New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-25
STATEN ISLAND HAPPY.
CREDIT NOT DUE TIGER.
Better Ferry Facilities Blocked for
Years by Murphy's BrdTeS.

For nearly twenty years the inhabitants of
Staten Island have been wishing. waiting and
working for respectable and commodious ferry
facilities between their island and the metropo-
lis, and finally to-day their long awaited hopes
will be realized. The old boats believed
10 be a menace to the lives of passengers two
OF them having been over forty years in con-
slant use and their old hulks being rotten to
the core.
Aside from their great age and that they were
only capable of travelling at a snaiIs pace, they
were miserably lighted and unable to accommo-
date properly the travel during rush hours. ="
In the winter months. when the harbor was
filed with ice the long suffering Staten Islander
had to place his trust in providence to get to
and from his business.
with the opening Of the new service under
the city's administration Staten Island has at
last chance 20 become Of the finest sub
urbs. and does not have to apologize and prom
ise that its ferry service will be better in the
near future.
To whom is due the credit of supplying
Staten Island with five new ferryboats and q
service which gives promise of being second to
none in this vicinity? From Mayor McClellan's
speeches it would appear that the present ad-
ADMINISTRATION should be the recipients of all the
honors. but investigation dsproves this entirely.
A thorough review Of the history OF the de-
veIopment Of the new service shows that Tam
many Hall was alone responsible for the long
delay, and that the boats would have been in
commission nearly three months ago had it not
been for the deep design Of the administration
TO hold uD the inauguration of the new service
until the eve of the present election. when the
glory would rebound to the Braves OF Tam
many Hail.
One OF the first actions Of Mayor Robert A
Van Wx-Sl- IN oft
between this city and Staten Island. In his
message to the Board Of Aldermen he promised
to look into the matter at once. Although he
was appealed to time and again by those in
5erested in the project, he put them of with
evasive answers and let the matter drop. There
was not a single step taken during his term
TO install a better equipped service.
DEMOCRATS HINDERED MAYOR Low.
When Mayor Seth Low began his administra-
ton the matter was taken up by him and
Borough President George Cromwell. They met
with opposition almost Immediately, for there
arose a squabble between the railroad and troll
ley interests whether the Staten Island
terminus should be at st. George or a mile
further down the coast, at Tompkinsville. After
about a years delay it finally decided.
through the influence of MI Cromwell to have
II remain at it's present place.
The Democrats made a strategic move at this
time. for one clique of the Board Of Aldermen
advocated having 1t at St George, another at
Tompkinsville, and the third. at the last mo-
ment. made plea for municipal ownership.
Thus they were bound to receive the glory no
matter how it finally decided.
During Mayor Lows term President Cromwell
worked to have the original charter changed
that the ferry privileges might be extended
for of twenty-five years instead of ten
AT that time things looked bright for new ferry
and the Staten Islanders again took heart. The
Borough President worked hard to have the
ferry privilege leased to a private corporation,
and finally the Dock Commissioner was author
lied to receive bids. His efforts were nipped in
the bud, however. for the requirements were
made so odious that no corporation would put
in a bid, because they saw they would lose
money on the contract.
Although the Staten Islanders were not direct
ly benefited by the efforts of Mayor Low and
President Cromwell, they Loyalty supported
them in the next election, and the Borough of
Richmond was the only one to give the Repub-
lican ticket majority, which goes to show that
the voters realzed that the administration was
working in their behalf.
Undaunted by his previous unsuccessful eff
forts, President Cromwell again put the matter
before the Board Of Aldermen at the beginning
of Mayor George B. McClellan's term of office
The matter was shelved for a time, and the
outlook did not appear any brighter than it
had during the regime Of Mayor Van Wyck
TAMMANY TRIED TO BLOCK. BILL.
Mr. Cromwell went to Albany and appeared
before the Governor setting forth the cond-
lions as they existed A bill was introduced to
have the ferry taken under the control of the
city and TO extend the term of the lease and
although the Democrats worked to block its
adoption, it was finally passed
Ahe troubles were not over yet. for there was
opposition among the Board of Aldermen For
long time every move held up Alderman
mccall held out on every question requiring
unanimous vote. His orders were received
IRON the Tammany headquarters and he lived
up 10 them despite all persuasion. until he was
given the cue to do otherwise. A little more than
q year ago the question was decided and active
operations We're at once begun to install the
ferry system.
One OF the most recent causes for the delav
was the pickering the purchase OF the
terminals. This was also directly due to Demo-
cratic influences. The object as before stated
was 10 hold up the opening until the close OF
the present administration, when il could be
used as an argument to hoodwink the public
into believing that Il due TO the enterprise
OF the Democratic party
Without any doubt, had fl not been for the
tireiess energy Of Mr.. Cromwell and the efforts
of ex-MayOr Low, the residents of Staten Island
would have had TO travel on the old miserable
tubs for years TO come.