Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-04-29

The topic of discussion among ISL
and citizens, almost to the exclusion OF
everything else during the past few
days, has been the change in the sched-
ule of toll rates adopted by the Wheel
ing and Belmont and Wheeling Bridge
companies. AS most residents of that
section of the city look with suspicion
upon any change made by the two
companies. it is likely that the new
schedule has. in many instances, been
condemned before it has been analysed.
Supt. Lawson, of the Wheeling and
Belmont Bridge Company, stated yes
terday that the only dissatisfied ex-
pressions which he has heard came
from heads of families who ride in
cars, or on the yacht ferries, and send
the lady members of their households
over the bridges free of charge. Others
who have made a comparison of new
and old rates, he added, are perfectly
satisfied with the change.
The bridge companies aim to strike
a blow at the class of Isllnd citizens
referred to by Mr.. Lawson. 1t is
claimed that there are a number of
them, and that the bridge companies
derive no revenue from them. The
fight between the bridges and the ISL
and ferry was compromised and the
bridge people claim there was an I'M
Outstanding that the ferry would be
discontinued, but yacht ferry has
taken its place.
A Register reporter saw Mr. H. H.
Dunlevy, of the Wheeling Bridge Com
pany, and Mr.. Lawson, of the w. & B.
Company yesterday afternoon and Sc
cured from them a statement of the
bridge companies side of the toll con-
troversy. Both stated that the inter-
ests of Island citizens were considered
in the preparation of the new schedule,
and that the increased revenue which
the bridge companies expect must come
from the transient patronage. The
new schedule goes into effect next
month, and pro rata rates will be
charged for the 500 ticket books for the
remainder of the present quarter.
These quarterly books, containing
500 tickets, are disposed of at 50 each,
making the toll charges for the head of
family So per year. Cards will be
furnished to all the ladies in the fam
lily of a person purchasing book, and
all the children under sixteen, free of
charge Males over sixteen years of
age will be required to purchase the
quarterly books. The quarterly book
is not now idea, but has been unpop
ular, Notwithstanding the fact that it
is about one-half as cheap as the ticket
system. Heretofore sixty tickets have
been sold for so cents, and they have
been transferable The quartely books
will not be transferable.
Under the old system an Island cir
izen would be required to pay SALT for
500 tickets. Under the new he pays
81. The cost per year would be $16.GS
under the DID, as against SIS under the
new. If he paid one cent each time he
crossed the bridge he would pay per
year under the old system $40
The bridge companies have hereto
fore charged tolls to all males upwards
of twelve years of age. Under the new
schedule the age limit has been in
creased to sixteen years.
The officials of the bridge companies
pointed out another advantage 10 Isl
and citizens under the new arrange
ments- Heretofore, said Mr.. Dun
levy, tickets were only good over the
bridges for which they were purchased.
1t frequently happened that friends
were returning to the Island together
and parted on Main street because one
had tickets for the steel bridge and the
other for the suspension bridge. The
new quarterly books will be good on
any one of the four bridges crossing
the Ohio proper, and the back river"
Every male over sixteen years of age
will be required to purchase quarter
" book, but this does not impose an
additional hardship, as heretofore all
males over twelve years of age have
been charged the full rate of so tick
cts for so cents, which is higher than
the charges under the new schedule.
Island people will be perfectly sat-
isfied when they understand what the
change means" said Messrs. Lawson
and Dunlevy. 1T is change in their
interest. Only those who have patron
lied the yacht ferries and sent the wo-
men of their households over tie
bridges will be injured financially"
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