National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-31
THE AoUEDuCT BRIDGE.
Petition of Leading Citizens for Aboli-
ton of Eaorbitnnt Toll.

Petition of Leading Citizens for Aboli-
ton of E1orbitnnt Toll.
The following petition was laid before the
chairman of the house committee of the dis
trict last night. 1t embodies substantially
what has been the almost unanimous desire
of every citizen of the district who has had
any occasion, temporarily or continuously. to
transact business, which required the use of
the Aqueduct bridge. Ii is generally thought
that a bill embodying the provisions of the
petition will be submitted to congress and
pass:
To THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND HOUSE or
REPRESENTATIVES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED: fonr
memOrialists, residents OF the ID strict OF Columbia
aud adjoining counties Virginia, respectfully
represent that Oh July 81 1868 by an act of con-
gress, entitled "Au Act Relating to the AleNan.
dria Canal" the le>sees of the said canal were
granted the privilege of constructing II roadway
over the aqueduct bridge crossing the Potomac
allowed to demand and collect the following very
excessive aud eNorbitnnt rates VI toll per trip over
cents; for every horse, mule, or jack, with rider
10 cents for every horse, mule, or jack, any OK or
o,her cattle, CO lts for every. We icle drawn By
one animal, 30 cents; drawn by TWO animals 90
cents; drawn by our animals, 20 cents. he cost
Ol the superstructnre for said roadway over the
said aqueduct bridge, exclusive OF the amount
donated by the corporate authorities Of George.
town, was only $4,000 Upon this small
invc 'tment the said canal lessees have received
by the SAID eXOrDiant rates OF tOu ABOUT
$4,000, wrung aud extorted from the farmers, la
bOrer visitors to the soldiers national cemetery
at Arlington, Va, and others who found II necos-
sury 10 this bridge during the past fourteen
years. The said canal lessees cunningly procured
the passage of the said act of congress during the
last hurried days OF the session. July 81 1868 with
out the knowledge OF the said corporate authori-
ties Of Georgetown, opposite which city said bridge
crosses the Potomac, or any one else directly in
tetestCd; hence oppoSiti n or objection was or
could have been nude. The splendid, massive
stone piers upon which this bridge is built were
constructed vi h money FURNISHED by the United
states. Notwithstanding this, all United states
soldiers and government wagons and horses are
charged tn same extottionate rates OF toll The
amount furnished by the United states govern;
meut to build said stone piers was rs follows: By
an act of congress June 25 1882, 100000 and by
an act of congress March 2, 1857 $4,000 more was
than are charged by any other toll bridge OF same
cost in the United sta es and this is the only toll
bridge IN the District Of Columbia
Therefore, we, the undersigned citizens of the
city OF Washington which now includes George
town. and citizens Of adjacent counties in Vir-
ginia, petition your honorable bodies to grant us
reliefby passing an amendment to said act of July
q, 1865, reducing the said excessive rates OF toll
70 the following liberal and ample rates, namely
For each foot passenger cent each way; for each
horse, mule, or jack with rider cents, or cents
both ways; for each horse mule, or jack without
vehicle drawn by one animal, cents, or 10 cents
both ways; for each vehicle rawn by two ami
mails, 10 cents, or 10 both ways; ior each vehicle
drawn by four animals, ii cents or 20 cents both
ways, and no extra charge shall be made for the
diver passengers, or contents OF said vehicles;
| and providing that said company, It's successors,
or agents shall furnish toll tickets to any one de-
string 10 purchase them, in quantities OF not less
than fiy two.thirds Of the said reduced rates.
And your petitioners Will ever pray.
This petition to congress for a reduction of
tolls on Aqueduct bridge was obtained through
the exertions of Mr.. Robert A. Phillips, one of
the largest land owners in Alexandria county,
Virginia. The names represent citizens of
Virginia, Maryland, and the District of
Columbia. The leading names are Robert
A. Phillips. John A. Baker Crosby S. Noyes,
Anthony Hyde. Il. Francis Riggs, NJ. q
Emery, w. b. Moses, Barbour & Hamilton,
Samuel Norment, B. II. Warner, ID. Rtten-
house, W. +. Holtzman, L. L. Phillips, and
500 Others all told.