The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-02-11
Tolls ON the Free Bridge.

MEETING OF TIE BOARD OF PUBLIC INTERESTS.
AN IMPORTANT sESsION-THEY DECLARE
AGAINST MAKING THE FREE. BRIDGE TOLL
BRIDGE.
A meeting Of the Board Of Public Inter
ests was held in the Council chamber yester-
day at II o'clock. Present: DR.. Otis f.
Manson lchairman) and Messrs. Franklin
Stearns, E. O. N6ltipg, M. l.. Straus, E. d.
Christian, G. z. Barksdale, Lewis D. Cren-
shaw, Jr., James T. Gray, and General Jo-
seph r. Anderson. .".."
The Chairman submitted communication
from the representatives OF the city in the
House OF Delegates requesting The opinion
of the Board as tothe cXpedleucy OF making
the Free bridge a toll bridge, as proposed in
the bill now pending in the Legislature.
. General Anderson said as he was repre-
sentative in the House that it might not be
proper for him to sit as 3 member OF the
Board, and asked to be excused. but the
Board did not agree with him, and, on mo-
ton of Mr.. Stearns, declined to excuse him.
The Board then proceeded to consider
the subject of tolls on the Free bridge, and
MIR. Attksson, OF the House Of Delegates,
by invitation. gave detailed statement OF
the provisions OF the pending bill. He said
that the object of it was to place in the
Councils OF Manchester and Richmond the
power by Joint action to levy tolls on pas
sengers, &C., on the Free bridge. After
bis explanation he made I'D earnest appeal
to the Board to give the measure its sane
ton, as he thought this would have great
weight with the city delegates in the Legls-
lature. He said be thought that the tolls
should be as near nominal as possible, and
that the system would have to be adopted
in order to keep the bridge 10 repair. .
Mr. Puliiam stated to the Board that he
believed it to be the desire Of I'LL OF the
members of@.the& city delegation in the
House that this Board should express Its
opinion, as it was we'll known that they
were representatives OF the business inter
ests Of the city, and deeply interested in
everything concerning Richmond's welfare.
Major Walker, delegate from Chesterfield,
by invitation, addressed the Board In oppo-
sition to the measure, and stated that he be"
Iieyed the bridge, could be kept in proper
repair without the proposed amendment to
the charter; that be had already gotten an
act Dassed to enable the supervisors OF Ches-
terfield to pay the sum of $3.50 per annnm
towards said repairs, which they would
certainly do. .r-sg'.-. j..Ly - -.
Mr. Pickrell, one OF the Bridge Commls-
siopers, thought the amendment to the char
ter essential in orderlto keep the bridge IN
repair.hI a.,;I ,au.@,
At the conclusion Of Mr. PicErelPs re-
marks the Chairman stated that under the
ordinance the Board only had the power to
| make recommendations to the City Council
Mr.. Christian said he concprredi in the
opinion OF the chairman, and then offered
the following resolution (which was adopt
ed by unanimous vote :irai34f.sl 81
Resolued, That in the opinion Of the
Board OF Public Interests it is unwise to
make the changes sought to be made in The
bill now pending before the Legislature
concerning the James River Bridge Com
pany. .Fa2i3 -..iutu 20 sIthI - naslg
On, motion OF Mr.. straus the following
were added. gs.siji. 8ta. egi:atsss sI.l'.,
Resolved, That a copy of this resolution
be communicated TO the Board OF Alder
men this; day for immediate, consideration
and action. Jls,rsg qgnG -y39dfTi - ,}3i
!. ,Resolued. That :, the chairman OF the
Board OF Public, Interests be requested y
communicate the foregoing action to,tae
Representatives of this city In the House o.
Delegates OF Virginia. !Gon - .r@g
On motion of Mr.. Christian the Beare
adiourned.p pi53as fsGa52i hLlE -L-n.!aa .
'r1+- u J. 'Ilil