The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-05-19
PEOPLE
 ON TOLL BRIDGE
Many Oppose Paying Tolls to
 Cross Proposed New Bridge
Stratford House Burglafized Pease Receives Heavy Sem
 tence for Assault
cspacial to The E.ag.rnesr-.l !

(Sp6c1al 10 The FaTmer.1
 Stratford, May 191The chief topic being discussed in stratford these days is the question of whether or not the Legislature will vote to build a. toll bridge over the Housatonfc river to replace the antiquated and di1apidated structure known as Washington bridge, which at present connects Strat6ord and Milford. There is much difference of opinion on this matter of paying a toll for the privilege of crossing the bridge, and although chiefly those who seldom have occa- sion to go to Milford or Devon, would be willing to pay a, small toll for the privilege of crossing the bridge, the great majority of the people of strat- ford appear to be opposed to the toll bridge idea.
 When asked this morning what he thought of the toll bridge proposition, Town Clerk Harold C.. Lowell said: T, as well as the people Of Stratford as a. whole. am absolutely opposed to the idea. It is taking a step backward to think of adopting this artedfluvian custom of paying tolls on a trunk highway, the only connecting link be- tween Milford and Stratford. The adoption of the toll system would kill Devon and property values there would take such a slump that the peo- pie would wonder what had happen ed.''
 Earl Bray of Main street said: stIt will be getting back to the customs of primeval days to adopt the toll necticut during the past half century has been to do away with tolls on highways and bridges and it will be anything but progressfveness on the part of the men who decide this ques, tion. if they vote to make the new f1Tid<ra toll hI-i<7ere
 William Beard of Sutton avenue is opposed to the paying of tolls on the bridge because he thinks 1t will divert traffic to Derby. ''If toll bridge is established ' he said, Bridgeport and New York automobilists will go through Brid geport to Nichols and so up to Derby, crossing the river at that point and thence proceeding down to New Haven
 I'm not in favor of toll station at Washington bridge, and I haven't met anybody in the town who is in favor of it, said Fred Aufford of Judson Place.
 Herbert L. Bartram, of the firm of Plumb 6 Bartram, said: Most of the people of Stra,tford who have been watching the proceedings of the Leg islAture expect that they will have toI pay tolls on the new bridge to help pay for the structure The question is whether the toll shall be a large one or a small one II IL IS a large one the New York automobi1ists will bear the burden of the greater part of the expense, but if 1t is a small one ti.e laborfng men of Milford and Devon will be the ones affected.
 Roswell Bliss of King street said: sIt IS only fair that tolls be charged on the new bridge. It will have to be paid for some way and why not make the people who are using it pay for it? They do it in other places throughout the State and it might just as well be done here"
 William 1T. St. John said: 4'If the bridge can be obtained in no other way than by paying tolls on it, I say pay the tolls. This seems to be the only way that it can be paid for and if a moderate fee is charged I don't think there will be much objection to paying tt.''
 A dozen other people expressed themselves on the matter, some in fa- vor of the tolls, some against them, the majority being opposed to them.