Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1858-06-10
Turnpike Roads in Districts of Columbia

In the House of Representatives, May "a
1853, Mr.. GooDE, from the Committee on the
District of Columbia, submitted the following
report:
The majority of the Committee on the Dis.
trict of Columbia, to whom was referred reso.
luton of the House Of Representatives, instruct.
ing them to inquire into the expediency of the
United States purchasing out the toll-gates on
the several turnpike roads leading through the
District of Columbia to the seat of the national
government, with a view to make them Free
and to report by bill or otherwise beg leave re-
spectfully to report:
That they have had the subject of said reso-
luton under consideration, and are of opinion
that it is inexpedient for Congress to purchase
the said turnpike roads, and pray to be discharg-
ed from the further consideration of the subject,
all which is respectfully submitted.
Mr.. BOWIE, from the Committee of the Dis
trict of Columbia, submitted the following views
of the minority:
The undersigned, a minority of the Commit
tee on the District of Columbia, to whom was
referred resolution of the House of Represen-
tatives instructing them to enquire into the
propriety and expediency of the United States
purchasing out the toll-gates on the several
turnpike roads leading through the said District
to the seat of the national government, with
view to make them free, and to report by bill
or otherwise" have had the same under consid-
Grafton, and beg leave, respectfully, to make the
following report
5Es5 =6Nenty y-IIyc years It seems to
have been the settled policy of Congress to re-
move and abate all Instructions and burdens on
the free right of ingress and egress to and from
the seat of government. The people of Virginia
and Maryland, in particular, as well as all 9TH
ers having business in Washington, were sub
jected to heavy and unreasonable taxation in
their intercourse with the people of Washing
ton. Four bridges, two across the Potomac riv-
er and two across the Eastern branch, We're the
private property of incorporated companies, and
heavy tolls were exacted under their corporate
powers from all passengers crossing the same
This state of unreasonable taxation on all visi
tors to the seat of government had existed for
long time until, by frequent remonstrances from
the people of Virginia, Maryland and the Dis
trlct of Columbia Congress was induced to in
augurate system of legislation leading to a
mitigation of the evils complained Of accord
ingly, on the 14th of July, 1882 Congress pass
ed an "act providing for the purchase by the
United States of the rights of the Washington
Bridge Company, and for the erection of pub
lie bridge on the site thereof ''-(See Statutes at
Large, vol. 4, pages 582 and $685. By this act
the sum of $4,000 was appropriated for the
purchase of the rights Of the company, and
100000 for the erection of new bridge. And
thus it was that the Potomac Long Bridge was
made free bridge, and has so remained from
that to the present time. This seems to have
been the first act Of Congress on the subject
but it was soon followed by the act of March 2,
1888, by which Congress appropriated the sum
of $500 for the purchase by the United
States of the bridge near the Little Falls above
Georgetown, and for constructing free turn
pike between Georgetown and Alexandria,
(See Statutes at Large, vol. 4, p. 646.) And
on the 18th of August, 1848, the bridges across
the Eastern branch, the one known as the
"Navy Yard bridge" and the other as s'Ben-
ning's bridge" were authorized by Congress to
be purchased by the United States and made
free, and the sum of thirty thousand dollars ap-
propriated for that purpose.-(See Statutes at
Large, vol. 9, p. 1927 By the operation of
this system Of federal legislation the people of
Virginia the District of Columbia, and the low
er portion of Maryland, and all others having
to pass those bridges in their approach to the
national capital have been very Justly and
properly relieved of heavy and burdensome
exactlons IN their business and other relations
with the people Of this city and the various
branches and departments of the government
But while this portion of the people of Virgi-
MIA, Maryland, and the District of Columbia
have been thus peculiarly favored, there are 9th
er portions Of the people Of Maryland and the
District of Columbia who have not received the
same equal and exact justice at the hands OF
federal government. It is. well known that
there are at this time three turnpike roads, the
private property of incorporated companies
leading to the city of Washington through por-
tions of Maryland and the District of Columbia
on which toll-gates are erected and kept, ano
heavy and burdensome tolls exacted from al
who pass through them. These are, first, "the
Columbia turnpike road" extending from the
eastern end of Maryland avenue to the Distric
line, in the direction of Bladensburg second
the Rockville and Washington turnpike road,
leading from the city of Washington to Rock.
vile, in Montgomery county, Maryland and
the third, the washington turnpike road,
leading from Washington, via Georgetown, te