Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-06-03
For the Register.
TURNPIKE TOLLS.

TURNPEAE IOLh-S.
A citizen from the centre OF the
county informed me that he paid
5 cenis for travelling on horse back two
miles over the Halltown pike to Shep-
herdstowD, and on his return Oh the
Smithfeld pike he paid 3 cents for one
mile.
His trip to Shepherdstown cost him
8 cents toll for 8 miles. l suggest to
the enterprising citizens of our grow'ng
town 20 have a pike constructed to
! Martinsburg, and make similar charges
for travelling over it. There will then
be abundant grass in our streets for
hogs and cows. Hog out men look to
your interest! at is an i'll wind that
blows no one any good" So that if
this proposed road is constructed and
the trade diverted to Duffields, kerneys-
vile, Unionyille and Scrabble, the in
habitants of Shepberdstown can try hog
raising. Then there will be great
demand for hog medicine. Drug
gists rep!enish your stock. Bat be care
tul that no pure whisky is used in COM
pounding the hog medicine.
What is the remedy for the evil com
planned of, viz high tolls tor transient
travel Oh our turnpikes? Uriie and talk
about ii. Show that public opinion de-
mands reduction. The monetary pres
sure forces the large majority to save
every cent. Frequently many have not
the money 10 pay the :oll. Hence they
do not come to town, or use another
road at considerable Inconvenience to
avoid the toll gate. All cous;derate
persons are willing to pay moderate
charges on good roads, but high rates
will rot be paid unless the use of the
road is compulsory. In such cases as
often as possible, country stores, coun-
try mills, &c, are patronlzed.
One cent per mile for one horse for
distances of miles and under, will be
cheertul!y paid. Had this been the law,
my friend would have paid instead of
8 cents.
But my neighbor says apply to the
County Court to reduce the tolls. But
what do the magistrates care if they
pass over the roads free.
They were requested to rescind their
order, accepting free passes over the
turnpikes in the county. have not
been informed whether they did so al
the late fiscal term. fear they did
not The privilege of passing free over
the pixies was asked for all the officers of
the county. Not for the Jurors, who are
forced to go, and receive about compen-
sation sufficient TO pay expenses, but for
the office holders, who seek the offices
and are well paid for their services
This favor was refused to all but the
magistrates. Why ? Because the magis-
trates have some control over the pixies,
and the Directors could not afford to in
cur their displeasare. do not intend
to question the integrity of our magis-
trates, but / do say that they made a
mistake, which they ought Gf they did
not to correct.
am opposed to free passes of all
kinds to Judges, Magistrates, Leglsla-
tors, Jurors, Editors and Politicians.
These persons are all men, liable to be
Influenced by money. The Railroads
understand this, and only grant these
passes where they think it to their in
terest. A gentleman once demonstrated
with me for expressing this opinion, but
after looking dispassionately into his
own breast, he admitted that We're he a
Juror in q Railroad case, he would be
more favorably inclined to the Railroad,
if he held free pass, than if he did not.
The truth is all men are so. 1t is more
over sadly true that the Only salty for
the large majority of men (women in
cIuded) is not to be tempted-to be ont
of the reach of temptation. Therefore
if we do not wish to be influenced by
free passes, the best way is not to accept
them from turnpikes or railroads.
PRO BONO PUBLICO.