The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-16
TOLL BRIDGE
DEAD |. ISSUE E.
Tendency in Cities to Open Free
Thoroughfarcs for
Travel. t#
MAYORS WRITE ON SUBJECT
Richmond to Renew Her Fight.
Option on Mayo's Bridge
Extended. .5

l Extended.
B The fight for the Richmond and Mar-.
chester free bridge across James River
on the site Of the present Mayo's, Bridge
is to be renewed with great 3earnestness
in tho new Council Of Richmond. which
has hut recently organized, several tam
gible steps looking to this end having al
ready been taken. At the first session
OF tho lower branch, Mr.. Pollock reof-f
fcred the ordinance which died for want
of time in the old body, with the change
that the bridge should be built with or
without the cooperation OF the city Of
Manchester.
Another step was to secure an exten-
sion of the option on the Mayo Bridge
property for two months, making 1t ex-
pire November LIST instead OF September
list. 55 .45 81 ts.ag III {, 5 VII
In connection with this matter, It ID
to note the change Of senti-
ment which seems to have taken place
in many sections Of the country in favor
of FREQ bridges connecting cities over
those operated under; the toll system.
A Thing Of the Past.
A number Of letters indicating this have
been received here recently. by a gentle
man., who was seeking information on
the subject Here Is one from Mayor
Sweet, Of Grand Rapids, Mich: Al
Some years ago this city (Which Is
located on two sides Of Grand River had
considera bic experience with toll bridges
and do not believe that there Is a
citizen Of Grand Rapids who would not
.unhesitatingly say that the abolition OF
the toll bridge system and free PUBLIC
bridges has materially advanced the IN.
terests Of our city and its citizens. This
is also true in our rural districts In this
county. The toll brdgey lis q. thing OF the
past and without question a back NUM-
bel"
Setback to Commerce.
Mayor W. f. Henney. OF Hartford.
IT have the honor to acknowledge your
favor OF the Gath instant. inquiring as
TO this citys experience In abolshing
the toll bridge over. the ! Connecticut, OPP
posite Hartford, and beg to say that we
were peculiarly situated as the bridge
company wasaa close corporation anu its
charter could not be altered or repeated
by the Legislature
The old toll bridge was a wooden struc-
ture: a nuisance to sight and smell. and
a set-b BACK to the commerce OF Hartford
with towns east of the river. On q hap
py occasion, the bridge took fire and was
completely destroyed.
The State then purchased the STOCK
and surrendered the charter and the Leg
islature created a bridge and highway dis
trict, # prcsidedroye 51by comm ION,
which embraced in It's jurisdiction Hart
ford and five towns east OF the river.
a temporary brdges.iss now In use. a
new stone. bridge is being built at a total
expense n for bridge and approaches or
nearly $50 900.
All Abolished.
N This one Is from Mr.. u F. Dunn. the
Comptroller of Indianapolis; ti3
7s:.1n reply to your favor to the Mayor.
he being absent from the city, would
say that we formerly had toll roads and
toll bridges in this region. but they. have
all been abolished. They were bought NJ
by the public, and made free. The re-
suits have been thoroughly ,sat,sf actory
to the people and nobody would :, think
Of returning to- the antidlatedI toll ~ sys-
Obstruction 70 Growth.
Mayor smith, Of st. Paul, uses this
.language: .G6i5t e 80 .,u
this city was still in It's infancy. We
had one or two toll bridges within ITS
limits. Our population at that time did
not probably exceed 5000 or 1900 In all.
They were detritnent and an obstruc-
lion to the city's growth, and they were
dispensed with without any. hesitation
whatever. The result has. Of course
been beneficial. regard tho maintenance
OF such concerns IS utterly ct war with
the healthy progress Of the community
which maintains them. In my judgment
they ought to be driven out Of existence
at the earliest possible moment, as pc
Ing at once Anticipated and burdensome,
and as constituting not only serious
ba rrier to municipal progress. butla grave
reflection on the intelligence and pro-
5gressivcness Of the community which toll
crates them" III =.
Atlanta Changes.
..IIere is what Mayor Howell, OF At.
.lanta, says:
..rhc Chattahouchcc river. about the
size Of tho James river at Richmond,
runs north and south, west from atlanta
through tho county Of Fulton, about
twenty-five miles. Up to five years age
there was In this county one toll sbridg"
and several ferries. where toll was chary"
ed. Since then the county has purchased
the toll bridge and all the ferries. and
ut three of the ferries have built bridges
and all the bridges and ferries are now
run By the county free to tho. public. 1t
is very satisfactory to our people. and
has contributed much In bringing trade
TO our city that went to nearby villages
and towns across tho river.
Closed Them Up.
The Memphis view is as follows:
referring to your letter Of the ad In
at 1,1<(