Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-07-02
DISPUTE OVFR ferry
IS FINALLY SETTLED
Judges Kelley and Belt Give
Owners $500 Less Than
County Offered Them

The sum of $o322.70 has been fixed
by Judge Kelly, of the circuit court
for Marion county, and Judge Belt Of
the circuit court for Polk county, as
the price to be paid by Marion county
for the old ferry boat belonging To
Skinner and Bushnell, over which the
recent ferry troubles arose.
The decision of the two judges, who
formed board of arbitration, was re-
ceived in Salem this afternoon and set
ties the ferry proposition as there is no
appeal from the adjudication.
At the time arbitration was agreed
ON by the Marion county court and
Skinner and Bushnell, Marion county
offered $2329.47 for the equipment,
which bas been found to be 800 more
than the cost of new equipment. The
sum offered at that time is seven dol
lars more than Skinner and Bushnell
are given by the two courts. The offer
of Skinner and Bushnell on March 23,
1917, was $500.
The offer of the Marion county court
was for the cost of equipment plus
twenty-five per cent. The decision of
the arbitrators goes to show the fair
ness with which the Marion county
court dealt with the ferry business.
In fact, the Marion county officials in
order to get free transportation for the
public, was willing to throw in $1,000
more than the equipment cost, as it was
ascertained that the boat and cable
were worth only about $500.
Dispute over Landing.
The ferry controversy arose after
the Marion Polk inter-county bridge
was declared unsafe for traffic about
January and closed to traffic about
January IL.
Nothing appeared on the suraee to
ruffle the smooth run of things until
the Mitchell ferry and the Skinner and
Bushnell ferry began competitive
operations.
Then the Skinner and Bushnell ferry
secured priority of landing in Polk
county and Mitchell was threatened
with arrest if he attempted to land
Mitchell, under these circumstances,
quit.
Then the people Of Polk county, to
the number of about 200, met in mass
meeting and asked the Marion county
court TO establish a free ferry.
/ The free ferry was put in by
Marion county and skinner and Bush
nell brought suit to declare their ferry
monopoly. They brought the suit IN
Judge Belts court but in the absence
Of the judge County Judge kilpatrlck
granted the in junction restraining the
free ferry.
The date was set for the trial for
the dissolution of the injunction. There
were two results that might be OBJ
tanned: A decree might declare Skin
ner and Bushnell Is ferry exclusive and
thereby rut the free ferry out of busi-
hess; or, it might practically confiscate
the private ferry.
Better Service Soon.
Matters then came to the point OF
arbitration. Marion county bought the
ferry from Skinner and Bushnell and
took possession of the barge and the
cable. The price to be paid was left
open to the decision of the two judges,
with no right of appeal. This was
agreed by stipulation.
D. f. Fletcher and G. w. Barriek
for Skinner and Bushnell and
district Attorney Gehlhar and James
q. Heltzel for Marion county. Ex'
perts were brought forward by both
sides TO determine the safety and sea-
worthiness of the ferry barge and
both sides proved their cases to their
own satisfaction. However, the Mar
ion county court went over the barge
and inspected it inside and out and
are of the opinion it was not safe.
It is expected now that the matter
has been finally settled, that better
ferry service will soon be given the
public. Just what will be done with
the barge has not yet been determined
INIT It is believed different arrange !
nepts will be made shortly.