Daily News from New York, New York • 379

38 XQL Boy Scouts pride themselves on doing good deeds, and recently a group of youngsters appeared at Hikers Island to perform for the inmates. They had a picnic as the Scouts demonstrated how to prepare a charcoal fire, make hot dogs and coffee. Many of the inmates assisted in the preparations and enjoyed the repast that followed. -ff- xihi ft'. FRANK CASTORAL DAILY NEWS FRANK CASTORAL DAILY NEWS Scout George Stone tells inmates Eugene Rodriguez and Anthony Latterello that the hot dogs need turning.

Inmates Louis Torres and Alvarado Santos pour charcoal into a barbecue barrel and light the fire. Not so ferry long ago, traveling was different -5 Manhattan to their training camps in Long Island. Later, it took them back as soldiers to the ships that would take them overseas. ACCORDING TO an interview conducted with Capt. William Hamilton, who worked with the ferry service, "We took the soldiers direct to the ship that was to carry them to France and we brought them back when they returned from war." Capt Hamilton had been with the ferry service for 26 years, working his way up from deckhand to pilot to head of the fleet He recalled the crowds that would go to Long Island for the races, the picnic groups and the wealthy, who boarded the ferry enroute to their Long Island estates.

At its height, the ferry service ran six boats from Long Island City to 34th St, two boats to James Slip under the Brooklyn Bridge and three fast steamers to Wall St, for the convenience of the bankers. The 34th St Ferry operated without interruption from 1858 until March 3, 1925, when it made its last trip. During that period, the ferry missed only two days of operation in the Great Blizzard of 1888. Competi- tion from the Queensborough Bridge, which, opened in 1909, and the new Pennsylvania Railroad tubes connecting Queens to Manhat- -tan spelled the end-tb ferry enriNTIL 1925, travelers from I IJ I Long Island to New York KZtJ often took the Long Island Rail Road to Long Island City and then transferred to the 34th St Ferry for the final leg of their journey. The information about the 34th St.

Ferry was researched by the Community History Program at Fiorello H. LaGuardia Community College, 31-10 Thomson Long Island City. The group, headed by Richard K. Lieberman, is currently putting together its 1982 Community History Calendar and is seeking documents and photos from 1880-1945 that deal with the history of celebrations and major moments in Queens. THOSE WHO MAY wish to send the group photos made during that period of weddings, anniversaries, moving days, funerals, first days of school or work, graduations, returning veterans, retirements or other special events in Queens are invited to write to Lieberman at the college or phone (212) 626-8706.

Today, when the boroughs of New York City are connected by bridges and tunnels, it is sometimes hard to recall that until the first quarter of the 20th century, ferry service was the principal source of transit between Manhattan -and its During its heyday in the American War and World War the eny.v transported- recruits from 4 v-t 1 vit -y I 4 if ii Spanish-American War soldiers march from 34th St. Ferry terminal In to. Long Island floaq in,.