Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-01-27
FRIDAY, JANUARY o., 1882.
.. EcoaMuxIcaTEUt

Mr. ISpotcdert--IOur correspondent, MT
Isaac w., and some Of his friends, appear
from their own account of the matter, to have
found out "why our trade has sickened and lam
auished;'' il is, forsooth. they say, because
:" the Little River Turnpike Company have ad-
vanced their rate Of toll" In consequence OF
this assertion, and I" feeling deep interest in
the welfare of our town." and also feeling lit
lie interest in the welfare Of the stockholders OF
the Little River Turnpike Company. as well as
some regard for the feelings Of those gentlemen
TO whom Encouragement Of the affairs OF said
company have been entrusted. have taken
some pains to obtain from the.proper officers OF
the Company, correct information with regard I"
the charge. and find that no change has taken
Mace for several years in the charge OF toll by
the Little River Turnpike Company. except on
wagons the wheels whereof are four inches in
breadth, and on those the toll is now charged &C
cordns to law, having hitherto been charged no.
minaliy half toll, but in reality nothing. The
Charter authorizes the Company to charge for
every space of ten miles on the Road, and SO IN
proportion for every greater or less distance; for
every horse six cents; for every wagon, the wheels
whereof do not exceed four inches in breadth,
six cents; for every horse drawing the same, if
the wheels exceed four inches aud are less than
seven inches in breadth, three cents for each
horse drawing the same; thus wagon, the
wheels whereof are of the breadth Of two inches,
and drawn by six horses, pays for every ten miles
Sc cents for the horses, and Sc cents for the wa
gon. making p cents; and wagon, the wheels
whereof are Of the breadth of four inches, and
drawn by six horses. pays IS cents for the horses
and 70 cents for the wagon, making 54 cents for
every ten miles.
What ha. given rise to the dissatisfaction ex.
listing with the owners Of the wagons with the
four inch tire, is the Circumstance Of the Compa.
nv for length of time having only charged half
toll tor the horses as we'll as the wagon. thereby
receiving for wagon with wheels treading four
inches and drawn BY six horses, Sc cens for
every ten miles, instead Of 81 cents the legal toll,
bv which the wagon. with perhaps Is barrels Of
-four. was actually passing on the turnpike with
out paving one cent of toll, as the six horses
without the wagon would have been subject to
the toll of Sc cents.
As the attempt appears to have been made to
cast odium upon the Little River Turnpike Com
pany, it may not be amiss to state that have
learned upon enquiry. with regard TO the inter-
est taken by that Company in promoting the in
tercourse and trade between the western and
southwestern parts of Virginia and Alexandria:
First. they allow line Of stage Coaches convey.
inc the mail and passengers) from Winchester,
and another from Warrenton to run on their
road at less than one fourth of the legal toll, to
encourage the p, oprietors to run the stages
Secondly. they have, at great expense, Nc Adam.
lied the road where it had previously been very
rough. aud have cut down and reduced the hills
50 much that team can now draw as much adj
III onal load, oser and above what could have
bera drawn when the road was first made aud
re, eved by commissioners, will pay the whole
toll on wagon and nurses. But suppose, for a
moment, that the toll was put down to suit your
correspondent and his friends; in very short
tir,. the income from tolls would not be sufficient
to keep the road in repair; when with all the
tolls charged for the last three years the stock
holders have only received in dividends an aver.
age OF three per cent. per annum on their invest
ment. LOUDOUN.