The Folgers and the Steamboat War

The Folger Brothers, American businessmen based in Kingston, with many successul ventures behind them, by the 1890s were in a position to capitalize an integrated line of ten steamboats on the St.Lawrence, supplanting the many independent ships and small lines. One of the independents, however, was fiesty Captain Visger--not one to be cowed. To many viewers, it was a David-and-Goliath confrontation.

"There is a lively war on between the Islander of the Folger line and the New Island Wanderer of the Alexandria Bay Steamship company. Each boat makes a ramble In the afternoon, and the past week each has been giving away tickets on the trip. The fight is waged through the medium of hand bills and has grown acrimonious. The New Island Wanderer and the St. Lawrence are also having a warm contest over the searchlight excursions."

New Island Wanderer

The late 'nineties saw the excursion business in disarray. Competition and rate wars cut into profits; steamboats (other than the Folgers') changed hands frequently, sometimes being auctioned to satsify obligations. A key lawsuit tried to break the Folger monopoly on certain port facilities--particularly the passenger terminal dock at Clayton. The Folgers were allied with the New York Central Railroad. In 1904 it was reported that the New York Central "secured absolute control of the Folger line of steamboats." Whether or not that was the case, clearly the Folgers had the advantage of capital to dominate the excursion boat business. The Alexandria Bay Steamboat Company, for instance, was forced in bankruptcy in 1897, blaming favoritism in Clayton docking privileges, forcing sale of their S.S. Island Belle.

Traffic Jam, Thousand Islands House dock, A. C. McIntyre photograph.

Captains would race, often carelessly, to occupy empty dock berths, then would linger there to prevent competitive boats from using the space. Inevitably this led to friction.

Jockeying for dock position, from the tower of the Thousand Islands House.

A ST. LAWRENCE COLLISION

"This afternoon [1896] the steamer Islander of the Folger line left the Round Island dock for Thousand Island Park followed by the steamer New Island Wanderer of Alexandria Bay. The boats are rivals and were loaded with excursionists on the afternoon ramble. The Wanderer attempted to pass the Islander and the boats came together in the middle of the river, but no serious damage was done."

FIGHT IS MORE BITTER THAN EVER.
Suit Follows Rate War at the Thousand Islands.
THE PAPERS SERVED.

Howard B. Folger General Manager of Thousand Island Steamboat Company Brings an Action against Walter L. Visger—Handbills Cause the Trouble.

"A legal suit alleging criminal libel, has been started by Howard S. Folger, General Manager of the Thousand Islands Steamboat Company, against Walter L. Visger, Manager of the Captain Vlsger Steamboat line and George W. Cooper of Syracuse and Thousand Island Park asking damages for literature alleged to have been issued and circulated by the defendants about the various resorts of the Thousand Islands during the past week. The statements complained against were printed on small handbills. The papers in the action are being prepared by Purcell, Burns & Purcell of Watertown, attorneys for the plaintiff, and according to the statements made by General Manager Howard S. Folger of the Thousand Islands Steamboat Company to a Post Standard reporter this evening will be served at once upon the defendants. The damages that will be demanded by the plaintiff have not yet been fixed but will probably reach into the thousands."

The handbill which was grounds for the action rests casts doubt about the safety of the vessels of the Thousand Islands Steamboat Company. Capt. Visger, if the David in his battle with Goliath Howard Foger, was not very smart--or so well armed with lawyers.

"The suit is the result of a rate war which has been raging on the river during the past two weeks and which has resulted in bargain day excursions on all of the yachts taking the island rambles.

"Captain Visger of the Captain Visger Steamboat Line and General Manager Folger cut the rate of the ramble about the same time to 25 cents, one-half of the regular rate. The Thousand Island Steamboat Company in its announcement of bargain day rates issued a circular reading "Bargain Day Excursions and the reason why." The competing line of Captain Visger replied wlth the handbill "Bargain Day Excursions and the reason why not" in which the alleged llbelous statements were made against the Thousand Inland Steamboat Company. George Cooper, the Thousand Island Park printer who won fame recently by swimming a mile to reach his waiting bride, is the alleged printer of the bills."

"Capts. Walter L. and William H. Visger will go [1902] into partnership in the steamboat business on the St. Lawrence. Their fleet will consist of the Sophia, Captain Visger, Idler and a new yacht to be purchased. The trips of the fleet will be over the "Island Ramble," and daily to Kingston."

"H. Wellington Visger and his brother, Walter L. Visger, both of Alexandria Bay, have, formed [1902] a copartnership for the operation and maintenance of a steamship line on the St. Lawrence River to be known as the 'Captaln Visger Line.' The Visgers have been engaged in the transportation business on the St. Lawrence river for many years and were among the first to establish a tour of the Islands. Heretofore their business has been confined largely to chartered work. Under the new arrangement the Visger line will be composed of three boats doing regular service with a schedule .at all the landings."

"The steamboat company which has been operated by Captain Walter L. Visger in the Thousand Islands has been incorporated [1903] with a capital stock of $50,000." "The capital stock is $5.000 [sic], divided into 500 shares of which W. L. Visger holds 494."

Cornwall Dock, Alexandria Bay, Capt. Visger's Castanet occupying a berth.

"The Visger Line of steamers placed the trim steam yacht Castenet into the public service to-day [1905] and will hereafter run it upon the island ramble in connection with the Captain Visger. ... The former yacht was purchased last fall by the Vlsgers from W. H. Nichols of Howe Island." The Castanet was probably the most elegant tour boat in the history of the Thousand Islands, being originally a private yacht.

CAPTAIN VISGER SUSPENDED,
Cannot Pilot His Own Boat for the Next Ten Months.

"Captain W. L. Vlsger, as a result of the recent examination before United States Local Steamboat Inspectors ... when he was charged with a violation of the navigation laws, has been found guilty [1906] and has had his pilot's license suspended for a period of ten months. This allows the steamers Castanet and Captain Visger to run about the Islands as before, but deprives Capt. Visger of being his own pilot.

"The controversy is the outcome of differences between the Folgers and Visgers which lasted all summer and resulted in three charges being preferred against Captain Visger and the suspension of his license for ten months."

CREWS OF RIVAL STEAMBOAT LINES MEET IN COMBAT

Officers and Men Engage in Fierce Fight on the Docks at Alexandria Bay--Battle Witnessed by a Crowd of Four Hundred People.

GRAND JURY TO HEAR OF FIGHT BETWEEN SAILORMEN

Captain Walter Visger and Members of the Castanet's Crew Will Testify To-day [1909] at Watertown of Battle With Folger Forces on Dock at Alexandria Bay.

STEAMBOAT WAR IS RENEWED UP RIVER.

The steamboat war is on again [1911] on the St. Lawrence and Thousand Islands Steamboat company, as it is generally known, it is said, is after Walter L. Visger, the only real competition that it has in the excursion line. Captain Visger now has the Castanet as his only boat. A few years ago he had two boats and his brother, the late H. W. Visger had the Idler. The boat of the Thousand Island Steamboat company which competes is the Romona.

Decline and the End of the Age of Steam