Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-07-03

glow of the rancid oil cast a pickering
and uncertain light over the dark wa
ters Of the river.
The bridge was not then, as it is now,
q free bridge, but the act of congress
provided that tolls should be taken as
follows: Each foot passenger had to
pay 6A cents to crose. A person on
horseback 1874 cents. Persons in a
chaise, suiky or riding chair had to
pay 17k cents. For each coach,
coachee, stage-wagon, chariot, phaeton,
curricle or other riding carriage, 100
cents must be collected; and the fur
ther sum of 12R cents for each horse,
more than two, by which such coach,
coachee, chariot, phaeton or curricle
should be drawn. For each sled, or
sleigh, 371a cents must be collected, and
the further sum of 1917 cents for each
horse or other beast more than two
by which said sled or sleigh should be
drawn. For each four-wheeled wagon,
cart, dray, or other two-wheeled car
riage of burthen 1SA cents must be
collected; and the further sum of 1879
cents for each horse or other beast
more than one by which the same
should be drawn. For each pig or sheep
the toll was three cents. and a toll of
Ga cents each was levied on horses and
meat cattle, other than those in teams
drawing sleds, seighs, or carriages, or
with riders, and one person only to
each drove or team was allowed to pass
free of charge.
The government, however, was ex-
empt from duties. The act contained
the following: provided, that no toll
shall be eXacted al said bridge for the
passage of any wagon or carriage laden
with the property of the United States.
or for the drivers thereof, or for the
passage of any troops of the United
States, or the militia of any state or the
District of Columbia, marching in a
body; or any cannon or military equip
ments belonging to the United States"
The company, by the powers of this
act, had five years in which to finish the
bridge. but il was in successful run ming
operation the next year (ls0O. 1t was
built with two draws, one at the east
ern and one at the western end, there
being two channels TO the Potomac, one
rear the Virginia shore and one near
the District shore.
The bridge was operated successful
ly by the Washington Bridge company
until 1914, when by order of the govern
ment the southwestern end of it was
destroyed, on account of the presence
of the British in the vicinity of Wash
ington, for which damage caused by the
government, congress, in 1916 (act of
April %. appropriated 81, 800 to reim-
burse the company. The bridge was re-
paired and was soon again in operation.
In 1882 TACT of July 14) congress. at
the request of the company, purchased
the bridge for $4,000, and, in 1884, APP
propriated $4,000 to rebuild it. This
was accordingly done, but the new
structure did not last long, being
washed away by the ice gorge of 1896,
Congress again authorized its recon-
struetion on new lines. The new bridge
was to be one mile long and contain
two draws, one in the southern end of
the bridge to be GO feet in width, and
another in the northern end to be Sc
feet. This was accordingly done, and in
1888 Andrew Jackson laid the corner
stone of the new bridge, which was to
connect the city of Washington with
the dream of his life, the city named
sitter him, on the opposite shore. He
expected Jackson City to some day
rival Washington.
In the year 1889 congress passed an
act to extend the limits of the city OF
Washington beyond the Potomac, so as
to include the Long bridge. This
bridge has existed in more or less state
of repair or preservation up to the pres
ent date.
In 1851 the war department ordered
Maj. Beggs, the celebrated military