Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1913-03-05
S. |. R. 7.
|. OPPOSES
FERRY GO.
Matter Taken Up
by N. Y. Dock
Department.
Get A PETITION

OII II L EON
Despite opposition of the Staten
Island Rapid Transit Railway Com
pany, the outlook seems favorable
for the granting of franchise to
the Perth Amboy & Tottenville Ferry
Company to operate to and from
Tottenville, within the next few
weeks The Perth Amboy Board OF
Trade aiied materially in urging the
granting OF the franchise, when an
application came up for hearing
before First Deputy DICK Commas
sioner B. F. Cresson. on Pier A, de-
partment of docks, New York city, at
2,30 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
No price for the franchise was set
tied upon. The new ferry company
agreed to put up suitable bond
to the City of New York while con-
struction work was going on at it's
proposed slip at the foot Of Bentley
street, Tottenville. The company
was granted a week in which to file
petition from residents of the
southern end OF Staten Island who
want the new ferry line.
Commissioner Cresson first heard
the new ferry company's counsel and
officials then those who objected and
lastly those In favor of the project.
Walter Thompson, vice president OF
the Perth Amboy & Tottenville Ferry
Company, said 1t was the intention OF
the company to give rapid ferry SER
vice between Perth lAmboy. and Tot
tenvilie and not to cut rates. He
told OF the proposition to erect slips
and ferry houses at the foot OF
Washington street here and the foot
of Bentley street in Tottenville; OF
it's proposition to spend about $685.
900, of which about $4,000 would
be spent on the Tottenville side and
$4,000 on the Perth Amboy side.
1t is the eompany's intentions to
operate one regulation ferry boat at
first, and others If demand necessi-
tates. Frequent trips will be made,
according to Mr.. Thompson. He in
timated that the company had al
ready made provisions for leaaing
s:sats s's-',,.
George j. Brown, general traffic
agent for the Staten Island Rapid
Transit Railway Company. next gave
objections. His two principal objec-
tions were the location of the pro-
posed slips, SO as to cause interfer-
enCe with S. |. X. I. boats, and in
reference with the steamer anchor
age ground off the foot Of Washing
ton street. Commissioner Cresson
seemed to think little of the first OBJ
lection. stating that ferry lines cross
ed and recrossed one another at the
foot of Twenty-third street, New
York city, and there was no interfer-
ence. MIR. Brown declared the an
chorage ground would have to be
abandoned if the new company was
TO operate from Washington street to
Bentley street. Tottenville, and
steamers would be forced to anchor
about ten miles down the bay. He
put A. M. Beebe. a Sandy Hook pilot.
on the stand to prove his assertions
in that respect. Mr.. Beebe declared
1t was true that it would cause the
anchorage ground to be abandoned
and cause an inconvenience to large
ships.
Mr. Brown concluded by stating
that the S. |. r. T. company was CIV
ing good service and taking care OF
all the business at hand. He in
sisted another ferry line would not
pay.
Joseph e. Stricken, speaking for
the Perth Amboy Board of Trade, re-
futed Mr.. Brown, stating the present
operating company was giving poor
service and another line was needed.
He told of how automobiles were Of
ten lined up for distances OF
blocks at times and some waited for
hours to get across. He maintained
1t was his belief q new line would
pay. He found fault with the ferry
boat "Tottenville" OF the S. l. X. T.
equipment, declaring It was too long
and cumbersome for use here. He
maintained the vessel caused much
inconvenience and on account of its
great size was difficult to turn and
at times required as much as twenty
minutes for a single trip.
Mayor Ferd Garretson and A. G.
Clark, also speaking as representa-
tives Of the Perth Amboy Board OF
Trade, told of the needs of such an
Improvement as the new ferry COM
pany was about to give. Like Mr..
Stricken. they declared there was
room for improvement In the ferry
service between Perth Amboy and
Tottenville and believed people on
both sides wanted it.
When Commissioner Cresson ask
ed the Perth Amboy e. Tottenville
Ferry Company what amount they
would pay for a franchise, they ex-
pressed desire to know what IL
would cost. When the commissioner
asked II they were willing to give
percentage of the gross receipts In
payment for the same, they stated
that would depend on the amount of
percentage.
H. w. Rianhard, appearing as
counsel for the new ferry company,
asked for an adjournment Of the
hearing to present further evidence
OF the demand for the proposed new
ferry line. The request was denied,
but he was granted permission to file
a petition.
C. C. Baldwin, president OF the
Perth Amboy & Tottenville Ferry
Company. was present together with
the vice president and counsel for