Morning journal and courier., 1893-04-22
A RELIC OF THE PAST.

The Old Derby Turnpike-Interest.
ing Points Concerning ITS History
Its Days Apparently Numbered- |
New Haven's Growth.
For many years has the Derby Turnpike
company aourished, and the rare specta-
ole in these modern days of railroads,
steamboats, and electricity is seen, of toll
gate and toll house within short distance
of city of nearly 100, 900 inhabitants and
on turnpike leading to three other popu-
lous places where, as well as in New
Haven, the busy wheels of machinery and
narts of trade are indeed numerous.
The old turnpike's days are not numbered,
but the toll gate and paying toll are, &C
cordingto the views of many. The old Derby
Turnpike company has done its work well,
has had an honorable record. For seventy
years the books of the company have
been kept at the hardware store of John
E. Bassett 6 Co. and at the store of the
firms predecessors in the same business
at the same stand. When Mr.. Bassett,
then a young tall STRIPPING, became active
as a manager of tho business, he pur-
chased modicum of the stock of
the company and has ever since been the
company's secretary and treasurer, and
under his management and that of the
company 1t has averaged in all that long
period fair dividend or return on the
money invested. The whole capital stock
of the company is only about $40, 900. The
fate of the petition now before the 1egis-
1ature is awaited with considerable interest
here and in the towns of Derby, Orange
AVID AnaorSa Tho nafifi0nara he
several towns or the county as the towns
representatives, to buy out the company
and have the road come Immediately under
the charge and direction of the towns
through which 1t runs. They assert that
the days of toll houses and toll paying are
long gone by. That one on Tomlinson bridge
another relic of old historic days-was
abandoned few years ago. 1t will be the
Dsrby's turn next. The advocates of the
project to do away with the turnpike COM
pany hold that its abolition is of much
public Importance, that nineteenth century
progress and the welfare of New Haven,
Derby and Orange demand it. There are
| important improvements needed In New
Haven limits and in the adjacent territory
of Orange that if made will add much to
the prosperity of both places. The turn
| pike company has to keep the turnpike in
repair and expends about $500 annually
therefor. But new bridge Is needed at
| West river on Derby avenue, and the road
| and roadway need to be raised several feot
| higher. This ia an improvement which
| will prove of great benefit to New Haven
and Orange. Another thing 1t is
greatly called for by Yale, as the
Ysle fed lies just beyond, on the plateau
at the top of the little ascent just beyond
the bridge. The Yale field has greatly i'm.
/ ,orouod tho ~o1po ~ IA 1sp1 ont 4bera for
Oranges and New Ravens benefit, and
more improvements are to be made. just
ACROSS the way New Havener of enter
prise, Mr.. e. M. Clark, ia laying out new
streets ion his plateau of building sites,
from which he has sold many building sites
| to people who are to build neat houses upon
them. The turnpike company will proba-
| bly, make but little resistance to giving way
before the march Of progress. 1t has yield
ed and conceded inch by inch, as it were,
to the city of New Haven. 1t formerly
into what is now the heart of the city-as
far as York street. Then, when the city
wanted to improve West Chapel street, il
l yielded its claim on the street out as far as
F. S PIatt's, or Edward Malley's, and later
under the mayorality of the late ex-Mayor
L. W. Sperry, Mr.. Sperry secured the COZ
cession of the company's right in the street
out to Derby avenue bridge, where itt
rights now stop, the bridge being the
starting point of its turnpike rights.
The horse cars run to the bridg e
and would run to the gate of the park
were the bridge strong enough to war
rant running over 1t with cars laden tC
overlooking by students, as they frequent.
ly are both going to and returning from
the games at the field. The cars would
doubtless be operated clear to the park
gate were the bridge strong enough and g
| proper grade established.