Mr. John Foy, who hereafter gave his whole time to the company, although not technically educated in the passenger business, had very many excellent qualities and a genial personality which did much in subsequent years for the advancement of the company's interests, and in the new connections which arose. As each new connection developed, he was able to enlist their good-will, and so harmonize and satisfy them by effective service.
The season of 1879 was a comparatively easy one, so far as executive work was concerned, for with City of Toronto as a partner we were included in direct connection with all the railway companies, who therefore provided all the passenger requirements, and in the regular route with her from the Yonge street dock, the trips being divided between the steamers, and each taking its own earnings.
The time tables for the season 1879 were:—May 16, Chicora 7 a.m., single trips. June 9, Chicora 7 a.m., 2 p.m. June 16, Chicora, or City of Toronto, 7 a.m., 1.45 p.m., 3 p.m.
The steamers in summer time tables alternated, the one leaving at 3 p.m., remaining over night and making the early trip from the river in the following morning.
The Rothesay having been dropped by the City still continued running to Lewiston, but afterwards only to Niagara and Youngstown, communicating with Lewiston by a small river steamer. Captain Wm. Donaldson was in command; she sailed at 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. from Yonge street dock, the same dock as the other two steamers, a concession in her favor made by Mr. D. Milloy as lessee.
From the very beginning Mr. Lunt adopted a policy of rate-cutting, and created a lively excitement in passenger prices. His opening rates were:—
In books good for all regular trips.
| 20 round trips | $ 5.00 |
| 50 round trips | 11.00 |
| 100 round trips | 20.00 |
These tickets were unrestricted and were available to any holder.
To this policy of unremunerative prices was developed that of annoyance, by too close proximity of the steamers both at the docks or when running, which had in some degree been introduced in the previous season.