The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-22
THE ELIZABETH CITY FERRY.
The House Refuses to Grant Mr. Lamb
a Three-Mle Limit.

Three-Mile Limit.
There was pretty lively fight in the
blouse yesterday morning over the Eliza
beth City ferry.
The facts seem to be about this: The
ferry is owned by Mr.. L. f. Lamb. 1t
was chartered about ninety years ago,
the charter giving three miles limit on
each side in which no other ferry could
be operated. Two years ago the Legis-
laturc cut the limit down to two miles
TO conform to the general law of the
Sblte in regard to ferries.
When this Legislature met Mr.. Lamb
asked it to restore his three-mile limit.
4 bill for that purpose was introduced
and yesterday came up in the House for
passage.
1t was supported by Mr.. Boushall, Of
Wake. Mr.. Abbott. of Camden, Mr.
Winston. of BERTHE, and Mr. Carraway,
of Lenoir. Mr.. Leigh, of Pasquotank,
opposed.
Mr.. Leigh said the ferry crossed TIE
river about two miles and a quarter
above Elizabeth City, and is the only fer
~ within eight miles of the city. The
owners of it, he said. had been exer-
cising this monopoly for 100 years up
to two years ago the law prohibited the
establishment of any other ferry within
three miles of the present ferry. This
prohibits the building of any other ferry
1T all for the reason that when you get
down three miles from Mr.. Lambs fer
ry the water is so rough you can't main
tain ferry there.
THE present ferry road is in miser-
able condition. The proposed ferry is
backed by men of large capital and will
open right at the foot of the main street
of the town. The toll will be reduced
just one-half. The granting of 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 an
other and better ferry. They want
competition. The ferry is getting worse
al the time Beside the railroad is so
near the ferry road that it is dangerous
The people ask ferry franchise in
order that they may have competition,
better service and chearer rates. They
want better and more convenient travel
TO Elizabeth City. That they want it is
shown by the petitions of 800 people that
have been sent up here and presented to
this body. The refusal to 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. vigorously op-
posed the proposed ferry. He argued
that the people of Camden didn't want it.
Mr.. Leigh replied that he thought the
people of Camden were the best judges
of that
Mr.. Abbott, of Camden, said he re-
GREETED to have to speak in public, but he
thought the occasion demanded it.
II can sit down on log and talk to
a man three days and nights but in
public assembly different. II
place this question on the high ground
of moral obligation and equity. / am
taking the same ground | took in the
Senate six years ago. ] have been per-
fecfly consistent in this thing all the
way through. The passage of this hill
viii confscate lambs property. It's not
right. I'm not trying to shape my course
III order TO get back here. | don't want
to get back. / left here in 1893 re-
solved never to return. / was con-
scripted this time.
me law Unupf WHICH MT. I1aHlD Opef-
ated from 1910 to 1874 was under the
three-mile limit. The charter gives him
tile franchise for one hundred 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 properly and there
was now mortgage of $1,000 on it.
Mr.. Leigh: And he makes $4,000 a
year on it."
Mr.. Winston: II don't care what he
makes, right is right and it's not right
10 destroy this mans property. To do
so is to take advantage of the faith
and credit he has placed in the chartered
rights granted by North Carolina
Mr. Boushall and Mr.. Carraway also
made speeches in favor of a restoration
of the three-mile limit, and Mr.. Leigh
replied opposing.
The vote resulted in SO votes against
Lamb and AZ for him.
Later III the session Mr.. Abbott lodged
a motion to reconsider.