly the point l guess other fellows ike
me have thought over the thing and won
dered whether they were honest You
see I'm an honest man and never stole
anything or did a mean act in my life
Still, figure as / can, / can't see where
the company comes in with any right to
this money. 1t isn't mine, it isn't the
company's; now, whose it is? It's q doz-
en- different peoples, OF course, but they'll
never come for Ii and I can't take il to
them. SO l figure between the company
and myself and decide that / need ii most
1t can't be stealing, because 1 always hol-
Ter after the people who leave II, yet some
how | don't fee. as if it was quite on the
level. | make up as much as I can by
never kicking when anybody comes up
and Gains that he left his change with
me, / always give up what he says is COM
ing to him."
Meantime I use the money. Sometimes
it amounts to 80 in week and sometimes
more, and its very handy to a man who is
supporting a family on the pay the com
pany gives me. It's the same with all
ferrymen, and I guess the elevated road
ticket agents get a bit the same way. too
Say, do you think it ought to go 20 the
company