Resolved, That the Bill do pass. Ordered, that Colonel Harring, and Mr. Hardenbergh do carry the Bill to the Council and desire their concurrence. By which it appears that it was considered by the House, as well as subsequently by the Supreme Court, that the right of the town was sufficiently proved, notwithstanding the assertions of Colonel Morris.
This Bill by some means was stifled in the Council,[10] and never became a law.
During the Revolution the Old ferry was kept by Messrs. Van Winkle, and Bukett; at which period the usual charge for crossing was six pence for each passenger.
August 1, 1795. The ferry from the foot of Main-street, Brooklyn, to the foot of Catharine-street, New-York, commonly called the New ferry, was established by Messrs. William Furman and Theodosius Hunt, lessees from the Corporation of the City of New-York.
In consequence of the prevalence of the Yellow fever in Brooklyn, in the month of August, 1809, the old ferry was removed to the foot of Joralemon-street, and the boats plied from there to Whitehall, New-York.
On the 4th day of March, 1814. The legislature of this State passed an act allowing William Cutting and others his associates, to charge four cents for each passenger crossing in the Steam-boat to be by them placed on the Old ferry. Previous to this, the fare was two cents for each passenger. May, 1814, the Steam-boat commenced plying on the old ferry between Brooklyn and New-York.
This Ferry Company derive their interest in the old or Fulton ferry, from a lease executed January 24th, 1814, by the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of New-York, to Robert Fulton, and William Cutting. The rent reserved by the Corporation on this lease is $4000 per annum for the first 18 years, and $4500 per annum for the remaining 7 years.[11] It is a difficult matter to speak correctly of the present income of this ferry. At its first establishment the dividends were made on a capital estimated at $45,000, divided into shares of $1000 each, and were made at the rate of 5 per cent. for six months and what remained after this 5 per cent. taken out, formed the surplus dividend. From May 1814, to November 1815, the regular dividends on one share amounted to $157 11½, and during the same period the surplus dividend amounted to $228 21½, making a dividend of $385 33, on one share for about 18 months equal to about 25 per cent. per annum.
At the Session of the Legislature in the winter of 1818, the Corporation of New-York presented a petition praying that they might have the regulation of the rates of ferriage between this town and the city of New-York—against which the Trustees of the village of Brooklyn, and the inhabitants of this town strongly remonstrated, stating that “they had full confidence that the Legislature of this state would never increase the rates of ferriage, nor permit the same to be increased, beyond what is necessary to support the ferries in the best manner; they therefore prayed that the Legislature would not surrender to the Corporation of New-York a right, which had been reserved by the Legislature, and which the petitioners deemed of the greatest importance to the inhabitants of Nassau-Island.”
ROADS AND PUBLIC LANDING PLACES.
This town appears to have entered early into the contest respecting roads. There are many instances on record previous to 1683, of the Constable of Brooklyn being ordered to repair the roads, and in case of neglect, fined; and in one instance he was ordered by the Court not to depart until further order.