The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1907-04-10
FREE BRIDGES
Over Congaree and Broad Rivers
Of Great Interest to Columbia Busi-
ness Men and Citizens of Lexington
Rnun$,,

VI 0TS0t lukSIGSl " OVIuuIUio ooo'-
ness Men and Citizens Of Lexington
County.
By McDavid Horton, City Editor,
Columbia Daily Record.
AS to the desirability of having the
tolls which now restrict traffic over
the Congaree and Broad river bridges
abolished, there is no divergence of
interest and probably none of senti-
ment between the citizens of Lexing-
ton county and those of the city of
Columbia. For both it is eminently
desirable that intercourse between
the sections be made and kept free
and unburdened. Even without the
tolls the two bridges can hardly be
considered adequate avenues of COM
munication, and it is hard to under
stand how Lexington and Columbia
unfavorably affected and retarded in
their development as they both have
been, in about the same degree-have
80 long tolerated the exaction of these
restrictive tolls. No where else in the
country have such vital arteries of
traffic been allowed to remain subject
TO private tax, for so long a period,
except perhaps in the country around
Paris, KY, where practically every
main road leading to the county
market town was privately owned
toll pike, until the people of the af-
fected territory awoke to the poor
business Judgment of further submit
ting to the heavy pike charges and
by issuing roadway bonds acquired
and threw open to unhindered use
every highway in the district.
Impressed with the need, both of
Columbia and of Lexington, for the
freest communication and the closest
business and social relations, The Co.
lumbia Daily Record has undertaken
a determined and persistent campaign,
having for it's purpose the arousing of
the people concerned to the growing
necessity and practicability of re-
moving the tolls on the river bridges.
The Dispatch has realized Lexington's 8
vital interest in this fight and has
kept it's readers informed of the work
done by The Record, lending to the
latter's efforts it's cordial good will
and cooperation. On this side of the
rivers it is realized that if the river
tolls are to be removed the burden of
the cost must be borne by Columbia,
this city's interest of the matter
probably exceeding that of Lexington.
However, it is not to be forgotten
that the farmers, dairymen, truck
growers and poultrymen of Lexington
county, especially those of the Dutch
Fork, would be given free access to a
market which they must now reach
under a handicap which places them
at very considerable disadvantage
in competitor.
AS pointed out in The Record re-
Gently, the farming country around
Columbia exploits this market less
than the country around any other
city of Columbia's size or larger IN
the South. Columbia sends out of
the State every year, for butter and
similar farm products alone, over
$50, 900, not a cent of which would go
beyond Lexington and Richland coun-
ties if the farming sections of the
latter were properly developed. The
local demand is such right now, with
out taking any account of its certain
increase, as to take care of the entire
possible production of both these
counties for years to come, without