CAR-TRANSFER BOATS are used in place of bridges to convey trains of ears across streams or other bodies of water. in many instances, as in the case of the vast numbers of cars transferred at New York City, the trains are broken up into short sections, and run upon flatboats. These, when loaded, are towed by tugboats. In this manner the waters adjoining Nov York, Hoboken, and Jersey City are made to serve the same purpose as hundreds of acres of switching yards, while at the same time the ears are being transferred from one railway to another. Instead of mere flat boats, moved by tugs, some transfer-boats are self-contained. Probably the longest transfer route of this sort is that across Lake from Frankfort, to Kewaunee, Wis., a dis tance of 6:3 miles. It was put in operation in 1892 by the Toledo, Ann Arbor and Northern 'Michigan Railway Company. Each boat carries 24 cars, placed on four parallel tracks, and is driven by three screw propellers. The boats are designed to break their way through ice. Special bridges are used to transfer the cars from the land to the boats. A lengthy illustrated descrip tion of these boats, and the lake terminals as well, is given in Engineering News of June 15, 1893. A car ferry 28 miles in length. across Lake Baikal, on the line of the Trans-Siberian Rail way, was opened in 1900. The boats have broken through ice 39 inches thick.
In law a ferry is a grant from the sovereign power of a State, and is classed among incor porated hereditaments. The owner of this fran chise has, as an incident thereto, the right not only to pass over the water, but to use the high way on either side for the conduct of his busi ness. Indeed, a ferry is the continuation of the
highway from one side of the water over which it passes to the other, although subject to the public right of navigation in such water. Any one who unlawfully invades the valid ferry fran chise of another is liable in damages to the lat ter, and may be enjoined by the proper court from further interference. Such conduct may amount to a crime at common law or tinder mod ern statutes. Correlative to these legal rights of the ferry-owner are certain well-defined legal duties. Having received a public franchise, he is bound to serve the public faithfully and im partially. He must have suitable boats, docks, and aceommodations ; lie must employ proper ser vants and agents, and his tolls must be reason able. If lie fails in the performance of any of these duties, he may be liable to a private action for damages, to a criminal prosecution, or to the forfeiture of his franchise. II is liability for the safety of passengers and of freight is that of a common carrier (q.v.). See Glen, Law Relating to Highways, Bridges, and Traniways (2d ed., London, 1897) : Pratt, Lou' of Highways, Main Roads, and Bridges (14th ed., London, 1897); Washburn, Treatise on the American Lairs of Real Property (6th ed.. Boston, 1902).