The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-10-06
"THE ST. PAUL FREE BRIDGE"
against
The St. Paul Toll Bridge.

To the Editor of tie Pioneer:
A few days since there appeared in the Min.
neapolis Aaas. anonymously, lengthy and
somewhat personal article under the head OF
"The st. Paul Free Bridge" The article be-
gan by sounding the alarm to the people OF
Hennepin county, and cautioning them against
s. a trap" that is being set for them. Certain
persons in this county were accused of being
engaged in the plot, and friends say that am
one of the conspirators limited at This is
enough to justify public explanation and
yindication.
As the writer expressed great anxiety that
our citizens should examine certain law
passed last winter, garbled extracts of which
only were incorporated in his communication,
much annoyance h felt that the entire act was
not then published, heretofore given to the
public in the PIONEER. It was passed by an
unanimous vote of the last Legislature, and
like all the other laws of that session, has long
since been published to the world. There Is
certainly NO trap in that.
The hw upon its face, too, is plain and in
teaifgible to all who can read the English Ian
guage. It b simply authorizing the people Of
this and Ramsey counties ct their next general
election in November to vote for free bridge
across the Mississippi, and If carried, prescribes
the manner In which the two County Boards
are to carry out tho wishes Of the people. L.
like . trap laid for the unwary, or like treason
to the greatest good of the greatest number
Bot this Anonymous writer affects to see in it
nothing but
"Gorgons, hydsas and chimeras dire"
He says the bill passed one house Of the
legisluture without provision in it to take the
Sense of the people. That certainly is true,
but why does he not publish the reason?
Every one concerned in or consulted on the
subject ut the time was in favor of such ref
erencs, but all or nearly all, saw that 1t would
delay would cost the people Of the two coun-
ties. in tolls, nearly as much IS was asked Of
both to build bridge that would be forever
free.
And now the people have been, and still are
paying for this procrastination at the follow
ing rates per month: Commencing with April,
The .nS anSn the hs s OF the
just past, we find by the returns made on oath
to the United States Assessors Office that they
have paid at Mr.. Steele's Ferry at Fort SMELL
ing, at the st. Paul Toll Bridge at st. AatAoay
(called the st. Paul Toll Bridge because most,
if not all the stock Is owned in that city, and
atthe Upper Toll Bridge, the snug little sum
of nine thousand nine hundred and fifty dol.
dollars in period of foe months Only. Septem-
Der, October and November, the busiest months
for travel in the year have yet to be returned.
Their average receipts will undoubtedly far ex-
coed the months already reported to wit; nine
thousand nine hundred and fifty dollars. The
sum of four thousand nine hundred and seven
ILL ~ D. r~rOD
that disms;tes st. Anthony and Minneapolis and
almost eKclusively paid by the citizens about
the Falls and the farmers Of Hennepin county.
The aggregate amount paid to this bridge
alone for this year, starting from the first of
April last and reckoning to the first of April
next, will not be less than ten thousand dol.
lars, while the Ferry and Upper Bridge will
not be less that six thousand dollars, and may
reach eight or nine Thousand more.
Thus 1t appears that our citizens and farm
ers are paying by the month for the privilege
of going to market or visiting their neighbors.
And ct this rate with our population daily aug
menting, and business of every kind increasing,
1t Is easy to see that they will be taxed by tolls
in two years enough to build two such bridges
as the one proposed!
This is, indeed, an internal revenue and it is
to be hoped that the people of this county, at
least, win take care that It does not become an
eternal one.
The subject OF free bridge is hackneyed
theme in this community, and law to take
vote upon the question takes no one by sur
prise, save it be 1.-TWO or three of the enter
prising trappers and town-site sportsmen Of
the country" that do not happen to find their
interest just a. this time, in free bridges and
free intercourse between citizens of the same
county, or two adjoining counties, that always
had and ever will have more commerce and
intercourse with each other than any other
two counties In the State.
Multiply markets, make good roads, estab-
lish free bridges, give an industrious people an
open field and fair play, with the privilege of
places to buy and to sell at, if you would have
them to flourish and prosper.
Both political parties, 1t is to be hoped, viii
present the facts and figures of this issue to
the people Immediately Interested.
Very respectfully, your fellow-citizen.
B. B. MEEKER.
st. Anthony. Oct. 2, 1865.