New-York tribune., 1903-07-16
URGES MUNICIPAL FERRY.
President S1canStrom Sees Much
Benefit from City Ownership.

Borough President Swanstrom OF Brooklyn, in
O long letter which he has sent TO the Sinking
Fund Commission. advocates municipal owner
ship OF the Thirty -pinth-st ferry. Mr.. Swanstrom
says that at the present time the population Of
Brooklyn in and around Thirty-ninth-st. is larger
than that of the city Of Rochester and Is serious
ly inconveaienced by the poor ferry service. Mr.
Swanstrom asks the Sinking Fund Commission TO
authorize the Commissioner of Docks to acquire
the real estate and equipment of the New-York and
South Brooklyn Ferry and Steam Transportation
Company, which at present controls the ferry He
gives figures to show that the commerce OF this
port is declining while other cities are prohting oy
this decline. Continuing. he says:
The most serious aspect of this question IS the
decrease of exports because it is rudimentary
in political economy that imports are attracted
Uncertainty in the matter Of Obtaining freight for
the return voyage The loss in our export trade mas
forced several steamship companies which former
ly used the harbor of New-York exclusively 70
tain export fregh3 for Europe The federal gov
ernment will not give its consent to the construc-
the width Of the waterway between the New-York
ana @ an aa stronf 4e E to admit Of the
successful operation of such docks as would be
Fe21rs9 2n 6PF 5hs S% presented your
New-York and restore ii to the leading position It
he'd thirty years ago as compared with other At
In my opinion, this result he effected only
by the establishment of an extensive dockage
system on tho South Brooklyn waterfront which which
viii furnish such cneap accommodations for wharf arr
ing that il viii be to the financial interest OF I'M
porters discharge their freight in this harDor.
Three railroad trunk lines have terminals on
New-York Bay between Thirty-ninth and Fifty
second sts and the terminal Of the PENNSYLVANIA
Railroad Company is at Sixty-ffth-s It is need
less TO say that the subway projected by
this great corporation is completed large volume
of its freightage Will be carried TO Long Island
for direct shipment from the South Brooklyn
docks.
It is my earnest conviction that the acquisition of
the ThiTtvninth-st. ferry by the city Of New ork
is q condition precedent to the winning back OF
the profitable commerce that has been diverted to
OTHER Seaports.
IT. at the approaching election. the people Of this
State declare themselves in favor of the construc-
tion of a 1.0O0-ton barge canal and thus revert TO
the first principles under which the city of New
York became the second city of the world In popua-
ton, area and commerce. it will be the duty OF
this municipality. well as Of its public .pirited
citizens. 10 grasp the magnificent opportunity which
the wisdom OF the legislature will have placed
within our reach.
But private enterprise cannot be stimulated in
this direction unless there is assurance that an
adequate ferry service will be established in the
immediate neighbOrhood, that it will not require
than half an hour for trucks and wagons 10
reach Manhattan from ships side.
Such ferry facilities must be supplied either by
the New-York and South Brooklyn Ferry and
Steam Transportation Company or by the city OF
New-York.
Mr. Swanstrom says his proposition is indorsed
by the Merchants Association of New-Yorlz. the
South Brooklyn Board of Trade, the West End
Board of Trade, the Citizens Union. the Green
Fruit Trade OF New-York. the steamship interests
of New-York and the Truckmens Association Of
NeW-York.