The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-07
ASKING FOR A FREE FERRY.
ONE PROPOSED TO BE oPER-
ATED AT FREEPORT.
r Il Strongly Opposed by Steam
boat Owners and Others
Under Amusement.

The Supervisors yesterday took up
the matter of the petition of John A.
Souza, Thomas Machado, Manuel Con-
fente, Antoine Joseph, I. L. Manica and
others for a free ferry across the Sac
famento River at Freeport
The petition was read by William M.
Sims, counsel for the petitioners. 1t
asks the board to authorize the estab-
lishment of the ferry as a public neces-
sity, and states that it will be operated
without charge to persons using its
Mr.. Sims also presented a petition
from residents of both sides of the river
in the vicinity of Freeport asking that
the ferry be established. This petition
contained about 100 signatures.
Mr.. Sims argued that it should be the
policy of Boards of Supervisors to give
the people free bridges and ferries as
well as free roads. Toll roads and toll
bridges have been abolished in this
county, and free ferries are just as
necessary. The country in the vicin-
ity of Freeport is being divided into
small holdings, up and down the river,
and the people occupying and farming
these lands should nave every possible
facility for crossing the river.
The proposed free ferry, said Mr..
Sims, was desired chiefly for the accom-
mediation of the farmers on the Yolo
side of the river who must do their
trading in Sacramento City. These
people ask and demand a better ferry
system at the town of Freeport. The
farmers on the west side of the river
have to pay from $50 to 500 each per
year to get the produce of their dairies
across the river 1t has cost them
much more than this for other pur-
poses.
All that is asked, said Mr.. Sims, is
that these people be allowed to insert
the entering wedge against the, Old ferry
system. If granted the franchise ask
ed for the parties will give a satisfac-
tory bond to maintain and operate the
ferry free of charge to the people US
ing it. If the owner of the present
ferry would sell out his property would
be bought and paid for by these people.
The Supervisors can operate the Soto
or other ferry, if they prefer but at all
events there should be a free ferry.
Mr.. Sims quoted from various deci-
sions to the effect that the Board of
Supervisors has the right, in its discre-
ton, to grant a franchise for ferry
within mile of one already being OPP
Grated, and said the District Attorney
agreed with him that the board could
do so.
F. d. Ryan, representing persons op-
posed to having the ferry established,
presented protests from residents and
taxpayers of Freeport and vicinity, in
Guiding Mrs. Margaret O'Toole, on
whose land it was proposed to establish
the ferry landing on the Freeport side
of the river
Protests We're also presented on be
half of the Sacramento River Transpor-
tation Company and the Southern Pa
cific Company.
Mr.. Ryan said he represented a large
number of taxpayers and users of the
ferry in the vicinity of Freeport, who
objected to the granting of the fran
chise. They object because they have
very little confidence in the scheme or
in those who are asking for the fran
chise, as they fear it will not be MAIN
tanned long and will be thrown ulti-
mately on the county for maintenance.
It would cost about $1,000 to construct
it and $500 to $500 year to sup
port it.
If there We're a free ferry, said Mr.
Ryan, many would use it who had no
occasion to; simply for the sake of US
ing it. The present one transports foot
passengers largely without charge, and
especially on Sundays and holidays, the
present owner being very accommodate
ing. also to parties coming to Freeport
to have their wagons and utensils fixed.
Another thing-a franchise cannot be
granted without the consent of land
owners on both sides of the river front,
and Mrs. O'Toole, who owns the land
on this side, is opposed to the ferry. 1t
would, therefore, be necessary to exer-
else the right of eminent domain and
condemn her land which is an arbi-
trary and expensive proceeding. He
claimed that the conditions specified in
the law did not exist in this case, SO
that the board could not grant the
franchise. The transportation compa-
MES whose steamers ply on the river
also object on account of the added
danger to navigation from collision.
Mr.. Sims replied that if Mr.. Soto
would sell his ferry to the petitioners
they would buy it. They would select
an arbitrator to meet one selected by
him, and if they could not agree on the
price they could call in a third. His