The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1922-08-10


of municipal ownership of ferries in
a sizzling statement Saturday, Paul
Maloney, commissioner of public
utilities, attacked the attitude Peter
S. Lawton and others have taken in
the matter. His statement follows:
THE statements appearing in the
newspapers of the past several days,
sponsored by Mr.. Peter Lawton and
Mr.. CT. Bonner, making accusations
against the Commission Council and
more particularly my department, in
the matter of ferry franchises, have
been noted, and | must say that the
claims advanced do not conform to
the facts in the case.
$50 that the patrons of the Algiers
ferry may be correctly informed as to
the real facts bearing upon the issue,
| will give the following particulars:
"Algiers is served by two lines of
ferries, one that is known as the
Third District ferry, operated be-
tween Barracks street and Oliver
street, and the other known as the
Canal street ferry. operated from
Canal street to Morgan street.
1.-THE Third District ferry is oper-
lated by the Union Ferry Company
This company's franchise expired in
1906 and. although two franchises
for the service were advertised at
different times by various admins
trations, they failed of sale, the prop
osition evidently not appearing invit-
ing. The Union Ferry Company
made a proposition to the council
in 1907 to pay the city five per cent
of the gross receipts. The records
show that this arrangement was &C
copied and the city of New Orleans
has been receiving payments on this
basis since that date. So much for
the Third District ferry, on which
subject Mr.. Lawton, Notwithstanding
his statements in the newspapers
asking illogical questions, has been
fully informed, receiving copies of all
the documents setting forth the facts
as | have given them, months ago.
Gave Lawton Chance
1.-THE Southern Ferry and Improve
ment Company obtained from the
CITY of New Orleans in 1906 a Is
year franchise, paying considera'
| ton of S225,000 to operate the ferry
service from Canal street to Morgan
street. This franchise expired Dec
81. 1921, and the council, so as to
allow Mr.. Lawton and his associates
full opportunity to present their
reasons for municipal ownership, did
not effect a change in the operation
of the service. This effort on the
part of the council to show Mr.. Law
ton and his associates every consid
Grafton, necessitated allowing the
present operator an extension as pei
the conditions of the franchise tC
such a time as the future operation
of the service could be determined
at has been my Opinion ever since
have taken office that the Cana
street ferry and the Barracks street
ferry services should be consolidated
and operated by the city of New Or
leans. The amount required to take
over the equipment should be includ
ed in our regular budget. and then
the receipts of the ferry, less the
operating expenses, could be applied
to amortizing the cost of the entire
plant.
81 presented this proposition to
the council, but the other members
did not think it the proper policy to
pursue. They did not believe in mu
nicipal ownership of this ferry ser
vice where the city would be involved
in the finances.
81 conveyed this information to
Mr.. Lawton and his associates, and
they assured me that they could pre-
vail upon the other members to
change their mind. Up to the mo