The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-05-09
ELEANOR SCHORER.

Of communities east OF the Hacken-
sack. For that reason the associa-
ton has come to be known In Ber-
gen County AS the Fighting May
ors." Osler said to-day:
THE Eastern Bergen County I'm
provement Association has taken up
the matter OF the ferry fares with u
determination to see 1t through to
the finish. The five-cent fare
charged Is grossly out OF proportion
TO the service rendered. Tine West
shore ferry, running from Wee
hawken 10 Cortlandt street, dis
lance OF at least five miles, carries
It's passengers for two and half
cents, while the Fort Lee ferry
charges Tive cents for about one-fifth
the distance. our organization pro-
poses to do all In Its power to cor
rect this injustice. We have behind
us people Of fifteen municipalities
with a population OF $4,000 and an
assessed valuation OF $5i.000.0 900.
Outside of the excessive charge to
which our people are subjected. II
occurs to us that New York would
he the beneficiary by the reduction
OF the fare. The higher the cost OF
transportation the less inclined our
people are for crossing the river for
shopping purposes, and therefore the
trades people In New York City
should not only share our wish for
this reduction, but should be even
more positive in their demands than
ourselves"
John q. Ropes, Mayor Of Engle-
wood Cliffs. also q member OF the
association. was even more en-
I IA. In 10 1ntA fx.r Vt ..V
Bergen:
Here is a territory east OF the
Hackensack River in which there are
$4,000 residents. all OF them prac-
tically directly interested in the de-
7 velopnent OF that section. Tho re-
! duction OF fare. either ferry, railway
or trolley road. Immediately results
in the increase OF population. with
tho resulting increase in valuation.
| The ferry now operating between
One Hundred and Thirtieth street
and Edgewater. n. j.. is the only
ferry north OF Forty-secOnd street.
new York. until you reach Nyack.
and which directly supplys the sec
| ton. The enormous increase in traffic
in the past five years over this ferry
should result in an appropriate in
crease In receipts and profits. We
feel that II the report be true that
the income from this ferry Ia $3.50. 0OC
II year gross. that 1t must be n valu-
able property. and also that the
public. who support 1t. should have
at least fair chance of reviewing
its AFFAIRS. as they get their support
and income from the public and
should be held accountable to the
public.
Now. IL Is not the intention OF any
OF tho members of the Eastern Ber-
gen Improvement Association to act
unfairly, nor to get any applause
from the gallery. by attacking a cor
poration. We feel that we are Justly
entitled to a reduction In the fare on
this ferry. and have asked our Board
Of Frecho!ders in Bergen County t.
place the public in n position where
they can at least know the facts In
the matter, and IL facts Justify n re.
duction in fare, to have the Public
Utilities Comm ission at Trenton sc
order ii.
at seems that the counsel OF tn,
Board of Freeholders is out of har
mony with our petition, and prac
tically refuses to act. At the present
time we are told that the Supreme
Court Is to render a decision in tn,
/ Bayonns-Port Richmond Ferry fran
, chise. which will practically deter
mine the right OF the Freeholders t,
control the rate OF fare in matters o
board has delayed action in the mat
ter. We are told that the gross in
: come to the Public Service Corpora
= ton resulting from park located
, directly over the Edgewa later landinj
OF the ferry, and which is supported
probably by at least sixty per cent
OF the people travelling from New
York over this ferry, is over 100000
year. This Is "a matter OF great I'm
/, portance. and wa feel that II the ferr
had been run at profit fve or 81
wears ago. which they did not con
; tradict, their profit must be YER
r large at the present time. with tn
, further source Of profit,
y I'VE feel that the New York mer
: chants should be directly intereste
Z in rates Of fare where people trav'
TO and fro to the great yetropoli
for most OF their SUPPLIES and cloth
ing. Practically all OF this sectio
= east of the Hacksnsack River, shoI
. Ia New yoyx.'