The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1918-05-23
THE FERRY MATTER
Letters From the People.
New Orleans, May II, 1918

New Orleans, May II, 1918.
Editor of The Herald,
Algiers, La;
Dear Sir:
Realizing that residents of Algiers
are vitality interested in the question:
Whether or not the City of New Or
leans should own and operate its
ferry system for the benefit of its
inhabitants as against the present
medieval method, now in practice,
of farming out the ferry franchises,
thereby furthering the residents OF
the West side of the river with a
tax as larfge, if not larger, than their
ordinary taxes, l wish, through your
columns to amplify the reply OF the
Commissioner of Public Utilities to
the petition of the Algiers Improve
ment Association, in which he stated
in substance:
First-That the city had ample
powers without legislative authority
to operate its own ferry system.
Second-That when the present
Canal ST., ferry franchise expires in
1921, the present administration will
be out of office.
which is, just now, of immediate in
terest to the public and for that
reason will confine my remarks to
that statement, which is exceedingly
brief and | believe correct.
In order to enable the city to own
and operate its ferry system, would
require funds and the following is
the cumbersome procedure necessary
to be followed to obtain the funds.
Article 1928, Section Amend
ment TO the Constitution of Louis
lana, in substance, provides that the
city of New Orleans may negotiate
its bonds when authorized by a ma
jority, in number and amount of the
property of its taxpayers, voting at
an election held under authority of
an ordinance, carried by two-thirds
of the votes of the Commission
Council and which ordinance, shall
have been authorized by a vote of
three-quarters of all the members
of the Board of Liquidation.
Section 10, of Article 1923, limit
ing the bonded Indebtedness of the
City of New Orleans May issue, states
that the inhibition shall not apply
to the acquisition or construction of
revenue producing utilities.
From these Constitutional provis-
| ions it appears the city has the au-
| thority mentioned by Mr.. Glenny.
But, can the City of Orleans at pres
ent or in the near future, with the
port facility works underway,
| the ship canal under construction
and the multiplicity of other works
thrust upon its hands by the war,
undertake to overcome a world of
| greed and remove any amount of
prejudice in order to carry the re-
quired provisions? l fear not.
Hence, if the residents of the West
side of the river see the matter in
the light that l do, for with in
surmountable difficulties, it be-
hooves them now to gather in sys-
tematic way, reliable Information and
data as to the cost of operating the
ferries and the revenues derived
therefrom. The Information obtain
ed to be used to frame reasonable
and elastic tariff to meet future
emergencies and changes. This pro-
| ject of a tariff to be of service and
and guide when the city undertakes
/ to lease the next franchise.
To acquire the necessary data will
require competent work and funds
and | am sure, the Anglers Improve
ment Association will undertake to
raise the necessary funds as also to
tlrect the work to be done to the
necessary information.
Yours truly,
| d NORMAN