Henry M C Morran to Fred’k T. Frelinghuysen, April 21, 1884

Mr. McMorran to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

Dear Sir: A controversy has arisen at this point in relation to a ferry franchise between this city and the village of Sarnia, on the opposite shore, in the Dominion of Canada, by the village of Sarnia granting to a man named James Lockhead the exclusive right to ferry between that village and this city for a period of twenty-seven years from August, 1883, under a special act granted to that village by the Governor-General of the Province of Canada some twenty-three years ago. We have four boats, engaged in the ferry business, and is the only ferry line that has existed continually between the two points for the last thirty years. We-desire to know whether the village of Sarnia has the power to grant an exclusive franchise of this nature, thereby shutting off our boats from landing on that side, without conflicting with some of the international treaties in existence. I understand that our United States statutes allow ferry-boats to land here without clearing and reporting, which would give them free access to our side, while our boats are shut out from landing on their side by their local by-law, which provides for the arrest of the officer of any boat landing on that side except boats controlled by this Lockhead, and fining them, in the discretion of their village magistrate, from $20 to $50 for each landing, which is prohibitory to our boats. Any information you can give me will be duly appreciated.

I am, &c.,