The evening times., 1899-11-04
$1,000 A DAY FROM FERRIES.
New YOrk's Share of the Local Nav
cation Business.
(From the New York SUM

(fIOlD tie new SUM-
Prior to December 1, 1887 the last day Of
"old New York officially. the total ferry
collections made by the comptroller for
franchises given to companies running into
or out of Manhattan Island amounted TO
Sc. 200 600 for the .twenty-six years pre-
ceding on an average OF about $2fo.Ooo a
year. The separate political divisions of
New York county as distinct from Kings.
Richmond. and Queens. were Of no essen
tial Importance. for the reason that under
the original English charter of New York.
perpetuated in legislation ever since. all
the river, water front wharf, and riparian
rights on both sides of the Hudson and
both sides of the East River. including The
lower bay. were the perquisites, so 10
speak. of the city of New York. the ferries,
whether running TO Brooklyn or New Jer-
sey, paving for the franchise to the city
of New York. Under the present city char
ter. however. tine. collection of ferry rents
and franchises no longer devolves upon the
comptroller as one of the sources of rev
enue to New York, but is under the charge
OF the department of docks and ferries. as
it is now called, and all revenues from
ferry companies are collected by the COM
missioners of docks and ferries
Considerable curiosity has been express
ed as to the effect which the consolidation
of New York would have upon the ferry
returns. By some it has been alleged that
the larger, freer. cheaper, and more pro-
gressive use of Brooklyn Bridge would di-
minish certainly the earnings of ferry COM
panies. while the development of the tran
sit system in New York and in Brooklyn
would inevitably lead TO some loss 20 the
ferries. further threatened in business by
the construction of a new East River
Bridge and the resumption OF work on the
Hudson River tunnel 10 New Jersey.
The figures for 1899 are. of course. not
complete, but those for 1898 have been
added in detail and they show condi-
ton of affairs which is not such as to make
the advocates of consolidation regretful
The total revenues for the year 1855 from
ferry rents and franchises in all New York
amounted 10 s36i, ,9I3, or q small fraction
less than 81 goo a day for the calendar
year of 1888, Sundays and holidays includ-
ed. Toward this total some Of the ferry
or railroad companies contribute stated
sum. while others contribute percentage
on the amount of the receipts. From the
Roosevelt ferry the city gets $4,000, from
the Catharine Street ferry 1-3 per cent
of the gross receipts, from the James Street
ferry to Long Island City $4,000, from the
Twenty third Street ferry to Williamsburg
s13 600, from the Grand Street ferry S15,-
600. from the Houston Street ferry $4,000,
from the Tenth Street ferry to Greenpoint
S. 600, from the Twenty-third Street ferry
to Greenpoint s2l ,0O0 from the Ninety
second Street ferry to Astoria per cent
of the gross receipts, and from the Ninety
ninth Street ferry to College Point $1,000.
The Wall Street ferry pays 3-4 of its
gross receipts. the Pine Street ferry to
Long Island City I 3-4, and the Fulton
Street ferry 4 3-4 per cent Of its gross re-
ceipts. A like percentage is collected from
the Whitehall Street ferry to Hamilton
Avenue, and the Whitehall Street ferry TO
Atlantic Avenue, and from the Staten
Island ferry to ST. George $4,000. On the
North River. the city collects $4,000 from
the Liberty Street ferry, from the Cort-
landt Street ferry s11,e00, from the Bar
clay Street ferry $4,000, from the Jay
Street ferry West Shore) $1,000. from the
Desbrosses Street ferry $1,000. from the
Christopher Street ferry $500, from the
Fourteenth Street ferry to Hoboken $500,
from the Twenty third Street ferries CErie
and Pennsylvania) $4,000, from the Fort
Lee ferry $1,000. and from Chambers Street
ferry per cent of the gross receipts,
guaranteed to be not less than $500 a
year The Brooklyn Annex ferry pays ST.
500 and the Port Richmond ferry to Bergen
Point $500 year.