The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-11-03
The River Ferry TangLe.

The River Ferry Tanglee
The affairs of the river ferry at Don
aIdsonville are in tangle that sug
gests the lines from one of the songs
in an erstwhile popular comic opera:
Here's pretty mess;
Here's a howdy do.
Briefly stated, the situation is like
this: Lessee Fl. C. Whiteman notified
the town council and police jury thai
two years. experience have shown thai
it is impossible to operate steam
ferry under the present tariff without
heavy financial loss. and asked that
the tolls be increased in order that be
might be enabled to continue his con-
tract with the town and parish. The
council received and discussed the Pc
tftion, and appointed a committee OF
three to investigate the receipts and
expenses of the ferry, consult the town
attorney relative to the legal phase Of
the matter, and, if necessary, to con-
fer with like committee of the police
jury with view TO such joint action
as the conditions called for. The coun-
ellis committee struck q big snag at
the outset of its intended investiga-
ton, in the shape of a written opinion
from Town Attorney E. N. Pugh to the
effect that "the municipal authorities
have not the right, power or authority
to raise or interfere with the tariff I'M
der which the ferry franchise was
Sold" The committee promptly re-
ported the obstruction to the council
with the suggestion that it was deemed
unnecessary under the circumstances
to investigate the receipts and dis
bursements Of the ferry lessee or to
meet police jury committee, where
upon the council constituted itself a
committee of the whole to meet the po-
lice jury land confer with that body
relative to devising ways and means
to settle the ferry proposition.
In accord ance with this action, the
police jury and town council assem-
bled Informally last Sunday and talked
over the affair for about three hours
without reaching any definite concln-
sion. Meanwhile, Lessee Whiteman.
at the instig alton of the gentlemen who
endorsed his notes, took the ferry boat
W ashlngton out of commission and
substituted tug and barge. The
council met Monday night and adopted
a resolution to the effect tn at the lessee
is violating the terms OF his franchise,
which call for ferry of the catamaran
type, and the secretary was instructed
to give formal notice OF this violation
to the lessee's sbondsmen, DR.. e. X.
Sims and j. Rumsey Duke. The grand
jury has also taken cognizance of the
.roubled stu alton, and in its final re
port calls the attention Of the paro-
chial and municipal authorities to the
character of the ferry being operated,
and recommends that these authorities
lake steps to secure a proper enforce
ment OF the terms OF the franchise.
The police jury has been called to
meet In special session next Monday
forenoon for the purpose of considering
ways and means to solve the problem
and il Is expected that some way out
Of the pending dilemma can be found,
but what it is to be remains as vet
among the undeveloped mysteries OF
The future.
The ferry chicken has come home to
roost, and if the bird could be de-
pended on to torment none but those
responsible for the present turmoil
The Chief would be willing to let them
"restle with the consequences alone. |
Unfortunately, however, the general
public is suffering Inconvenience and |
injury from the lack of proper
facilities for crossing the river, and |
some solution Of the pending trouble |
should be devised that will insure the |
early and permanent restoration of /
20 adequate and reliable ferry service. /
such as was maintained BY the prede-
,essors of the present lessee. To this |
md, even il it be necessary for the
oolice jury and town council to waive |
heir legal right to exact full com
oliance with the terms OF the present
ferry contract, we are
disposed to think that such a waiver
would be justified from the standpoint
of the public welfare. If it be true, as
Ieems apparent, that the existing tar
Il Is insufficient for the maintenance
II the right kind of ferry boat, what's
he use OF trying to compel lessee or
lis sureties to operate such a boat
hree years at a dead loss? Il goes
Without saying they will not consent
o bear such burden until forced to
10 SO by authority of the court of last
esort, hence the prospect of long
Irawn-out and expensive lawsuit must
e confronted if the contract is to be
egarded as too sacred for amendment
II abrog alton.
We suggest the inquiry to the paro-
hal and municipal authorities, the
own attorney and whomsoever else it
lay concern: Won't it be better to
escind the present agreement, revise
1e inadequate tariff and readvertise
1e franchise under conditions that
i'll protect the community from
scurrence Of the pending difficulties? .
Proposed Amendments.
Following are the proposed amend 6