Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-29
TOLL ROADS AND BRIDGES.

Editor Nirginian-PilOt
Dear Sir-Our turnpiiles have had
considerable airing in your paper of
late. and the writer's al! show that they
know very little about the subjcc; they
have undertaken 10 discuss. That there
may BE- no misunderstanding let me
say ut the outset | ann a stockholdcr in
the Norfolk ana Princess Anne Turn
pike Company. All OF these writers
have made the impression that turn
pixies are Vcritablc bonan2as. They
were never more mistaken in their
lives. The Princess Anne turnpike has
not paid more than per cent. in ten or
fifteen years, and during that time has
often paid only to 5ia per cent. More
than half of the receipts are required
To maintain these roads. the amount
expended on them annually being $4,000
or more
II made free roads does any one sup
pose that they would be kept in con-
dition at such an expense? The writer's
against these turnpilfcs express them
selves as if nothing was given in return
Tor the Toll. Is it, nothing that Il farmer
can bring TO town with one horse more
than he could With TWO? Does he not
save ten times the toll if he can bring
-iH-nne- ti-issAAi'-nrc than hc cnnld bring
III two trips but for the turnpike? All
thls seems 10 so for nothing. and the
wear and tear on his team is not even
considered. AS To the amount of toll.
the Princess Anne Turnpike Company
IS not charging anything like what its
charter allOWs-in fact. but Il little over
half. The writer signing himself "NIcr-
chant seems to think that stockhold-
erS OF turnpikcs are sinners beyond all
others. and speaks of turnpikes as
great nuisances.' 'cye sores" and
'Impositions." Why this should be 50
lie does not attempt TO explain Why
don he include electric railways.
Think OF it, the dear people have to
pay cents to ride in the street cars,
even II they go only two squares. The
CITY should buy these roads ut once and
let everybody ride free. There is the
Terry. Why, we can't even go to Ports
mouth without paying ferragc. What
an imposition. We have to pay for our
electro lights too Everybody ought to
have lights free of cost. The city ought
10 buy all the things and give the long
suffering people everything without
cost. Yes. and there is Merchant"
himself buying goods and actually SELL
ing them at a profit, ana thinks that
owners of turnpikes should not have
any income on thei: capital so all the
country people could come and buy his
goods at profit. The city should buy
up all these stores and make them free
TO everyone: then what q glorious time
Nc VIII All nave.
1t Will be sight to look Mt the
great crowds coming after goods. Just
as the crowds have Increased on Holt
street bridge since it was made free"
But seriously, personally, I would be
glad If the city aud county would buy
our turnpike, and I assure them thar
1t IS for sale at anything like cost.
There will be no difficulty in securing
ii. must confess | would enjoy seeing
some OF the kickers stuck in the mud
on the kind of roads you will have
when the turnp;kes go. The thousands
OF Merchants" customers who are
kept away now because they cant nav
toll. Will scarcely be able to get to
town at all because OF the mud: but 1t
will all be free. and it doesn't cost anv-
thing to get stuck in the mud, l will
venture the assertion that n farmer on
the turnpike who pays $l.00 a year toll
saves $500 in hauling and wear and tear
on his team. Some of our people re-
member the unscrviceable roads around
Norfolk before these roads were con-
structed. and some were foolish enough
TO look upon the gentlemen construct
ing them as bcnefactors: but not so
now. for they are regarded as extor-
TONERS. And the progressive people are
signing for the good old days of mud.
Let them have mud by all means
,il, STOCKHOLDER.