Evening journal., 1902-03-26
CITIZENS Reject OFFER
OF TURNPIKE COMPANY
They Demand the Opening Of Toll
Gates Until The Road Is ia
Good Condition
Special to tho Evening Journal.

Newport, March 26.-The third meet
ing of the patrons of the Wilmington and
Chrstiana turnpike was held last even
ing in James IL. POlk's shop, with DR..
H. l.. Springer as chairman, and III. A.
Dempsey as secretary. The committee
OF citizens which was instructed to meet
the Turnpike Committee reported that 1t
had been in conference with Messrs.
Richardson, Bringhurst and Mendinhall,
who proposed to use every means to re
pair the pike and put it in good condition
with the cooperation Of the travelling
public in keeping the toll gates in full
force. They said they would use such
money as they have in the treasury and
what tolls are collected TO accomplish
that end.
A communication from the committee
OF the turnpike company was read by the
secretary and in part was as follows:
we will have available this year from
$1,000 TO $1,000 to eXpend on the pike and
with the help of the people you represent
propose to do SO to the best advantage
possible in procuring good and sub
stantial road.
Furthermore we will continue to so
repair said road from year to year as
fast as our toll receipts will permit We
feel confident by continuing the road as
toll road and carrying on the repairs as
we suggest, we will insure to the COM
munity better road than otherwise
There has been expressed considerable
feeling in opposition TO a toll road to
cover this point"
After the reading OF this cOmmunica-
tiOn, Mr.. Evcrson presented the follow
ing resolutions:
After hearing the report of the COM
mittee and also a communication from
the Wilmington and Christiana Turnpike
Company, and after due consideration.
g..
the sense of the meeting that we believe
II TO be to the best interests of this com
munication and TO the commuters and
travelling public generally of the said
Wilmington and Christiana Turnpike
Company, that we reject their offer of
the repairing of the said road as proposed
by them. Therefore, be it
Resolved, That this meeting so order
and instruct their committee with advice
Of counsel to proceed at once to condemn
the said turnpike, and demand the open
ing of toll gates until the pike is put in
perfect order as their charter calls for.
IL was passed and the secretary was
instructed TO convey copy to said com
mittee representing the Wilmington and
Christiana Turnpike Company.
Thomas Pilling said he thought that
the turnpike Company is trying TO get
out of the obligations of its charter by
claiming that the trolley company now
owns the pike.
Mr.. Evcrson said there was not a man
IN the room who would live to see the
time when the pike would be macadam-
lied as it should be- That the expend-
ture Of the toll receipts year after year,
would not guarantee the company sum
cient money to finish the work in oneI
hundred years. as now all of the com
pany's best travel is going into Whining
ton VIA other inlets as the pike has not
been in good condition for years.
Attorney j. Harvey Whiteman for the
Citlzens Committee, i'm answer to a Ques-
ton relative TO the lower end of the turn
pike south Of Stanton. said by an act of
Legislature the Turnpike Company was
authorized TO abandon that portion of the
road. lhls was done fifteen or twenty
years ago.
IL was further stated that after dill
gent search two persons were found who
had not given their consent for the troll
ley company 10 pass in front of their
property.
Mr.. Everson expressed his willingness
To see the said persons and ascertain the
full particulars and report to their attor-
ncy. who had full power To act.
Nj Filling thought the sooner the
committee goes before "a justice of the
peace and enters complaint and let coun-
sci proceed. the sooner the pVAlic. ANl l
.bnpW Wh, hoW erNthf Ylrppikt C6ihs
.1laiy hasMlAfth ~ Rcebinefth6 pike IN
good co1dnign; lie tifsuglit ira .drime to
make people pay heavy toll for Il pike
and Ut not in as good a condition as the
ordinary county road
a member of the committee of the
Turnpike Company said that the com
pany had exhausted every means TO pro-
cure settlement and avoid any trouble.
II Ind employed special men to 70 over
the pike and inspect it carefully and re-
! port, what it would cost to macadamize
1t from Wilmington to Stanton They
reported If they furnished all the mate.
rial Sit would cost $1,000. He said that
the company could, not afford any such
tgup's, but thought that with tho help of
the farmers who are now living close Il
the pike with the stones they might
gather from their fields they would bu,
and crush. and do the work as well n.
could he done for, about $1,000. which
could be paid in .the course Of Few
/ years ~
The meeting adjourned to meet at tn,
lcall pf the president.
! p0RTRR r0IlID NOT CpT WpIIv