The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1916-09-09
THE BRIDGE TOLLS
ARE CUT IN TWO

In an exhaustive opinion handed
| down the first of last week by the
| Public Service Commission the toll
| charge now imposed by the Havre de
Grace and Perryville Bridge Company
are practically cut in two. The Com
mission went into every detail of the
question. beginning with the property,
the sum paid for it, the amount since
| expended and the returns to the inves-
tors.
The earning capacity of the prop
erty regarded as the most important
element in arriving at the actual value
| was reviewed at length. In passing on
this question the Commission says:
When We find a property which as
in this case cost its owners but ST.
791.94 in cash and has earned its own
ers net profits ranging from $3,838.67
in 1910, to S24, 1910 in 1915, and en-
ables theEl during that period to dis
tribute $4,000 of dividends among
themselves, it would be but reason
able to say that, judged from the
standpoint of earning capacity alone,
the property is most certainly one of
considerable value, value far in ex-
cess of the amount actually paid for
the same.
To determine the physical value
of the structure, the Commission made
a careful investigation which was
based on the reports of the engineers
representing the company and the
Commission and they reached the con-
clusion that the bridge could be re-
placed at cost of S350,000. but the
structure would be entirely new, and
not as is this one, so years old. The
Commission also took into considera-
ton the fact that the bridge would be
valueless if it were not for the fran
chise enjoyed from the state making
the bridge part of the state highway
leading from Baltimore to Elkton. Af-
ter taking all the equities into con-
sideration. the Commission concluded
that for rate making purposes of the
present time fair value of the prop
erty is $250,000. This sum includes
such amount as the company may find
it reasonably necessary to carry on
hand as working capital.
Other conclusions We're:
That the rate of tolls at present
charged to pedestrians and others
crossing the bridge are excessive, un-
just and unreasonable, and that from
and after October l 1916, and until
the first day of October, 1921. unless
this order shall earlier be modified or
ahrogated in whole or in part by the
Commission, the company shall make
no charges for the transportation of
individuals or property over its bridge
in excess of the following tolls:
CLASS OF TOLL.
Foot passengers, each. ch.................. .03
Foot passengers. round trip good same day .e5
Foot passengers, so trips in caunGer
month each.,... ..........,.. .......,,.. 10
Foot passengers with push cart or wheel
barrow, each. ...., ,................... .05
Sheep or swinet each. ch...............,.... 90
Horse mules cattle, ea rlchdrei
Horses, mules cattle each tdriver
cents extra EACH NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 10
Wagon or carriage, empty. drawn by one
man ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 10
Wagon or carriage, empty, attached to
wagon drawn by one more horses. 10
Wagon, loaded 1.-TWO or four wheels.
tached to a wagon drawn by one horse .l5
WAGON, loaded 1.-TWO or four wheels, at
tached to wagon drawn by two
more hOrses ...................., 20
Wagon. loaded empty 1.-TWO four
wheels, drawn by one horse mot more
than one person) NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. .l5
Wagon loaded or empty two or four
wheels). drawn by two horses mot more
Wagon, loaded or empty (fourr wheels,
drawn by three horses mot than
one person. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 80
Wagon, loaded empty -four wheels,
| drawn by four horses mot more than
two persons ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 40
Wagon, loaded empty, -four whees).
drawn by five horses mot more than
| two persons) NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. .45
| Wagon loaded empty -four wheels,
drawn by six horses mot more than two
persons) .................,.. .,........... .56
Carriage pleasure 1.-TWO four wheels),
drawn by one horse mot more than two
| peFsonSl .'.........,.. ..,....... 10
Carriage pleasure -four wheels, drawn
| by two horses mot more than four per-
| SOilSl ...'''...'' .......... 20
| Carriage pleasure flour wheels. drawn
| by four horses mot more than eight
| Passengers. in excess of the number allow
| ed to any vehicle. each .............. .05
| Bicycle and rider. Observation-Disclosures. .05
| Motor bicycle and rider. ............... 10
| Automobiles Occupied by, or capacity, TO
| carry not more than persons. -. so
| Auto vans and trucks. ks..............,....S 81 so
| Steam well diggers, auto oil tanks, trac-
| ton engines mot exceeding four per-
sonsD. Special regulations) ........... $50
Coupon Books NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. o.UU
| Thirty trip auto tickets ........... Abolished
Maryland Club tickets. ........... Abolished