The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-05-28
KICKING ON THH TOLLS.
The Periodical Kick Against the
Bridge Company
A TOLL TAKER is ARRESTED
And Test Case is to BIO Made in q
Justices Court To-day.-some of
the Things Alleged Against
the Company Answered.

Yesterday Ella Berry, a colored woman,
went before Squire Ankle and swore out
a warrant for Augustus Grimm, on a
charge Of assault, Constable LauChlin
arrested Grimm, and he gave bond for
his appearance at p. m, to-day,
Grimm is during the illness OF John
Richardson employed as toll taker by
the Wheeling & Belmont Bridge Com
pany, Ella Berry started yesterday
about noon to go over the suspension
bridge, when Grimm, by direction Of
Mr., Campbell, stopped her and demand
ed her toll, She said she had paid 1t,
and insisted on going across, when
Grimm prevented her, She swore out
the warrant, and when It was served
managed TO elude the toll takers and
cross.
The woman claims to live with her
brother.in.law on the Island, and as her
brother-in-law pays toll by the month
she insists upon her right to cross.
This case made Q good deal Of talk,
There has for several days past been con-
siderable kicking about the toll over the
suspension bridge. Residents Of the
Island say they pay tax as citizens ofthe
city, and are entitled tn a thoroughiare
TO their ward and their homes without
paying toll. This can scarcely be con-
sidered grievance against the bridge
company, but rather against the city,
Another kick, which Is periodically
made, 10 that the Bridge Company has
mo right to collect toll that Ito charter
has expired, and It has no fraRChise or
corporate exlstencei that many people
on the Island refuse to pay toll on this
ground, and the company makes no ef'
fort 10 collect 1t.
A reporter Yesterday undertook to get
some names OF persons who refuse TO
pay toll on this ground. The flrstnamed
was a well known lawyer, who was called
on and inquired OF as to the truth otthe
statement,
He responded that he did pay toll
SIS a year. OF this 30 cents q month or
50 year was for his family and the rest
ior. his horse and buggy. He said fur
Their that nobody could cross the bridge
free except by permission OF the COM
pany, and that the only way It could be
made q free bridge was by condemnlng
It for public use. This would involve
paying for 1t at o fair valuation fixed by
the courts, and where was the money To
come irom9 Besides, would II be wise
TO make it public property2 His view
was that TO condemn It would be to
place It whore It would 90 to ruin in
time; itwould be subject to political
control, and there would be q Job to
give out whenever IN administration
changed, and soon the bridge would get
into such condition from neglect that
the government would condemn 1t.
Hearing a good deal Of criticism OF the
Bridge Company, the reporter called
last night on Superintendent Lawson,
and asked what ne had to say on the
subject.
As 10 the expiration Of the charter,
Mr.. Lawson produced printed copy OF
1t. 1t is perpetual. AS to the present
talk, he said 1t originated with few
people who had got behind In their
tolls, and the company was trying TO
collect what was due 1t. This made
some feeling. The company's rule Is to
charge So year for family, payable
quarterly in advance. At one time
a number Of poor people on the
Island asked as a favor that they be al
lowed to pay 30 cents q month, and the
company granted them this privilege.
Then people able to pay quarterly got
the same concession. The oompany's
affairs are managed by Board Of Direc-
tors consisting OF Messrs. j. N. Vance,
u. @. List, Al. Clarke, NJ. Reilly, L. @.
Stifel, Joseph Lawson, A. w, Kelly, NJ.
Pollock and A. A. Howell. OF these
Messrs. List, Clarke, Reilly, Kelly and
Howell compose the Committee on
Tolls. They adjust the tolls, and super.
wise all matters pertaining to them,
"The bridge could be condemned, ]
suppose" the reporter observed to Ar.
Lawson.
~ suppose SO. That is all right. 1t
would have TO be paid for, and then the
cost OF keeping 1t up must be borne. In
q few months, or years, at least, 1t would
be in the condition that the Market
street bridge now To-"
Another gentleman was asked his
opinion Of the kick in general. Said he:
1.-THE bridge company Is undoubtedly
body corporate. would like to avoid
paying toll, but ] would rather pay than
see the bridge at the mercy Of city mis-:
management. Even had tie charter OK.
pired, the members Of the company
would own the bridge, and It could not
DO used without paying them. Their
stock Is not as high as that Of some other
local companies. There are risks from
FIRE and risks from storms, and cost OF
repairs, and score OF other things, that
make the suspension bridge a costly
property 10 maintain, think we would
best let well enough alone, What
ought 10 be done Is for the city to make
some arrangement by which Island
residents need not pay toll"
"What, for instance !"
~ can't suggest any,"
There arc residents on the Island who
declare they will vote against the pro-
posed city loan for the Main street
bridge, arguing that Il the city cannot
give the Seventh ward connection with
the city, there Is no good reason that
the Seventh ward should be taxed TO
give the South Side two bridges.
ANOTHER COACH LINE