Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1915-07-03

III CHe presence Oh a NUMBER OF Der
gen County citizens including officials
of the municipalities along the east
ern ridge of the County, new ferry
boat, intended for the Edgewater-
New York service, was launched at
Wilmington, Del, last Tuesday after
noon. The craft is being built for
Public Service and it was christened
Fort Lee" by Miss Ellen George Nc
Carter, the young daughter of Presi-
dent Thomas N. McCarter of the Cor
poration which operates the ferry 1t
was a gala occasion. Weather con-
ditions were ideal and the arrange
ments had been so perfected that at
the given signal when the pretty
sponsor broke the proverbial bottle
of wine over the steel bow of the boat
the huge craft slid down the ways
and dipped gracefully into the waters
of Christiana River without hitch.
About thirty Bergenites, who are
deeply interested in the development
of the County, witnessed the launch
ing. With party of Public Service
officials they left New York in spec
ial car attached to the 1908 Pennsyl-
vania train and reached Wilmington
just before one o'clock. From the
depot it was only minute to the ship
yssIs.e OF the HARLAN & IIell l.. g 81 arih !
| Corporation where the hull was con-
structed. There the red painted craft
doomed large on the ways and was
gally decorated with vari-colored flags
and bunting. Workmen were busy
hammering away at the timbers and
wedges and the visitors mounted
platform which had been built at one
end of the vessel. Miss McCarter,
who was accompanied by her mother,
took her position as sponsor. She
was presented with an arm bouquet
of American Beauty roses which she
held as she crashed the bottle against
a steel plate, saying Il christen thee
Fort Lee" just as the vessel moved.
1t was so neatly done that the crowd
cheered.
After the launching the party were
the guests of President w. e. Cox
and other executives of the Harlan &
Hollingsworth Corporation. A lunch
con was served in one of the lofts of
the big plant. Mr.. Cox made a short
address of welcome to the Jerseymen,
and Andrew Fletcher of the A. & w.
Fletcher Company, of Hoboken, the
contractors for the boat also spoke
briefly. Mr.. McCarter responded for
Public Service. He paid tribute to
his organization, the members of
which, he asserted, were putting forth
their best efforts in the operation of
the Corporations utilities, He went
on to say that Public Service is keen
ly interested in the fast developing
in order to give the various communi-
ties the facilities and service they
need there must be a live and let live
spirit manifested by the people of
those communities. The building of
the ferryboat, he instanced, as an evil
dence of the sincerity of Public Ser
vices efforts to meet growing de-
mands Notwithstanding the stress of
the times financially. He spoke of the
mutual advantages that would come
from intelligent cooperation.
Mayor Edward A. White of Fort
| Lee also made an address. He eX-
pressed appreciation of the selection
of the name for the new vessel and
spoke of the relations between Pub
lie Service and the Bergen County
municipalities. He declared that the
officials were striving to build up
their communities in the interest of
the residents and were really en-
deavoring to arrive at better under
standing with the utility corporation,
for mutual advancement. Mr.. White
referred to the historical associations
connected with the name of Fort Lee
and congratulated the owners of the
new boat and wished success to them.
After the luncheon there was few
minutes for those of the visitors who
wanted to get glimpse of Whining
ton and most of them took advantage
of the opportunity. New York was
reached on the return trip at 6 o'clock
and a light supper was served at Rec
tors to bring the trip to a close.
Those in the party from Bergen
County, were: Mayor Edward A.
White, of Fort Lee with his bother
Richard and E. M. Franchi as his
guests; Mayor Henry Wissel, of Edge
water; Mayor B. f. Budds, of Pail
sades Park; Mayor William R. Will
lis, of Ridgefield, accompanied by his
son-in-law DR.. Alfred J. Grinan of