Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-20
MOVE TO FREE ALL
LANCASTER COUNTY
TOLLROADS AT ONCE
Big Mass-Meeting at Columbia
Advocates Purchase Of High
ways Now Controlled by
Private Interests
CUNNINGHAM APPROVES
Commissioner Tells Enthusiastic AS
sembly Turnpikes Should
Belong TO Public

COLUMBIA, Pa, Aug. @.-1n the most
rrmarkable demonstration OF the kind
ever held IN this community the Column
bin Automobile Club last night opened
the hght for the elimination Of toll roads
IN Lancaster County. Hundreds OF ad-
vocates Of good roads. all favoring the
abolition OF toll. poured into the town
for the parade and the mass-meeting
Streets were decorated and illuminated
and thousands thronged the sidewalks.
In the line were $50 automobiles, motor
trucks and motorcycles. Music was fur
niehcd by the Metropolitan Band and the
Columbia Mandolin Club. conveyed on
motortrucks. The mass-meeting was held
IN the State Armory. which was filled to
capacity by more than 1900 persons from
all sections of Lancaster, York, Lebanon
and Dauphln Counties, who came here to
show their approval of the movement to
have free highways in "the garden spot"
OF the Union.
COUNTY COULD TAKE ROADS.
A. ". Meyers. president OF the Columbia
Automobile Club. presided. and on the
stage with him were representatives OF
motor clubs and chambers OF commerce
from nearby towns and cities. He stated
the object of the meeting and quoted ng-
urcs from the County Controllers annual
report to show that Lancaster County
was financially able to take over all toll
roads In her border without increasing the
tax rate
Chief Burgess W. Sanderson Detveiler
welcomed the visitors to Columbia and
extended the keys OF the borough to 1ll
visitors. The first speaker was ID. r.,
Magee, chairman of the Good Roads
committee OF the Lancaster Chamber Of
Commerce. who made an eloquent appeal
for good roads and for free highways. He
advocated the purchase Of toll roads and
their maintenance by the State thereafter.
RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED.
U. O. Herr, OF the Lancaster Chamber
OF commerce. offered a resolution that
the Board of Commissioners of Lancas.cr
County be petitioned Immediately to take
action toward the freeing OF toll roads
In the county. II was unanimously
adopted.
Frank p. Bosch, president Of the Har-
risburg Motor Club, was the second
speaker, He told what had been done and
what action was being taken in Harris
burg for free highways, and made a
IN the near future all roads would be
free
STATE COMMISSIONER PRESENT.
~ - oN1te commissioner, |
was accorded an enthusiastic welcome |
He outlined the growth OF the toll roads |
system In Pennsylvania and told OF the |
increasing sentiment throughout the State |
against this means OF eXacting money |
from travellers He stamped the toll road |
as ian emblem OF the dark ages" and |
asserted that he was I'm full sympathy
with efforts being made to have all high |
ways freed for the use OF the travelling
public. The Commissioner said that IN
1911. when the present Highway Depart n
ment was created. there were III miles |
OF toll roads In the State, 5H OF which
were on state highway routes. Since
that time he asserted that 50 miles had
been taken over by tho State Highway
Department and made free for the use OF
The public. Mr.. Cunningham called at.
Iention to the fact that Lancaster County
has " miles of toll roads on the State
hiehway routes He said that prelim-
mary Negotiations for the purchase of II
throughout the State had been
begun by his department.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT TOO POOR
"The Highway Department has received
rom the Legislature sufficient authority
10 take over all Of these toll roads. but
the Legislature did not
provide the department with sufficient
unds to do II as promptly as we would
iesire,' he declared. ut is for this rea-
ION that the Highway Department asks
he cooperation In a financial way OF all
hose who are interested in this most
important matter. so that our State may
peedily be freed from the obnoxious toll
Dads"
YORK TO FIGHT ALSO
Petitions were circulated and signed by
III present, requesting the County Com ,
nissioners 10 take immediate steps for
he purchase OF all toll roads In Ian.
aster County. Similar petitions will be
ent all towns and villages in the coun-
Y, and they will then be forwarded 10
he County Commissioners {
In the near future the York Chamber
q Commerce will hold a similar meeting
0 advocate the adjustment OF toll roads
? York County and cooperation NTH
he Columbia Automobile Club.
Last nights demonstration and meeting /
howed the popularity of the movement
nd Il was pronounced the best organ.
'ed and most enthusiastic movement OF +
he kind ever attempted. 1