Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1858-06-10

Rockville. In pursuance Of the authority vest
ed in the committee by the resolution of the
House, they directed an inquiry to be made of the
president and directors of the said several turn
pike companies as to the terms on which they
would be willing severally to dispose of their
corporate rights to the United States, with the
view of making the said roads free, and the
abolition of all tolls and charges thereon, and
the committee have received their several an
swers, which the undersigned begs leave to file
this his report, and to made it part of the
same numbered l, 2, and 8.
From these answers it will appear that the
Columbia Turnpike Rood Company" will agree
to sell to the government that portion of their
road loading from the eastern end of Maryland
avenue to the district line, in the direction Of
IBladensburg, (which is understood to be the ter
minus of their road in that direction,) for the
sum of $4,000, "reserving the dollhouse and
lot achereom the gate-keeyer has, at has oeon er-
pe,sse erected several out-houses" which will not
be wanted or required by the United States
''The Rockville and Washington Turnpike Road
Company" agree to sell their entire interest in
said road for the sum of $25,O0O, and the
"Washington Turnpike Company" their entire
Alteieot lOI Gue Sulu VI DAUUUO ludhluS, Ill GIe
aggregate, for the three roads the sum Of $751;
00O These sums, it is said, do not approach
anything like their original costs; but still, at
these valuations the said roads are paying to their
several stockholders a dividend of six per cent.
on these estimated values. Under these circun-
stances, the committee cannot think that their
actual value has been over estimated, as it would
be unreasonable to expect them, or either of
them to take less for their respective roads than
sum which, if invested, would bring them a
sum equal to the net value of the present tolls
actually received by them. The committee,
therefore as the undersigned supposes, can make
no objection whatever to the prices which they
have severally fixed on their respective roads.
In view of these facts, the only question which
presents itself to the consideration of the COM
mittee is, whether it is proper or expedient for
the United States to purchase from these COM
panies their corporate rights in these turnpike
roads with view Of abolishing the tolls and
tpll-gates thereon, and making them free? On
this question it seems to the undersigned the
committee can have no doubt whatever. The
just and equitable policy of the government on
this subject has been too long, and well and Of
ten, settled to admit now of any departure what
ever. If the people of Virginia, and of Mary
land, and the District of Columbia, who former
ly had to pay tolls on the Potomac and Eastern
Iaaaasla -1...;a :, J: :.
de1s BY The government, by making the said
bridges free and the abolition of all tolls there
on, why should not other portions Of the people |
of Maryland and the District be relieved of sim
liar burdens imposed on them by the incorpo-
rated turnpike companies this side of the river?
They are all higAaoays to the great metropolis
of the Union, and the same measure of justice |
and equality should be extended to all alike in
their intercourse with the federal heart of the |
nation. We must either retrace our steps, and
repeal all the laws on the subject of the free
bridges and reinstate them to what they once
were, or we must abolish the tolls on the turn
pike roads this side Of the river, by purchasing
them from their proprietors. The one or the
other curse must be adopted before the govern
ment can be justly shielded from the imputation
of oppressive partiality. But aside from the e.
guilty and justice of such policy, the under
signed is of opinion that proper regard for the
interest of the people of this District, and of this
metropolis in particular, should have great
weight in inducing Congress to adopt the course
now recommended by the undersigned. It is
well known that an extensive and valuable trade
is carried on between this city and Georgetown,
and the surrounding portions of the District and
of Maryland, this side of the river. By far the
greater part of the markets for these Cities it is
believed, is supplied by these sections of the
country; and it cannot be doubted that with
drawal of these restrictions and limitations on
the trade will, in great degree, increase the ex-
tent and value of that trade, and mutually pro-
mote the interest of both parties to the same.
In conclusion, the undersigned is of opinion,
on a review of the whole subject, that the Uni
ted States ought to purchase out the rights of
the said several turnpike road companies, and
that the said roads ought to be made free and
tolls thereon abolished. He therefore reports
the. following bill, as substitute for the report
of the majority, and recommends it's passage by
Congress. THOMAS F. BOWIE.
4 bill TO authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
purchase for the United States the right of the
"Cozumbia Turnpike Road Company," of the
"Rockriue and Washington Turnpike Road
Cdm.pang," and Of the !" Washington Turnpike
Road Company" IN and to their several turn
pike roads, and to make the same free roads.
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House of Re-
presentatiues IN Congress assembled That the
sum of fftyseven thousand dollars, in the mode
and manner hereinafter mentioned, be, and the
same is hereby, appropriated out of any money
in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to
be expended under the direction and control of
all the rights of the said several turnpike road
companies hereinafter mentioned, and to make
the same free roads-that is to say:
First, The sum of twelve thousand dollars to
enable the said Secretary of the Interior to pur
chase from the aColumbia Turnpike Road Com
pany' all their rights in and to that part of their