Evening journal., 1889-02-26
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
The old rikes.

TO the Editor Of EVENING JOURNAL
SIR: A short history Of the old pixies
that comprise the outlets from the city
Of Wilmington might interest some Of
the many readers Of your valuable paper
We have seen several letters complaining
Of the condition that the pixies are kept
in at the present day and the stock
holders allowed to continue collecting
tolls. The first turnpike application that
we have any knowledge of to make an ar
tihcial or pike road out of Wilmington
was made TO the Legislature Of Delaware
and granted February /, 1903, to James
Bryan, John Warner, Jacob Broom, James
Lea and others. They were granted q
charter TO form company TO make pike
or artificial road on whas is known as
Front street or Lancaster avenue now.
This pike has been vacated by the com
pafiy several Years. The sec.
ond charter granted by tho leg
islature was one for the kennct pike
to John Wilson, James Jetfries. James
M. Broom, Joseph Robinson, John Hirons.
John Hedrick and others, January 90.
1911. The third charter was granted by
the same Legislative body TO Joseph TAT.
nall, Samuel Candy, William Tallev,
Samuel Love William Young ard others
to make and maintain pike known as
the Wilmington and Great Valley nike
February %, 1911. The fourth and the
one that your humble servant takes the
most interest IN is the Wilmington and
Philadelphia pike charter, granted to
Thomas Robinson, John Bellach, James
| Grub John Elliott, Edward Tatnall.
] Thomas Smith and others to make an
artificial road from the borough Of Will
mington on the east side Of Brandywine
bridge TO thePennsylvanias state line on the
route leading TO the city Of Philadelphia.
All Of those gentlemen named in those
four Incorporated companies have passed
in their checks to a better government.
we hope and their turnpike stocks have
been handed down to their heirs or sold
to persons who take no interest in pixies
only for the Doodle that they collect
from stocks at the par value Of S25 per
share charter value. and at IL pei
centum per annum interest. All the
original stockholders are deceased, and
many of their shares have been sold AZ
public auction for $3O0to $500 per share
and capitolized at par value, and the Il
per cent. interest on the valuation they
! levy toll and compel every driver Of
: beasts to nay who goes over their road.
There are some things in the charter thai
! have never been complied with First
section Is says the company shall eausi
costs to be erected at the intersection o
every road leading out Of said pike will
boards and index hands; on both side
shall be inscribed in legible characters
the name Of the town or place to whicl
the roads lead and the distance thereof ii
4 computed miles. Second, there are no
two miles of the six that they charge tol
for that is in keeping with the charter a
the present time; the places that the
pretend TO mend are made worse with Ia
loose rolling stones that are uncovered
Admitting that the part Of thei
5 road within the city limits is In fair RI
pair, why should It not be after the cit
spending more than 81, 600 to grade I'll
hill down for the company and then to b
sued by the company for not leaving th
7 roadbed in as good condition as they foun
S it, and compelling the city TO pay I'll
S company $500 damages, all this With
y the city limits where tolls should not 1
, collected. The remainder Of the road
7 repaired at the expense of the count
p roads by persons who drive over them a
% this season Of the year to the pike an
If carry the mud on their wagon whee
d that shakes off driving over the roch
and cobbie stones that the pike is prime
pally composed Of. The wheelbarro'
: medicine man is stranger above Nj
st Conrow's place
W The Concord OF Great Valley Pike Con
lie pany shonld be compelled to keep DANCE
Ia lights burning every night along the
road within the city limits, as those dee
: SIDE roads are dangerous to man or beas
he of dark night
Of am in favor of protection and want
4, good thing when have to paw for If
as Tax PAYER.
"a Tho Doxit4 S,,.;.l f1,,., .n