New-York tribune., 1900-12-23

fact that ferry nearer home has some claim to
antiquity. Documents show that ferry
Sablished between FultOn-st. Brooklyn, and
Peck Slip by Cornelius Drcksen. in 1912, and
from that time until 1914 passengers and teams
were carried across the river by this ferry com
pany in barges and rowboats. In 1914 twin
Boats, propelled by horses in a treadmill were
substituted, and this style of boat succeeded
by the steam ferryboat. The charter under
which the company does business is of recent
date, but the original document which it dis
placed is dated 1889. The first steam ferry line
n the world began business under n charter
Eritten in 1911 The ferry was operated by
Captain Stevens had carried passengers between
RewYork and Hoboken.
Besides this old document there many
Of similar nature in the possession of New
York corporations. One of the most valuable of
these is the old Trinity Church charter. 1t is
dated May g, 1697 and it covers three large
sheets of parchment, written in the antique
style of that time. The seal is made of red
and is covered with yellow paper. 1t is in a fair
state of preservation and is kept in the vaults
Of the corporation in FutOn-st. The charter
contains many interesting features and grants
many privileges. The men who formed the
parish called themselves the Manages of the
Church of England and the charter names the
Lord Bishop of London rector of the. new parish
The story OF the old charter, written by the Rev.
DR.. Morgan Dix, relates the circumstances con-
nected with the induction of the first rector,
William Vesey and his successor. Henry Bar
clay, after whom two downtown streets were
named.
KINGS COLLEGE CHARTER.
Another of New-York's old charters is that
which was granted by George ii to the founders
of Kings College, or the College of the Province
OF New-YOrk now Columbia University. The
charter is dated October l. 1864. The charter
yecites the fact that a certain of money
saving been raised by "pIblick lotteries and
appropriated for the founding, enacting and
Nabshing college in said government for
the education and instruction Of youth the
liberal arts and sciences, and, whereas. the Rec
tor and inhabitants of the City of New-YOrS, in
communion of the Church of England as By Jaw
established, for the encouragement and promot-
ing the same good design. have set apart
parcel Of ground for that purpose of upward of
three thousand pounds value. belonging to the
said corporation. the west side CT Broadway,
il the west ward Of our City of NeW-YOrk,
fronting easterly to Church-st., between Bar
clay and Murray SITS. 440 feet, and from thence
running westerly between and along the said
Barclay-st. and Murray-st. to the North River:
and also a street. from the middle of the said
land. easterly 10 the Broadway of ninety foot
TO be called Robinson-st. And have declared
that they are ready ana desirous to convey the
said land in fee, to and for the use of college
intended and proposed to be erected and
tablished in cur said province. upon the terms
in their said declaration mentioned" etc.
THE EARLIEST CHURCHES.
Another of the old charters is the granted
by William III, in 1906, to the Collegiate Church
The Collegiate Reform Protestant Church or
ganized a congregation and erected church
in Manhattan in 1913 This first house of woI-
ship was a wooden structure in Broad-st.. and