New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-26
MAYOR OPENS NEW FERRY
HOUR TO ST. GEORGE
Attempt to Make Celebration a
Taanmany Triumph.

The operation of the new municipal ferry
service between Manhattan and Staten Island
began at II: 3S g. m. yesterday. when Mayor NC
Clellan signalled from the pilothouse to start
the ferryboat Manhattan from the slip at White
hal-st its first regular trip to the ferry slip
at ST George. On the way down the Manhattan
Joined by her three sister ferryboats, the
Richmond. the Queens and the Bronx, in a
parade, and later there was celebration at St
George
Tho boats ran With fair regularity during the
afternoon. but last night there was much delay
and trouble. From the start there was one con
tinuous protest at ST. George. for the trains and
boats did not meet with anything like regularity
Sometimes a train would arrive at the terminal
in time to catch boat but more often the boat
would be out in the stream and heading for
Manhattan when the trains began to unload.
That meant wait for the next boat and when
the boats began to fall behind the schedule the
situation was bad.
Last night 1t happened that q bad combination
came about. The weather was nasty. there was
strong tide running into the kills and also
around Castle Williams. the boats were new and
worked stiff, they were large and unwteldy, ana
to cap the climax all the captains on duty were
new and not used to the swing Of the currents
Boats tried to reach the St. George slip and,
caught In the tideway, swept far wide OF
the mark That called for backing and a new
try which often was accomplished by the same
result
At one time. between and s o'clock, three
boats were grouped between Robbins Reef ana
the st. George slip. One. delayed in arriving was
starting back to Manhattan, another was try
ing to make the dock and the third was waiting
for the second to get in and out again III oroer
that she might dock.
from wa
to half an hour late in reaching Staten Island
c,s ~ the Staten Island railroad men who
watched the operation of the ferry preolc'eo
that things would not be running smoothly un-
al RI. sacond slip at each end is completed
They said It was impossible to run boats on
Fifteen minute Roadway with only one SIP at
each end 80
On the food tide the water rushes past 81
c.eorpe into the Kills at millrace speed anu az
~. n.r,od between the food and ebb there
sra two currents between Ropplhs f'
ard tha slips The old captains kno" lne'o
currents. but will have to STUDY the'r eAeNN g
on the new boats and on each boat for Win
Tho old boats no two were affected alike by
+bsro and swing that would bring one poat
into slim would not land another within yards
of It
.s,s+ert Superintendent Lawrence Hanlon
sotd that everything was running as well as
could be expected in view Of the neWness Oh
the boats and the fact that all the captains
were green in handling them, ana also that tne
schedule new and untried-
No mains were spared to make the opening OF
tho ferry service and the attending celebration a
Tanmanv argument for the reelection of Mayor
Mcclellan. and the Mayor himself started his
official speech with a declaration that he had
promised two years ago to have the finest ferry
service In the world in operation before the end
of his term of office. adding People Of Rich
mond 1 have kept my word
The Manhattan Went down to Staten Island
loaded with four thousand invited guests mostly
Tammany off1ceholders. Every person on the
boat received a souvenir badge. consisting partly
of a bronze medal with the inscription:
7 celebration Of Operation the Municipal Ferry.
George b. Mcclellan. Mayor. I