Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-09-01


dime getting out Of their carriages to
pick stones from the horses shoes. Look
at those hills and hollows!
"Im not the only one to complain
We all complain. Every farmer and
resident here does.
"Then look at the tax we pay. We
average about $40. Some much more.
Peter Tyre pays $500 year. All these
taxes are paid to the turnpike company.
In return We get this disgraceful service.
have no hesitation in saying it is
the worst turnpike road in Delaware
Inc company seem to have no pride
nor interest whatever in the road Why,
II is the main road from Philadelphia to
wilmington, and should be the best
road in the State. Look what it is.
You can see for yourselves. 1t is not
sale Tor carriage to pass over Look
at those old fashioned Waterways
across the road They are enough 10
smash the springs of any carriage No
wonder people cannot drive along here.
This turnpike toll is a tax that
should be abolished. You talk about
the eXactions on the farmers. This is
one OF them in reality. And the worst
is we get nothing in return.
Each mile from the bridge in Brandy
wine Village we have to pay an add.
tional 3 cents. For single team the
charge is 5 cents and for double team
y cents. If | drive a double team into
Wilmington | must pay to this humbag
of company 16 cents What do you
think of that for extortion?
1T would take $4,000 to put this 81
miles of pike IN repair"
but" queried the reporter, "if you
all pay such large tolls, where is all the
money. The turnpike company must
be very rich by this time, with small ex-
penditures and large income?"
well, don't know where the money
goes. know it is not put into the pike.
I'm stakeholder and never got cent
Of dividend.
Only lately | offered my stock for
S2 and they refused to buy. They must
De holding itup for something or other"
n heard" added another gentleman,
That Preston Lea offered to buy the
whole pike at So per share and that the
company refused his offer"
"Some people suppose" was the re-
loinder, that they expect, in the pres
ence Of widespread objection to them
and the possible action on the matter by
the next Legislature, that they are hold
ing up with the expectation of getting
u big round sum for their rights"
"Why, ! understand" said one of the
farmers, that the turnpike company
has sold tho summer road to the Will
mingIon City Railway Company for $500.
snow their charter requires them to
maintain and keep up winter and
SIM A r..t
keep their charter terms with the Leris-
lst,ue When ihey have given up the
summon road for an electric railway Gas
II IS oiosrly along the Shellpot extension)
or for any other purpose.
1T seems 10 me that they have now
sacrificed their charter rights and have
really no further power 10 collect toll.
The charter calls for 30 feet of a
road. | can show you where it is not
80 feet on account of their recent SALE"
Don't You think, added one of those
present, that the turnpike company is
exceeding its rights in making any sale
at all? Its charter rights, as under
stand the matter, limit them, in the
powers granted, simply TO maintain and
run the road properly. They have no
fee simple right in the property of barter
and sale Of the road bed for day, or
month, or years, or any term. 1t is not
theirs to give. That is the property of
the county. So the title of the railway
company is insecure think. And also
it seems to me that the turnpike com
pany, once having surrendered, cannot,
under the conditions of their charter be
in any other position but that of having
forfeited their powers"
'Do you know" interiected one of
the farmers, "that the turnpike company
is losing lots of toll now? People are
driving around by the Eastlake road,
leaving the toll-gaie Just at that point,
and thus reaching Wilmington without
paying toll. 1t is u little bit of u round
about. But we save money by it,"
still it pays well" was the comment
on this. Il heard Gheen (the gate
keeperl say that in three months it paid
$500"
Il heard" added one of the farmers,
that an injunction or something like
that was To be served on the turnpike
company last Saturday. know coun-
sci has been obtained and that the
funds for immediate action have been
subscribed and paid in The idea was
TO stop the company receiving further
toll. believe on the grounds that they
have not and are not keeping up their
share of the requirements of the charter
in maintaining the road in repair"
Returning along the hot sunny pike,
the walking party was informed that a
well of ice.cold drinking water existed
at the juncturc of the Edge Moor road
near the Tyre quarry.
From the Italian occupants of cot
tage near by, over whose doorway hung
u sign with the poetic patronymic,
angelo Novaterra," guide was OBJ
tanned to this famous well whose waters
must certainly proceed from some els
tern of the Brandywine glacial period.
The water was cold enough to make
ones teeth ache.
Leaving the we'll, it was necessary, in
reaching the road again, to pass close
by one of the stonc-cutting sheds owned
by Peter Tyre. The attention of one of
the party was attracted by the peculiar
form of large monumental stone which
lay near.
On closer examination the investi-
gator was fortunate enough to discover
the big blue granite monolith destined
TO mark the boundary line of Pennsyl-
yania, Maryland and Delaware to he
placed little distance from Newark by
by the Twelye-Mile Circle Commission.
1t is four-sided mass of granite
about 10 feet long. 1t will stand 6 feet
out of ground, The base is very thick,
rough and heavy. 1t tapers gradually
towards the top.
One face has the figures 1882"
Another the legend, "Delaware-
Thomas +. Bayard, John II. Hoffecker,
/, IcuiS Nj n con,n,;sS;,nnre