The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-21
CITY'S PERRYBOAT LAUNCHED.
STATEN ISLAND REJOICES ASTFE
RICHMOND TAKES WATER.

The Mayor Go - Ashore b, way Of the New
Craft. Nhich Had vigorous Christen.
iny--Nl Five Boats Now Anoat--!fay
He Pnts In Use by Next September.
The Eichnord, che Ct the Ave ferryioats
built by the city for the Staten IslaId SER
vice, was laur ched yesterday at the yards
OF the Burlee Dry Dock Company, Port
Richmond, Staten Island The beat took
tho water without hitch
1t was gala day for Staten Island
Flags were flying everywhere and the roofs
Of the houses overlooking the ship yard
were packed with psople. The residents
OF Staten Island for several years had beon
working TO obtain an improved ferry SER
vice and yesterday was the first opportunity
the Staten Islanders had to express their
jubiation. They made the most Of yeeter-
days opportunity,
The boat was christened by Miss Mao
Frances Davidson, daughter Of W. J. David
company With such vigor did Miss David
son swing the bottle Of champagne against
the side OF the boat that she and some Of
those near her were doused. Standing
beside her on the platform we're borough
President Cromwell Of Richmond and many
eminent.
Mayor Mcclellan saw the launching.
When he was last in Staten Island, about
a year ago to lay the cornerstone Of tho
new borough ball, he promised that when
next he landed on the island y would be
He carried out the promise yesterday.
He went on down the bay on one Of the
Dock Department beats. From tho tug
he witnessed the Richmond slide into the
Kill van kull and whom the ferryboat had
hen sr0rES FL K snat hs sa ps
back to the deck and the Mayor stepped
ashore amid cheers.
Luncheon was served to the guests in
the mold room Of the company Addresses
were made by Mayor Mcclellan, Do ok
Sommissioner FeatheTscn a.. and Borough
introduced he was greeted with prolonged
cheering. One individual. evidently think
ing that the bill increasing the aye rally
term viii become law. started the chorus
-Four years more"
The Richmond Is the last to Be launched
on the Staten Island line. TIE Mani attain.
Queens, Brooklyn and Bronx we're put
overheard several weeks ago at the yards
Of the Maryland Steel Company, Sparrow
Point. Md: They represent an outlay
the '' ctty Is cons .. a Shared sips
and nav terminals and the cost OF these
company for tie ST, George terminal,
which was owned by the company. will
bring up the total expenditure Tor munich
1t ia expected that the municipal ferry
will be running by September. Although
the Staten Island Ferry Company in even
its poorest years made a profit OF over $4,000
it has beeu estimated by the experts Of tE.e
Finance Department u at the city will have
to face deficit of about s25o'ooo year.
The new boats will burn considerably
more coal than the existing boats do and
the coal will cost the city more than 1T did
the private company. which as q branch
OF the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com.
pany., &c. its fuel at cost Labor VIII
cost the city more, too.
To these extra expenditures must DO
added the sinking fund to be created Tor
paving of In fifty years the bonds issued
to acquire the ferry and the interest on the
bonds. The city also loses the rental which
Yves paid by the company for tie terminal
at the Battery.
The Richmond hes been built on the saIno
general plans Of the boats constructed by
the Maryland COMPANY. The dimensions
OF the Richmond are: Length over all $50
feet; width oes,ull, 4s fect; over all, % feet;
g.! fest. fhe hull is OF steel. fitted with six
watertight bulkheads: The upper works
are Of wood, except the cngine and boiler
casings and the fore ard aft bulkheads
dividing the passenger cabins from the
wagon ways, which ere Of steel. The hold
ia given UP entirely to machinery spice
and tie nece sesTy coal bunkers and water
tanks.
, On tho main deck one cabin Ia for men
and the other for women, and in each cross
seats arc ARA nged. One innovation Is that
the upper cabin cannot TO rea ched from the
mems cabin, the staircases on ttis side Of
the boat bein at the ends and landing upon
tie open main deck The upper cabin is fit
ted with Cross seats, end sci seats are pro:
vided. Passengers are to be admitted
to this deck from the pier. The boat has
a seating capacity Of 1 800. Her speed is
the trip between the Battery and st, George
should "a Ike about twenty minutes.