The herald., 1922-10-19
MURPHY FERRY
IDEA WON'T Do,
SAYS NORMAN
Also Cites Franchise Defects Which
He Says Makes II Unacceptable

Opposition to the proposal or
Finance Commissioner Richard Muir
ply to have the city take over the
ferry system providing the people Of
Algiers will guarantee the city will
be reimbursed for the purchase value
Of the ferry system was voiced Mon
day by j. r. Norman of Algiers. He
termed the proposal foolish and i'm
possible"
At the same time he made public
his opposition to the ordinance pro-
viding for the sale Of the franchise
rights at an upset price Of 5000, 900.
This ordinance was to have come up
for passage at the commission council
meeting last Tuesday. but was post
poned pending a reply to Commits
sioner Murphy's proposal.
The main objection to the ordi-
nance, Mr.. Norman said, is that 1t
lacks the necessary specifications.
thus leaving the citizens Of Algiers
ignorant of what the new system will
provide, and fearful Of another fifteen
years of conditions existing now.
an reference to repairs of boats,
the ordinance reads the ferry boats
Thomas Pickles and the A. NJ. Hal
liday are to be put in first-class con-
dition as to repairs" Mr.. Norman
said. please note there is no men
ton of alterations, but limits the
work to be done to repairs. Hence
we will find ourselves with four
bridges so constructed as to admit of
simultaneous loading and discharge
Of vehicles, and no boats described
for such method.
Provisions Meaningless
THAT the machinery shall be en-
closed in a minimum space, as pro-
vided in the proposed ordinance, is
meaningless, in view of the fact that
such type of machinery is already on
the Pickles and Halliday, which are
simply to be repaired. AS to the new
boat contemplated, this provision
would also be meaningless, because
no amount of open space for passen-
gers and vehicles is mentioned, SIM
ply that the boat shall be so many
feet wide and so many feet high. Its
carrying capacity will depend upon
the type of machinery used and the
space required by the machinery, of
which no mention Is made.
"The section of the proposed ordi-
nance devoted to the new boat does
not contain specifications that are
sufficiently definite to enable a pros
pective bidder to know what will be
required of him. No provision is
made for a boat that will permit of
the use of the bridges for the stimuli.
taneous loading and unloading of the
boat.
81 quote from the section devoted
to pontoons: The pontbons at the
Barracks street ferry may be of the
floating wharf type and must be sub.
stantial and of strong construction
No load carrying capacity Is men.
toned, nor is II stated whether the
existing pontoons may be used or re.
placed. Again, absolutely no mention
is made of the Algiers river side OF
the Third District ferry pontoons.
due to what I believe to be fatal
defects of the proposed ordinance,
have not carefully examined the tariff
But two items I believe to, be wrong
in principle, that of giving person
with % cents to invest in tickets the
privilege OF crossing the ferries fol
2 IL cents, while a poor person with
five cents must pay the entire five
cents for one passage. This also ap
plies to automobiles carrying more
than their capacity Of passengers
who are also taxed with five cents
fare instead of one ticket.
Pavement Clause Invalid
"The section entitled assumption,
provided the successful bidder shall
pay for pavement What pavement
| ask. Are not the councils legal ad
visers aware that the Supreme Cour
! in the case of the Union Ferry Com
pany VS.. the present lessee, the South
ern Improvement and Ferry Company
. decided that the pavement could no
be collected for?
"The specifications for the vehicu
lar bridges, two at Canal street ant
two at Morgan street, are not onl
, vague and indefinite, but contain tn
| fatal defect that no carrying liv
: loads is mentioned that these fou
y most important bridges shall carr,
Y In all other specifications advertise
D for bridges the live load is mentioned
< but not in the specifications for tn
Canal street or Morgan street bridge!
/ "It is a fact beyond controvers
q that when bids are asked for, spec
r fications of requirements should eithe
[ accompany the bid asked for or shout
). be on file where bidders can get of
s cial copies. This is demanded by la
:. and by public policy, as well as b
T. good morals.
" THE steering apparatus of tn
boats Halliday and Pickles at one {
our meetings here was described b
the city engineer as being an obsolet
system as the previous franchis
advertised required a new up to dat