Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-07-09
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FOR BETTER FERRY SERVICE

Isn't It about time that some in
duentiai men got behind a movement
for better ferry service between this
city and Tottenville?
This is an old matter. Complaints
have been made time and again, but
nothing has ever come of them. The
Staten Island Rapid Transit seems
to treat complaints OF the people a
Joke. Isn't It about time the mat
ter was taken seriously?
It is safe to say this ferry between
Perth Amboy and Tottonviile is the
best paying ferry anywhere in this
section of the country; It is doubt
full II one could be found anywhere
that gives greater returns on the
money invested. Thousands of auto
mobiles are carried over this ferry
during every holiday and the boats
are crowded with machines all
through the summer. Even during
The winter months there is enough
use of the ferry to make it a fine
paying proposition.
Yet the service rendered is a dis
grace. Two old boats are used on
the route. one of them being utterly
unit for service. Besides being a
Yerirable old tub, the root leaks like
. slew so that during rainy weather
people have to keep umbrellas up
even In the cabin. The seats are all
wet 50 that 1t is impossible to sit
down and, altogether. the trip is a
miserable one. yet a big fare is
charged just as if real accommoda-
tons were afforded.
During the rush of traf1c
YER the Fourth Of July
this old tub. which disgraces
tho name '-Tottesviile." broke
down. This was not surprising. Only
one small boat was LETT to handle the
thousands of machines that waited
70 cross on either side. The waiting
automobiles were lined UP for a mile
y more botH here and in T~ottenville.
some Of them waiting three and four
hours before they could get on the
boat. This is an outrage that ought
not to be tolerated. When it is real
lied that these automobiles averaged
= dollar apiece for crossing the ferry
some idea a be formed of the
cnormou profit the ferry company
must have made. Yet when the peo-
pie ask for decent service they are
laughed at.
The condition is especially annoy
ing t the hundreds of local people
who live in this city and work on
Staten Island Or who live on the
island and r employed here. On
an occasion as last Friday and
Saturday as well as on the following
Tuesday when the traffic was so
heavy. these local people were delay
ed for hours in reaching their homes
all because the ferry company re-
fuses TO give accommodations the
fare warrants.
a new ferry company was formed
few years ago and a request for a
franchise On the Staten Island side
Of the sound is still pending. but the
staten Island Rapid Transit, which
Is the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, has
had enough influence thus far to
hold UP the matter. The franchise
has been granted on this side and
the foot of Washington street is
under lease for a new ferry as soon
as the rights a be obtained on the
Staten Island shore. This, however,
comes under the jurisdiction OF the
commissioner of docks and ferries of
New York City and there. on one
protcx. Or another. the mater is
sIds-uHcked. Staten Island, especial
" this I'D OF the island, gets but
consideration from the Greater
Nss ysvk officials. anyway. but in
this m@ss.r 1t seems the people here
are utte~iy ignored.
Psrhsos some real influential men
getting together and going after the
new ferry franchise in real earnest
wonid accomplish some results 1t
is Apout time q trial was male. Such
service as is now being
given by the present monopoly ought
not to he liberated without a sim
protest This ferry is toe important
to be ignored in the ii Is.
The staten Island Rapid Transit has
laughed at the people about long
enough It is time to ignore the
rapid transit officials and go over
their heads to force a showdown.
BAND CONCERTS.
Efforts to organize a municipal