Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-19
HELD BY FORMER OWNER
OPTION ON FERRY LINE WITH
DRAWN BY MIR. HART.
Proposed Improvements-Age Pc l.
gett i'm Charge With Office
in This City.

AS stated in The Star yesterday the deal
whereby the Washington, Alexandria and
Mount Vernon Railway Company was to
acquire control of the ferry line between
this city and Alexandria has fallen through.
and it is now stated on good authority
that Mr.. Henry Hart, the New York owner
of the line, will retain the control of the
property and will operate the boats. Inc
railway people had an option on the prop
erty until April 10, Monday last, and upon
their failure to close for the purchase then
Mr.. Hart recalled the option.
A representative of Mr.. Hart was In
Washington yesterday and made Mr.. John
B. Padgett, who has been the Alexandria
the company, with his office in this city.
and Mr.. Champ Walker was placed in
charge of the company's interests in Alex
andrla 1t is now the purpose of the own
ers or the line to rehablitate it, and, I'M
der Mr.. Padgett's management. to increas Sc
its facilities and to improve the service.
In short time it Is stated, the old steam
er Beile Raven, which is unsuited for use
as Terry boat. will be replaced by a mod
ern double-end boat, which will make the
run between the two points in twenty min
utes. and the ferry steamer Columbia, now
on the route, will be made to make the trin
IN twenty-five minutes or less it is claimed
SO that passengers can reach the center of
the city from Alexandria in a half hour
without o1H1culty. 1t is also proposed to
greatly improve the ferry landings at both
ends. and to fit them up with electric lights
ana other modern improvements and there
IS talk OF cheaper workingman's ticket to
be good on certain trips in the morning and
afternoon. ~
Inc schedule of the line will be rear
ranged SO as to give trips much oftener.
ana 1t is probable they will also be made at
night, something that has never been done
py the ferry line before. If the owners of
the Terry line carry out their present plans
the people of Alexandria, it is said, wifi
nave the best ferry service that has ever
been given them
The news that the ferry line is not to
pass into the hands of the electric railway
company Will, 1t is said, be heartily ap-
proved by the people of Alexandria, as the
monopoly of the travel to this city, by one
me, was expected to cause an increase in
the rate of fare.
MI John h. Padgett, the newly appoint
ed manager of the ferry line, is a veteran
steamboat man. He entered the service of
the Washington Steamboat Company about
thlrty years ago, when he was boy. and
Tor twenty years has had charge of the
Alexandra interests of the company He
is popular with the Alexandria people and
his popularity, it is expected, will do much
toward rebuilding the business of the line
Mr. Champ Walker, the Alexandria agent
mas been IN the employ of the company at
Alexandra for about twelve years and is
also popular with the patrons of the line
The ferry line between Alexandria and
washington has been in operation for
about siXty-ffve years, and for a long time
cation between the two cities. Mr. c. W.
Ridley. the retiring manager of the ferry
line, will remain in charge Of the Mt Yer
non and Marshall Hall line.