The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-05
NEW S. |. FERRY LEASE KILLED
UNTIL CITY ACQUIRES ST. GEORGE
TERMINAL.

Then the Lease WIN he Put Up NJ Auction
--Baitimore and Ohio Asked TO Sell
the TerminaI-If II won't, Authority to
Condemn VIII He sought ut Albany.
Dock Commissioner HAWKES. proposal
to give TO the Staten Island Rapid transit
Railway Companya twenty-five years lease
OF the Staten Island ferry was knocked on
the head by the Sinking Fund Commission
yesterday. Mayor Low and his colleagues
have determined that the lease shall be
put up for public competition and that the
city shall acquire the St. George terminal.
From morning until 'olook last evening
the commission listened to arguments
from counsel for the rival applicants for
the lease.
Albert b. Boardman, counsel for the
Rapid Transit Railway Company, which
is owned by the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road, sought to show that his company
and the Staten Island Electric Railroad
Company were on the same level 30 far as
their claims went, each controlling hall
Of the ferry company.
NO. said Mayor Low, as things now
stand, you have the advantage. You
own the st. George terminal and, therefore,
you are In the position Of man who Is
throwing against another with loaded dice.
The commission will purchase the st.
George terminal from the Baltimore and
Ohio by private arrangement II 1t can,
and II not. will seek authority from the
Legislature to acquire 1t by condemnation.
The city ought to be in position where
II can determine just what sort OF service
the people Of Staten Island ought to have.
said the Mayor The city can only do
that by controlling both terminals. We
would like to know, Mr.. Boardman. whether
your clients would sell to the city at
reasonable price the st. George property.
Mr.. Boardman said he would consult
with his clients and send In an early answer.
Mr.. Low said that to whatever bidder
the lease ultimately went provision would
be made whereby the steam and trolley
roads would have equal facilities for max
ing connection with the ferry
Permit us to purchase the st. George
slips Mr.. Low said 10 Mr.. oardpan,
and we will soon settle this question satis-
factorily.'
Edward Lauterbach, who appeared for
the Mayors suggestion was agreeable to
him
In putting this plan before my clients
asked Mr.. Boardman, can tell them that,
whatever IL eventually done, the interests
OF the two competing railroad systems
will be studiously conserved 10y the city
and that no advantage will be given to one
company over the othcr?'
You may safely give them that assur-
ance, Mr.. Low replied.
The Mayor was appointed a committee
of one 10 conduct the preliminary negotia-
tons. The new lease will permit the
building Of additional terminals at West
Brighton and at Stapleton, accessible on
equal terms TO all railroads.
In the course Of the day Mr.. Lauterbach
made this remark:
We come here as reformers. We are
inspired by this administration and think
that we ought to be looked upon as re-
formers, when you consider the deplorable
conditions that Staten Islanders have had
TO put up with for years
How does il feel To be reformerH
Mayor Low asked.
"Oh, fine; it's a most delightful feeling
said Mr. Lauterbach.
Mr.. Boardman, in contending that the
steep grade at st. George ought not to
operate against IL in its selection as a
terminal. said that St. Marks place. which
In high up on the hill was one of the most
thiokly populated thoroughfares in Rich
mond.
Il know what I am talking about he
said, because used TO live In St Marks
place, and il has become one of the most
popular residential streets on the island
That's quite natural You don't live
there anv longer interjected Mr.. Lauter-
bach amid laughter.