Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1915-08-07
Freebooter George Lahm ANSWERS
Editor Kelly's Challenge And
Says He Opposes Compromise
Fort Lee Member of The Board Clues His Personal
VielOs On The Inconvenience and Dissatisfaction
Reasonably Sure To Result From Missed Days
Or Change OF Route Which Are Ever Liable

In reply to the articles published in
the Fort Lee Sentinel on July "a and
81, regarding the compromise offered
by the Fort Lee Ferry Company
to the daily commuters of Fort Lee,
and other residents of Bergen county,
asking why l did not support the
compromise offered by the Ferry
Company, l wish to make the fol-
lowing statement:
Having followed up the matter
with just consideration from the be-
ginning, and finally concluded that
the ferry ticket offered is not what
the public have been looking for and
not what they expected to get, l can
safely say and wish to state that l
have been approached by between
forty and fifty daily commuters of
the Fort Lee ferry prior to a meet
ing Of the ferry rate committee of the
Board of Freeholders, and represent
tatives of the Fort Lee Ferry Com
any, held at Hackensack Court House,
July 16, 1915, and there was not one
that favored the compromise offered
after having explained to them just
what the compromise really meant.
1t means that every purchaser of a
monthly ticket good for fifty-two
trips at $1.75, payable in advance,
must be used up by the purchaser, but
not good on Sundays or holidays, and
only good for the month in which it
is issued.
This ticket would be a saving TO
every purchaser, providing no illness
or unsteady work prevented him or
her from travelling to New York City
1t is safe to say that every pur-
chaser of a monthly ticket at some
time during the month would be I'M
able to travel to the city on account
of sickness or unsteady work, or would
like to take the Palisade car to Wee
hawken, Union Hill or Hoboken on
business, and cross by the lower ferry.
They would again discover they had
wasted money.
1t could happen so that only one
half or three-quarters of the ticket
would be used up when the month
is over, and the balance of the tickets
would be useless, thrown in the waste
basket, and their money wasted.
That would be the time the howl
would begin. The people would then
readily see that the ticket is not
what is wanted, and not what they
were long fighting for.
The Board of Freeholders would
then be blamed and ridiculed for their
poor judgment by accepting a ticket
of such sort. 1t is far better at the
present time to let the people know
what they would get for their money,
rather than to have them advance
$1,75 for a ticket which they would
know from experience is not what
they wanted and would not buy the
second time.
We can therefore see thit the daily
commuters would be benefited very
little.
How about the thousands of shop
pers that travel across the ferry two
or more times week, and who ought
also to be benefited? How about the
other people going to New York City
two or three times week on bust
ness? Wouldn't they still have to pay
their nickel? They sure would Take
for example last Wednesday morn
ing's, August 4, rain and wind storm,
some people made no attempt to go
to the city, if they had monthly
tickets two would have been wasted.
There will be more such days and
more tickets wasted.
There will be days in the winter
time when daily commuters could not
attend to business in the city, owing
to heavy snow or ice or compelled
to travel some other way which would
mean more unused tickets, paid for,
which would be added to the other
dead tickets.
We the committee on ferry rates of
the Board of Freeholders, have, some
time ago, been offered what we and
others consider a far better ticket
for the general public, the value of
which will be published shortly.
Very respectfully yours,
George, Lain,
i 4 II