Evening star., 1928-03-11
TOLL BRIDGE RISE
DEcR|ED BYA.A.A.
233 Now in Operation Show
Enormous lncome-192
Projected.

The highways of the Nation are being
commercialized by an increasing
number of privately owned toll bridges
and the success of some of these private
interests III running the exploitation
type Of toll bridge has stimulated the
hopes of those who desire to extend
this exploitation to toll highways.
This statement was made by the
American Automobile Association re-
Gently. coupled with the suggestion that
Congress and the various units OF State
government owe II to the public TO DO
everything possible to prevent private
interests from exploiting strategic
points on the main highways through
the toll bridge institution.
while il is unqueStionably true"
SAYS the A. A. A.. that many toll
bridges have given and are giving a
needed public service at a fair cost. 1t
is equally true that scores OF them
levy an exorbitant tribute on the
motoring puhlic-a tribute sometimes
amounting to nearly 300 per cent on
the capital investment. At the present
rate Of granting charters. the number
Of toll bridges in the United States will
double in few years.
List sss Spans.
The figures adduced by the national
motoring body relative to the influx of
toll bridges are based on surveys made
by the Bureau of Public Roads. Ac-
cording to these figures, 233 toll bridges
we're in operation at the beginning OF
this year. of which l91 were privately
owned At present 90 new toll bridges
are under construction and l63 are
proposed OF the 1853 proposed. 100 Will
be constructed and operated on toll
basis BY private interests. During the
last session of Congress and to date, the
National Legislature has granted fran
chiscs for 81 bridges of the latter type.
The A. A. A. statement continues:
The recent success Of private inter-
ests in capitalizing highway bridges for
profit has stimulated hope on the part
OF those who would extend the COM
rercialization of the highways them
selves By applying the toll principle to
privately operated trunk lines in heavily
populated areas.
In many instances privately owned
bridges earn returns as high as 800
Der cent per annum on the capital in
vested. These are extreme cases. OF
course II is nothing unusual, on the
other hand, TO find toll bridges earning
all the way from 20 TO $50 per cent.
There Is one toll bridge in Nebraska
which yielded an income Of $50 per
cent on its cost annually from 1928 to
1925 There is a bridge in Maryland
which was built at cost of $4,000
twenty years ago. In 1925. 1t had
net operating income Of Sal 900, or
~ per cent of the original cost. while
a dividend OF $4,000 was declared.
this amounting to 81 per cent on the
Sl0o, 900 Of common stock outstanding.
On Federal Highways.
1T is important 10 remember that
the overwhelming majority OF the AS
ton bridges In operation. under con.
struction or proposed. as Of January /,
1928, are located on the Federal aid
highway system-that Is, On the l86,000
miles Of the most important State and
Interstate roads built at public and
Government expense and which are the
most heavily Travelled highways in the
country.
The American Automobile Associa-
ton Is opposed TO the granting Of toll
bridge franchises TO private interests,
except In instances where IL Is clearly