New-York tribune., 1902-02-06
MISUNDERSTANDING BRIDGEJAM
FERRY OFFICIALS NOW ADMIT THEY COULD CARRY MANY
MORE PEOPLE THAN THEY DO
ALL BOATS ARE NOT USED.
FERRY OFFICIALS NOW SAY THAT THEY
HAVE NOT PATRONAGE ENOUGH
TO KEEP THEM BUSY.

When Bridge Commissioner Lindenthal sug-
gested recently. that. To relieve congestion
on the bridge, traffic be diverted to the
ferries by half-cent fares he was told that
during the rush hours the ferries were crowded
to their capacity. In view of that statement il
has been suggested that a possible solution of
the problem for the immediate future lies in
more ferryboats.
Tribune reporter yesterday visited the
Offices of the Union Ferry Company in Brooklyn
There statements were made that seemed fatty
to contradict the declarations Of the ferry Off
cas which were announced as having been
made to Commissioners Lindenthal and Hawkes.
at the recent conference with them. Far from
being told that the ferries were carrying all the
people they could in the rush hours. the reporter
was informed yesterday by one Of the Union
Company officials that the company had eigh-
teen ferry boats. of which only thirteen were
in use Two more could be operated if the
traffic warranted IT, it was asserted, and three
boats would still be reserved for cases Of
breakdown. The trouble was. declared the Off
cial that there was not enough traffic for the
boats now in use He added that in the rush
hours at Fulton Ferry the company could carry
twice as many passengers as it was carrying
now. At Hamilton Ferry, however. the limit
was nearly reached in rush hours
Superintendent Gerard Of the Union Ferry
Company spoke of the hard time the ferry had
to get along and make any money. AT present
the company had to carry hundred passengers
in the rush hours 10 get 81. and yet the princi
pal business Of the company was done from
to 7:30 o'clock. night and morning. In the
middle of the day few people were carried. and
from p. m. to o'clock the next morning the
company did not make enough money to pay for
its coal.
Superintendent Gerard said he did not think
half cent fare would divert enough traffic TO
the ferry to amount to anything, and there
was nothing practical he declared. in the sug
gestion of more ferryboats. when there was not
enough traffic in rush hours for the boats al
ready in use. When the bridge broke down last
summer Fulton Ferry carried $4,000 psssen-
gers in one day, with four boats running all
day That was only extra boat, and an
extra boat was put on at Catherine ferry.
Bridge Commissioner Lindenthal last evening
said:
There is no doubt the companies put on
additional boats IL they want to go to that ex-
pense and can handle larger number OF
passengers with additional boats than now, pro
vided. two things: One. an understanding they
should have with the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company to furnish sufficient to take peo-
pie away from the ferries and bring them TO the
ferries. SO that the car facilities may CORE
spond with the ferry facilities The other. an
agreement with the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company TO a through rate.
It is obvious that have no powers in these
matters. has Dock Commissioner Hawkes.
/ suggested a plan and both parties declared 1t
was impossible with their present facilities
So l had to drop it, but that does not argue
that the plan is not feasible in the future when
both companies agree with each other TO give
the required facilities.
Commissioner Lndenthars attention was
called to the statement OF Union Ferry Company
officials that there was not enough trafic for
the boats even in rush hours He said:
missioner Hawkes. and understood il. 1t was
that they were working their boats in rush
hours their full capacity I cannot compel
these companies TO make an agreement. 1 have
tried 10 persuade them in a friendly way. but
they declared II could not be done.
Mr. Lndenthal added significantly:
have my suspicious. and think can see be-
hind the cards But ii would not do for me TO
give public expression TO what think