Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-04-13
COMMUNICATION.
DELAWARE TOWNSHIP, April 9, 1881

DELAWARE TOWNSHIP, April 9, 1881.
Editor Sentinel aud RspubIican-Sir: The
leading question in this vicinity seems to be
Are ycu in favor of a free bridge at Mif-
Hin - which is, with a very few exceptions
answered in the negative The bridge CON-
pany az that place have been very reason
able in their collecting of tolls, charging, if
| am not mistaken, from Sl.50 to $500 per
year for family tickets, and we know of
persons who have been charged even less
than that. The company have made very
reasonable charges, and have not extortion-
ed the people. Would il not be better for
the citizens of Mitiiintown, Patterson and
vicinity to pay the mere pittance than to
burden the county, which is now laboring
under heavy debt, with another debt, that
never can be paid, or debt which the
youngest child now living will not sec paid.
The citizens Of Miffiin Patterson and
vicinity cannot expect TO get a free bridg &c
and the Port Royal, Mexico, yan-Dyke and
Thompsontown people pay tolls. Now if
MiffiIn bridge be free, all the places just
mentioned should also have free bridges.
Eh Ire bridses age in the bill al a cost of
one hundred thousand dollars. Add to
this the cost of a new Jail. Its present 10
cation is opposed 1t is argued that it is not
the plsce for jaiI in front OF private resi-
dences, so that other grounds Will have 20
be bought, which will still further a.ement
the bill.
a tenant farmer on an eighty-five acre
farm, not by any means in the highest state
of cultivation, and cut with roads and
streams, gets two-thirds of the crops, and
paws all the taxes, which in nine Years have
amounted 70 the neat little sum of $40.
The five taxes, State, Cocnty, School, Road
and Poor, in the aggregate amount to $50
yearly. Add to this, SIS or $50 more, and
away goes this mans business as suddenly
as the ice gorge took the Mitt,in bridge.
II is not purchasing from the different
companies and building of bridges only, that
would be expensive. Keeping them in re-
pair would be very burdensome. The reader
can imagine dozen men tinkering, tinker
ing as the hours go by. Can the merchant
stand it7 Can the lawyer afford il and
how can the physician expect TO collect his
bills if the people are SO heavily taxed
The merchant, if he favors a free bridge,
will discover that he has made very great
mistake. His sale of goods cannot be as
great as they once We're, if the people ex-
pect to pay tax aud store bill both. These
are grave qustions, and We invite careful
consideration of them. 1t is alleged that
they helped to build bridges all over the
county. That is true. But We have en-
HANGED the value of their property with a
new Court House, and the Jail will likely
soon be torn down Tin few years at mosD,
and be rebuilt at a great cost. If 1t can be
shown that We owe anything TO the citizens
of Miffiin or Patterson, then the people of
Delaware are in favor of paying them the
money they have in small bridges but do
they not owe US and will owe us more
1t is a noticeable fact that the persons who
urge a free bridge are non-taxpayers.
In conclusion we would appeal to the tax
payers to give this their careful considera-
tion Make it a personal matter, and see
that meetings are held throughout the
county, and pass resolutions and circulate
petitions against free bridge.
MANY CITIZENS OF DELAWARE.