Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-12-30
NEW FERRY LINE
AN ASSURED FACT
Will Connect Westport and Els.
sex With Thompson's Point
and Basin Harbor, Service Be-
ing Given by Boat That Will
Carry 16 Automobiles

As a result Of a meeting at the Hotel
Sherwood Tuesday night at which f. N.
Goodsell, of Alburg, explained the pro-
ject for the proposed Westport~ Essex
ferry. to be put in operation early next
spring, Frank f. Mcintosh. president OF
the Burlington Chamber OF Commerce..
who presided, was authorized to appoint
committee to accompany Mr.. Goodsell
in putting the proposition for the sale of
stock in the company before Burlington
merchants. 1t Is hoped that the NOR
chants and business men Of Burlington
and vicinity will subscribe for $4,000
worth Of stock. A good start has already
been made, 1890 having been pledged In
500 dollar shares most of this being
signed for at Tuesday evenings meeting
This automobile ferry proposition. as
outlined by Mr.. Goodsel, is for the es-
| Establishment Of a ferry touching at four
principal points on Lake Champlain.
namely, Westport and Essex on the Now
York side and Thompsons Point and
| Basin Harbor on the Vermont side. 1t is
possible also. that this ferry may touch
at Burlington early in the spring, and
late in the fall, after the boats of the
Champlain Transportation company stop
| running.
The Westport- Essex Ferry company,
| q
and Mr.. NORMAN treasurer of the West
! port National Bank Is treasurer, recently
purchased the yacht Admiral from the
| government. This boat Is 100 feet long and
2o feet wide. It will develop $50 horse
| power. has electric lights, steam heat,
shower baths. state rooms, and every
| thing up-to date. Some work will be nee
essary in the spring to widen the boat for
ferrying purposes Whom this work IL
completed, this boat will have carrying
capacity of 16 automobiles and 100 people.
CAPITALIZED FOR $4,000
This company Is capitalized at $40 coo.
IT is estimated that about $4,000 will bs
needed to do the work the Admiral
and prepare the landing places at the
POINTS mentioned. SO that the ferry can
PHI. put into operation early next spring
Westport has already subscribed for 81,
900 worth Of stock and Is ready to take
more. 1t Is the desire Of the officials OF
the company, however, that the stock be
spread out over as much territory and in
The hands of as many different indvid-
uals as possible.
With this idea in view Mr.. Goodsel
came to Burlington to put the matter be
fore the merchants and business men OF
this section. He pointed out Tuesda,
that this ferry will be of great advan.
tage to Burlington tradesmen. Burling
ton being the largest city In this section
, on either side OF the lake large numbers
Of people in Westport and Essex ant
, other towns In that vicinity desire tc
, come here TO trade, and this ferry, which
will operate at very reasonable rates
will give them splendid opportunity t.
do this.
TOURIST ADVANTAGES
Mr.. Goodsell spoke. also. OF the nd
; vantage from the standpoint of the tour
list. He said that the large majority o
the tourists who travel beween New Yorl
and Montreal now go up or down tn
; New York side Of the lake. because the.
do not like the dusty roads Of Vermont
They often remark that they would Ink
!, to see some OF the Vermont scenery
I they could avoid the dusty roads MI
Cioodsell declared that a large numbe
u Of these tourists will take advantage o
n the ferry service by motoring from Cana
da south on the Vermont side as far a
= Thompson's Point, then cross the LAX
$ to Westport and continue from there o
: New York roads.
n This Westport- Essex ferry Will h
e started next spring. whether Buringto
people back II or not. said Mr.. Goodsei
e as the company IL already assured E
II enough backing to start, but II is fe
o that the people OF Burlington and Weir
u ity should be interested In propositio
II which is sure to bring more revenue int
l. this section. and the company. OF cours
: desires to have Burlington people directl
q Interested in the success Of the projeo
x For this reason the company officials d,
70 sire to have the stock sold in 800 sharS
u rather than to have 1t all taken up b
one or two parties. II Is understood thu
'e one Burlington man has already offcre
10 to take the entire So, 900 worth of stocl
That there is considerable interest
- this proposition was manifested by II
!" representative gathering at the Sherwoc
!" Tuesday. The assembly included m,
u from Westport. Thompson's Point Cha
lotte village. and other points south
30 here. besides the Burlington men. TT
~ list Of subscribers for stock already Il
o. cludes a number OF prominent Burlingte
:. business men, az well as men In Il
~ places above mentioned. 1t is expect,
80 that the committee to take UP this ma
60 ter in the community will be appoint,
~ within a day or two and that the prop
40 siion will be put before Burlington bu
oe mess men before the end of the week
~ order to place the remainder OF the &
III 600 worth OF stock.
~ CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION