Smyrna times., 1927-03-16
PLAN MERGER OF FERRY LINES
May End Rivalry of Lines Between
New Castle and Pennsyille

New Castle and Pennsville
Officers and directors of the New
Castle-Pennsville Ferries, Inc, ,and the
Wilmington Steamboat Company, Sat
urday announced that they are sub
mitting to stockholders of their re-
spective companies plan, which
will, if adopted, result in the group
ing of the ferry lines at New Castle
and Pennsville and the one at Viii
mington and PENIS Grove under one
owning and operating company.
Negotiations bearing on this plan
have been carried on for sometime
and the two groups have come to an
amicable understanding, which, Off
cials hope, will be welcomed by the
stockholders of both companies. The
proposed plan, it is stated, will end
a controversy, featured by fist fights,
near-riots and court litigation be-
tween the two companies for the past
year.
Saturdays announcement stated
that the plan will be outlined in de-
tail to stockholders of the two COM
panies at meetings to be held soon.
The Wilmington Steamboat Company
stockholders will meet today, while
the stockholders of the New Castle
and Pennsville Ferries, Inc, will meet
March 25.
Officials of the two companies de
clined to present any details of the
proposed grouping plan. Captain
Horace Wilson, of the Wilmington
Steamboat Company, stated, when
questioned, that the plans have not
been completed sufficiently to divulge
to the public at this time.
While plans of the grouping are be
ing withheld, it is announced by Of
fcials of the two companies that the
ferry between New Castle and Penns-
vile will not be discontinued. On the
contrary, they announced that the line
will be improved in equipment and
service.
In line with this announcement, Of
fcials of the companies stated that
the new ferry slip at PENIS Grove,
now being constructed by the Triest
Contracting Corporation, will be
pushed through for completion at an
early date. A ferry slip will be start
ed at the Wilmington end as soon as
possible.
There has been trouble between the
two companies ever since the New
Castle and Pennsville Ferries, Inc,
came into existence early in 1924.
Captain Lehman II. Garrison, we'll
known operator Of excursion and
freight steamers on the Delaware
river, was employed as manager Of
the New Castle line, and ferry boat
was purchased from the City Of New
York. The boat was remodelled and
put into commission on September ],
1925.
The opening of the ferry line and
tile celebration of the fiftieth anniver-
sary of the incorporation of New
Castle as a city occurred on the same
day. The double celebration proyid-
ed the residents of the riverside com
munity with one of the biggest days
in their history.
Shortly after the opening Of the
new line, the Wilmington Steamboat
i I'M -@i
Company, which had previously de-
clined to open a ferry line in New
Castle, saw the possibilities Of the
new route, and rival ferry was put
in operation. Trouble started at once
Prices were slashed Fist fights oc-
Cured. Riots were numerous. New
Castle city council divided in its ef-
forts to aid one or the other of the
lines. Legal action was resorted to
And still the trouble continued.
Then the officials Of the two com
panies, realizing that the competi-
ton was hurting instead of helping
business, decided to confer on some
possible solution of the problem. Ne
gotiations were carried on for some
time resulting, ultimately, in the pro
posed grouping plan which will be
submitted to the stockholders of the
two companies during the next two
weeks.