New-York tribune., 1902-09-19
CITY'S LOSS IN FERRIES.
CANNOT SELL FRANCHISES. BUT COM
PANIES STILL OPERATE THEM
WITHOUT LEASES.

The ferry problem Is one Which LOOh
pertinent has long had on its hands. At pres
ent it has several ferry knots to unite one OF
the most important of these is the Staten ISL
and problem where the people are demanding
a better service than the one they now get Un-
less assured of a new lease when its present one
expires. on June /. 1904, the present holder or
the franchise is unwilling to undertake the con-
struction of new boats which shall be faster
II an the present ones and otherwise improve
the service This is one OF the problems which
Commissioner Hawkes. hopes to see solved
within the course of week or two, or. at least,
a definite step taken in the direction of a solu-
ton. One of the difficulties in the way Of
settlement has been the attitude Of the two rail-
road systems on Staten Isand-steam and the
trolley.
At present the tracks OF the steam road enter
the ferry terminal at St George on a grade
and those of the trolley a viaduct to a plat
form elevated above the ferry landing. The
owners of the latter have cOntended that the
elevated tracks put them at a disadvantage ana
wish TO make arrangements for running their
tracks into the terminal at grade when the new
franchise is leased. The owners of the steam
road have objected 10 this programme, and De-
tween the two the plans for the improved ser
vice are delayed Until this squabble Is settied
it will be difficult if not impossible to get the
Il
H II Rogers the principal owner of the trolley
lines at the meeting OF the Sinking Fund Com
rnfssioners held early in the summer, made
verbal offer which the Dock Department is
hoping TO see put into writing soon, so that II
can be acted on. Mr.. Lauterbachs suggestion
was that ferries should run 10 other points De
sides St George and Port Richmond, on the
north shore. and a point on the east shore. Ihe
only Offer made in writing 10 the department.
was TO build two new boats. The FRANCHISE was
TO GO into effect as soon as the boats could be
obtained Commissioner Hawkes. IS discussing
the subject with representatives Of the two
systems with the object of getting a definite
proposition
The Brooklyn Bridge and the prospect or
other bridges and tunnels is responsible for
other problems The leases held by the Union
Ferry Company for the Hamilton. South. Wall
st. Fulton and Catherine-st. ferries expired on
May /. 1901, and have not been renewed. Since
that time the company has paid no rent for the
lease to the city although the ferries are still
being operated. Up to the expiration Of its
franchises, the company paid the city -. per
cent of its gross receipts This amounted 10
about 100000 year. When the franchises were
offered for sale a upset price of $SS, ,40S IS.
which is equivalent to II TO per cent the
gross receipts. there was bid. Later the
upset price was reduced TO about $4,000 No
bid was received at this figure either. The Union
Ferry Company offered 312 per cent. an amount
that the department has not accepted, as il was
little more than the equivalent of the rental OF
one desirable pier in the neighborhood OF the
Fulton Ferry The ferry company uses eight
snps on the Manhattan side of the East River
Inc Cnlon Ferry Company does not feel that II
can AFFORD TO pay the price asked by the de
partment, owing 10 the reduction i'll traffic due
70 the operation OF trolley cars on the bridge
LIS LIS Stock, which twenty years ago was worth
200 is now selling in the neighborhood of a.
The hands of the Dock Department are tied so
a1Ehi che
public would object to a suspension of the ser
wee or these ferries and no other company.
pIooaniy' would care TO take the franchises for
what the department thinks them worth.
The franchise FOR the new Forty -second-st.
1erry' which the Brooklyn Ferry Company be
gan running several months ago has not been
let, although il has been advertised for sale
twice within the last three or four months. The
nrst time 1t was offered it found that the
utscrlptlon OF the property to be leased
tanned land claimed by a gas company. II was
asain advertised TO he sold September y
again the franchise was withdrawn as Commits
@ @slohef faWkes desired to have the terms al
tered 1t had contained a provision that the
commissioned should have the power to annul
me she iranchlse at any time when the company
idlieo 10 live up 10 the terms. At the present
oiiitT the company IS paying rental 20 the city
at the rate of $4,000 year
For several years the Central Railroad of
N%W-Jersey has been running ferryboats be-
CS tween Wh1teEall-st and its railroad station at
tommunipaw without a franchise A franchise
was asked for. but the Staten Island Rapid
transit Company, which operates the Staten ISL
anu anu Terry objected to the grant of one, on the
ground that the company would be obliged to
give up its rights in the slip which 1t was rent
ing 10 the railroad company if the franchise
We're granted. The slip now used by the rail-
ROAD companys boats formerly used by the
staten Island company for a ferry. which it
once operated to Bay Ridge. 1t is understood
now that the railroad company declares that no
lrahchlse is necessary. 1t is a part of its
Iahroad system and comes under the Interstate
Commerce act.
Another ferry franchise which the Dock De
partment has on its hands is that for the Brook
lyn annex of the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad The
franchise for this expired on January l. 1879.