The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-02
WOULD ESTABLISH
MORE TOLL GATES
Valley Turnpike Company De-
sires to Collect From
Local Travel.
FIVE TOWNS ARE AFFECTED
Petition Is Before Corporation
Commission-Holland's
Expense Account.

Claiming that 1t is unable to collect
tolls from local travel near certain !
important. towns in the Valley OF
drive out to the toll gates and then
return without passing through the
Valley Turnpike Company has flied
petition before the State Corporation
to erect sdditionai gates for thu eol
lection of tolls.
This action Is taken under the pro-
visions OF an amendment to the gem
eral law regarding turnptkes. passed
which gives the Corporation Commits /,
sion power to authorize the erection
Of additional toll gates on the VAL
ley Turnpike under the circumstances
section OF the act refers to this road,
because of the fact that the Common
wealth owns an interest in it.
Differing Opinions.
The litigation will naturally be OF
the greatest interest to the people
Of the town whence tolls are de-
sired. It also to some extent reopens
the general toll gate question, which
was argued at such length in the last
Legislature.
The Committee on Roads and Inter
nal Navigation OF the House Of Dele.
gates took q firm stand against toll
gates anywhere In the maintenance
several bills. designed to permit new
Augusta. county delegation, regarding
the roads In that county. When the
Byrd got on the door and spoke Af for
Its approval, making tho argument
that 1t was local measure. and that
he stood for local option. The bill
was passed in spite of considerable
other local bills providing for the
establishment of toll gates were also
enacted during the session, over the
votes and protest Of the Roads Com
VIII Be Necessary.
Those who opposed toll gates said
they Were relic of dark ages, and
had no place in a modern state. on
of the Augusta measure said that
people all over the State would find
It necessary to have such a provision
to raise money to keep up the roads
which are being built.
In the petition, which was presented
by Speaker r. L. Byrd, counsel for the
Valley Turnpike Company, it is set
forth that the concern has found local
conditions such that 1t Is unable to
college tolls to any considerable ex-
I, tent from local travel on certain sec
tons of road. The portions referred to
are Just south of the towns of Stras-
burg, Edtnburg and Woodstock, and
Just north of the towns of New Market
and Harriscnburp
Local travel. continues the petition,
cuts Into the turnpike at points be-
tween existing toll gates, thus escap-
| ing the payment of tolls. The people
! OF these towns ride or drive as far
| as the nearest toll gate and then
return. without passing through the
gate. This Is said to cause consid-
cradle wear and tear on the road and
the company is without compensation
therefor.
Locate Later.
| 1t Is impracticable, 1t is declared to
name the exact location where gates
should be put. because the company
cannot acquire the land for the loca-
| tlon Of gates in advance Of the per.
mission OF the commission. It thinks
therefore. that the statement as to
| the towns and the direction Is suffi-
GENTLY definite to have the commits.
| sion act and order the gates, and that
| later the exact location could be re-
| ported and made sort of supple.
| mentary order The presumption is
that they would be put close to the
| towns.
Therefore, the company prays that
lit be permitted to erect toll cato
| within half mile OF each of the
by H. F. Byrd. president of the con-
| Germ.
The commission has docketed the
| proceeding and continued it generally.
/ No date has been set for a hearing.
/ When the time comes all sorts of OBJ.
| jections are expected.