New-York tribune., 1903-03-05
OFFERS 8 CENT FARES.
FTYE NEW FERRYBoATS.
Mayor to Decide About Staten Island
Ferry-Lauterbaek HAS Been. -


Ssayor Low has been designated COMMITTEES
OF one to bring together the conflicting interests
Of the Staten Island trolley lire owners and the
steam roads so that the people Of Richmond
may ret a decent ferry service without more
delay. The Mayor Is a successful harmohzer'
snd,it-fs expected by the city, officials that the
city wifi soon acquire ferry terminals at 81
tSeorRe stapIeton. West Brighton and possibly
Tompkinsvifle after which the city WIN al
.<ertise for sale the ferry franchises and 'hSt
the outcome will be guaranteed ofter. OF
cheaper fares and better service. -
The Council Chamber was well nlleo Seeter-S
CAV forenoon and again in the AFTERNOON WIN
staten Islanders Edward Lauterbach, repre-
senting H. H. Rogers and the trolley inIeresu'
made long address, which was answered Soy
A B. Boardman representing. the bsitinoTe
and Ohio and Pennsylvania railroads. OWNING
the steam roads on Staten island
The resolutions Of the islanders presehteu
as soon as the meeting was opened ask that
St George be made the terminal. with oVeFhe0u
landings there and at whitehall-st.. Manhattsn'
that landings be built at West Brighton anu
stsp9etop. and that new boats be built and run
sf rot more than twenty minute intervals.
E P Doyle urged speedy action on the part
rf tbe commission, and declared that H. H
Rogers who offered to establish ferry to
Tonnpk:nsviIIe did not make the offer In gooo
faith The future. he said, might only DC
judged by the past, and Mr.. Rogers eignt years
ago obtained franchise under promises WHICH
hs did not fulfil The question Of service WIS
Of far more account. Mr.. Doyle declared thHn
the question Of price.
Borough President Cromwell said that staten
Island was entitled to the, best ferry service IN
the world, and that could: be obtained only II
the CITY made liberal CONVERSIONS to the Terry
conpary. He urged, fhAt the Staten" Isiano
Rapid Transit Company was operating tne
boats without profit and that If the city IN
sisted on the construction of a new ferry mousse
etc and a payment Of O heavy rent for the
terminal IL must cost the operating company
$4,000 beyond its income to operate. He sus-
gested that the rent Of the terminals De mace
nominal and that the terms Of the lease shoulo
,,sist ,,pon communication fares for all residents
Of Staten Island
"Au Staten Island will he satisfied TO accept
ST George as the terminal, II TompKlnsNlhe
cannot be made such terminal,
,gr Roar6nan said the receipts Of the ferry
,ocmnanv last year were $43T. 900, and the oper-
ating expenses and fixed charges amounted 10
9S per cent of that amount
''I represent people who have absolutely seihsh
and locally circumscribed interests-thc interests
which control two trolley lines which have never
Maid" said Mr. Lauterbach. These interests
believe that Staten Island can be developed
into the most important residential portion OF
the city if fair play is given by the ferry service
which has been grossly naismanaged by the
Baltimore and Ohio interests.
Mr.. Lauterbach called Tompkinsville the ideal
terminus 1t was chosen, he said, by Mr.. Van
derbilt, and was so regarded until EraStus
wiz1an used the bluff of St. George for his ad-
Tertisements.
Mr. Lauterbach suggested that the city &c TO
the legislature and have the section to the char
ter restored that gives the city power to con-
denim any property it needs. THE city could
get It," he said, despite Mr. Boardman."
How du-seu know I would oppose it?" asked
Nr. Boardnan
II dent know It. know that with you the
city can get everything from the legislature;
without you. perhaps only anything that is
Just. Once / could do something myself Now
am has been in the political world
Here's our Offer" Mr.. Lauterbach added.
land it comes from the proprietor of the whole
trolley system OF Staten Island. We will take
our chances from the development and regenera-
ticn of the island. We stand ready to put on five
new. boats. 10 make seventy-one trips a day, in
stead Of the fifty called for in the lease, and we
viii give satisfactory service to any two terrnin
you mention and we guarantee communication to
any resident Of Staten Island. We believe what
we shall lose ths ferry service we shall make
from the trolley fares"
In closing Mr.. Lauterbach said all his peo-
pie asked was an opportunity to bid for the
II q
mission made UP its mind what it really wanted
DO we understand" Mr.. Low asked, that IL
che city obtains these terminf Staten Island
you will bid for the ferry franchise on the basis
ef three cent fare. hve new boats and seventy
enc trips day?"
Yes. sir. pledge you my honor" replied
Mr.. Lauterbsch. II have the authority of H.
H Rogers to make such IN offer. and we stand
ready to give q bond to any amount that we will
carry out any oher make"
1T seems TO me-" Mr.. Boardman said, that
the time has come for the board to make up its
mind on one Of two things; whether it will grant
the franchise TO the interests represented by me
on the terms recommended by the Dock Depart
rnent or upon what IL any, terms; or, II the
board decides to grant the franchise TO the in
tereets represented by Mr.. Lauterhach and, II
the latter, upon what terms"
Mayor Low asked MI Boardman IL he would
communicate with his clients and let the COM
mission know IL his company was willing to
sell its terminal at St George TO the city at
q fair valuation, and leave the city at liberty to
reach fair decision On the ferry question.
The Mayor said he was convinced by Mr..
Cremwel'6 report that 81. George was the
logical place for the ferry landing.
Mr.. Boardman promised to consult his clients
and to report early as possible to the Mayor