The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-15
TIE NORTH RIVER FERRIES.
Remarkable Increase In Passenger Trsmc In
the Last Twenty Years.

Twenty years ago It was regarded as a won
derful circumstance that a. many as 1900
persons daily crossed the North River on an
average each way. going from Jersey City and
Hoboken to New York and from New York to
Jersey City and Hoboken. Since that time
the ferry business between New York and
Brooklyn has been revolutionized by the Brook
lyn Bridge. but In the absence Of any and con-
nection between New York and Hudson county,
New Jersey. the North River ferry business
has been increasing at q rate 30 rapid that the
present number Of travellers Is now 10000
each way, lsO. 900 o day on an average.
Under these circumstances there was natur-
ally some surprise when on Jan. I the Penn
s~ylvania Railroad, whose boats carry a con-
slider able proportion OF tho ferry business.
abandoned a. Improbable one New York
ferry which connected West Thirteenth street
with Bay street. Jersey City, and was Intended
to ser We the New York shopping district. Sim
liar surprise was expressed a few years ago
when, under like circumstances the Canal
street ferry to Weehawken was abandoned.
The explanation Is very simple. As the growth
OF population proceeds uptown the ferries OF
necessity must be moved. too. and therefore
there are rather fewer downtown ferries than
formerly and n much larger number In the upper
part Of the city.
The extent to which New York, Jersey City,
noboken and Weehawken are served by fer
ries In uninterrupted operation Is not fully
made known by the figures OF the daily busi-
ness. From Jersey City there are seven Ter
ries TO New YORK, starting. from three points
in Jersey and running 10 Whitehall. Cortlandt,
Liberty. Chambers. Desbrosses and Twenty
third streets two %ferries,. From HObOken
there are three ferries, 10 Barclay. CHRISTOPHER
and Fourteenth streets. From Weehawkan
there are two ferries, to Franklin and Forty
second streets. and all these lines are In con-
tinuous operation, exclusive Of such additional
ser, re a. Is furnished In summer time by ex-
cursion boats.
New York city's public revenue from ferry
franchises during the first year Of consOlida-
ton was 1892, 1913, Last year II was in excess
OF e3S0.0CO and this year. from present COM
putations. II will be Ia excess of sioO, OOO. CITY
leases FOR ferry PURPOSES are made by public
sale and they vary In amount and conditions
considerably. The Pennsylvania Railroad
ferry at Twentv-third street. for instance,
which l. one Of the most profitable to the city
treasury. Is based on an annual payment OF
s22, so and 5 per cent. of the gross receipts
from ~lerriaee collected on the New York side.
The Chambers street ferry, rented by the Erie
Railroad, pays S rer cent. Of the gross receipts
both ways and tho total payment IL not to fall
below ss.SOO In any year; The Barclay street
ten years term, pays the city $50. 1906 Q year, an
equivalent OF more than s200,0OO for the whole
term, The lowest ferry rental Is 5000 a year.
and there u another OF $500. but usually the
city's return from a ferry either to New Jersey
o. Brooklyn averages from eiS,00Q " S2O.00Q.