Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1899-01-27
THE BETH CITY
FERRY.
The House Refuses to Grant
Mr.. Lamb Three Mile
Limit.

The Raleigh News & Obser
: yer of the 24t'!., says
There was pretty lively
fight in the House yesterday
morning over the Elizabeth
City terry.
The facts seem to be about
this: The ferry is owned by.Mr
| Z. +. Lamb. 1t was chartered
about ninty years ago, the char,
Ter giving three miles limit on
each side III which no other
ferry could be operated Two
years ego the Legislature cut
the limit down to two miles. to
conform to the general law OF
the State in regard to ferries.
When this Legislature met
Mr.. Lamb asked it to restore his
three mile limit. A bill for that
purpose was introduced and yes
terday came up in the House for
passage.
It was supported by Mr.. Bous-
hall, of Wake, Mr.. Abbott, of
Camden, Mr.. Winston, of Be1tie
and Mr.. Carraway, Of Lenoir.
Mr., Leigh, of Pasquotank, ops
posed.
Mr.. Leigh said the ferry cross
ed the ril er about two miles and
a quarter above Elizabeth City,
and is the only ferry within
eight miles Of the city. The
owners Of it, he said, had been
exercising this monopoly for 90
years. "Up to two years ago the
law prohibited the establlsh>
ment of any other ferry within
three miles of the present ferry
This prohibits the building of
any other ferry at all for the
reason that when you get down
three miles from Mr.. Lambs
ferry the water is so rough you
can't maintain a ferry there.
The present ferry road is in
miserable condition. The pro-
posed ferry is backed by men Of
large capital and will open
right at the foot of the main
street of the town. The till will
be reduced just one~half. The
granting of a three>mile limit
would make it impossible to put
in another,ferry. The general
law IS two miles. This three
mile limit is special legislation.
The people want another and a
better ferry. They want CONS
petition. The ferry is getting
worse all the time, Beside the
railroad is so near the ferry road
that it is dangerous.
The people ask ferry fran>
chise in order that they may
have competition, better service
and cheaper rates. They want
better and more convenient
travel to Elizabeth City. That
they want it is shown by the
petitions of 600 people that have
been sent up here and presented
to this body. The refusal toI
grant this prayer would retard
the progress of this growing
town and deny to the people
what they consider a right and
simple justice.
Mr.. Boushall, of Wake, vigor-
ously opposed the proposed
ferry. He argued that the peo-
pie OF Camden didn't want it.
Mr.. Leigh replied that he
thought the people of Camden
we're the best judges OF that.
Mr.. Abbott, Of Camden, said
he regretted to have to speak in
public, but he thought the oc>
Casion demanded it.
Il can sit down on log and
talk to a man three days and
nights but in a public assent oily
different. Il place this
question on the high ground of
moral obligation and equity. Il
AMI taking the same ground l
took IN the Senate six years ago.
I have been perfectly consistent
in this thing all the way
through. The passage of this
bill will conhscate Lambs prop
erty. It's not right. Pm not
trying to shape my course to get
hack here. I don't want to get
back. I left here in 1898 res
solved never TO return. | was
conscripted this time.
The law under which Mr..
Lamb operated from 1910 to
1874 was under the three mile
limit. The charter gives him
the franchise for 100 years and
this Legislature or any other
Legislature will do wrong to
take it away from him"
Mr.. Winston, OF Berthe, said
he had been reliably informed
that Mr.. Lamb paid $4,000 for
this property and there was now
Il mortgage OF $1,000 on it.
Mr.. Leigh: "And he makes
81 900 a year cn II"
Mr.. Winston; II don't care
what he makes right is right
and it's not right to destroy this
mans property. To do so is to