Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-06-05
WANT THE TOLLS REDUCED.
A Meeting i'm West Washinxton Last
Nixht-The Free Bridge Question.

About thirty gentlemen assembled at God
dard's Hall last evening In response to a call
Tor meeting of citizens, TO take action To Sc
cure a reduction OF tolls on the Aqueduct bridge
Capt. James Goddard was elected chairman
and Mr.. John Leetch secretary. Capt. Goddard
said that as he understood it the purpose of
the meeting was To consider the proprety OF
petitionlng Congress TO exercise its authority in
reducing the tolls upon the Aqueduct bridge
"A letter was read from Mr.. r. A. Phillips
land owner on Arlington heights, expressing
his sympathy with the objects of the meeting
and declaring that the tolls should be reduced
To at least one-third the present rates.
Mr. William III. Tenney offered preamble
anu RESOLUTIONS setting out that the Alexandria
Aqueduct bridge company had erected bridge
costing $4,000 on piers built by the United
for twenty years the company had been collect
Ing tolls at double the rate charged on other
toll bridges and from this source derived a
revenue of S1O,O year-a dividend OF ffty
per cent on the original inves.ment-to the
great detriment of farmers and land owners of
Virginia and visitors to and residents oi this
city who desired TO visit Arlington; that though
Congress had passed an act providing for a Tree
bridge the experiences Oh the past rendered 1t
doubtful when the purpose of the act would be
carried out, and that the necessity still re-
mained of relieving a iong-sufering people of
the oppression OF excessive tolls. The reSoItl-
tons provided that Congress be petitioned to
pass an act making uniform reduction of fifty
per cent in the bridge tolls and that committee
Oh Ibree be appointed TO present the matter to
Congress.
Mr.. John Stake and Mr.. Tenney spoke In
favor OF the action proposed, and the resolutions
were adopted.
Ar Tenney congratulated the meeting that
congress htd AGAIN passed an act providing for
a zee bridge ior that par of the District. There
was a Tree bridge over the Anacostia and one
over the Potoinac-the Long bridge, but this
part of the District had only a toll bridge which
ne SAID, exacted enormous tolls. The poor col.
oIed people oI FreedmanS village who came
over to Work on the wnarveS mad to pay two
cents each. AS President Hayes said when he re-
celNed news tnat he was not elected, observed
Mr.Ienney: =" Il don't care for myself, but care
Tor the poor Negroes" A poor farmer, with q
one-horse load vi wood, had to pay 20 cents;
Visitors TO Arlington in two-horse Carriages had
10 sLinG and deliver 80 cents. Although
Sl4OOUO had been appropriated three years
ago To build a free bridge. AN undercurrent OF
some kim had defeated the objects of the bill
Might not this bill meet the same tate? Might
not this sagacious bridge com pany discover
some defect in ii? AT any rate, the delay in
periectiny title and the time required to let the
Contract and build the bridge, would consume u
year or two, and meanwhile these excessive
tolls would be exacted unless Congress would
respond TO their petition.
r, Aessrs. W. H. Tenney, John Leetch and Jos.
blrcn were appointed as the commit tee pro-
Nlded Tor III the resolutions. The chairman of
the meeting, Capt. Goddard, was also added to
committee