Milford chronicle., 1959-11-06
9, ,4O5,546 Vehicles
Use Memorial Bridge


fiscal year brought in revenue a
mounting to $5,712,936.S5-an aver
age of .6O74 cents per vehicle-ac-
cording to the annual financial re-
port issued this week by the Della
ware Interstate Highway Division,
operators of the span.
According to Frank J. Horty,
general manager this is a report
of the first II months of operation
after tolls were reduced by thirty
per cent on June !, 1858. 1t covers
the fiscal period from June /, 1858
through May 81, 1859 and is con-
tanned in an attractive two-color
twenty-eight page brochure.
Beside listing complete financial
data in connection with the bridges
annual operation, there Is a sum-
mary of traffic, income and ex-'
penditures covering the entire
period since the span opened to
traffic on HAugust Is, 1851.
The report also contains an ar
ticle entitled Recent Develop
ments at the Bridge" in which
James L. Latchum, Division attor-
ney recounts meetings with the BIZ
state conferees' committee appoint
ed by Gov. ]. Caleb Boggs and
Gov. Robert b. Meyner of New
Jersey to solve problems which
will arise once the structure Is
free of bonded Indebtedness.
The brochure also illustrates ap-
proaches to the bridge from both
the New Jersey and Delaware sides
and contains a center spread Illus
trating changes in the approach
areas caused by federal interstate
highway construction The map
was supplied by the State Highway
Department.
Traffic exceeded the million mark
In two consecutive months in 1858
the statistics show. July produced
1851 $50 crossings while August
exceeded that figure with 1,1O9,204
crossings - highest in the spans
history. The low month was Febru-
airy 1859 when 592,181 vehicles
were recorded. Average monthly
traffic was 783,796 while the daily
average was 25,769.
During 1883 passenger cars
and small trucks accounted for
57.27 per cent of the total business,
bringing in 1921 .997.25.
The 50-trip and 10-trip cOmmu-
tation tickets also proved popular
and showed increased use during
the fiscal year, with 575,920 cross
ings accredited to the former and
1851 accounted for by the latter.
These two categories produced
revenue amounting to $209,385.85
in 1958-59.
There was a noticeable increase
in four axle truck traffic during
the year with that category sup
plying. 28.83 per cent of total busi-
ness and brought in revenue of
81 SAC, ,88450. Combining all truck
categories, they represent about
one-sixth of total traffic but ac-
count for more than one-third of
total revenue, the report shows.
There have been 62,042.1 cross
ings over the worlds seventh long
est single suspension bridge since
opening day in 1851 and revenue
for the entire period to May 81,
1859 amounted to $51 ,048, ,506.35, an
average of 1928 cents per vehicle,
Isaacson, Stolper and Company,
certified public accountant for the
Interstate Division. This repre-
sents s4,54S, ,506.35 more than the
$46,500.00O in revenue bonds issu-
ed to build the entire bridge oper-
alton to date.
Traffic statistics for the past
year were as follows
Passenger cars, small trucks
6,543,989; Two axle buses, trucks
--281 ,086; Three axle vehicles
362,191; Four axle vehicles-1,-
097 1923; Five or more axles-3, ,799;
Police, repair etc. no revenue
47,244; Special permit vehicles
1,433; Passenger. car 80 trip COM
mutation, 575,920; Passenger car
10-trip commutation-491 ,961; To-
tal-9, ,405,546.
The complete monetary break
down for 1958-59 follows:
Passenger cars, small trucks
1921, 1925 = 57.2796: Two axle
buses, trucks-210,S14.50 - 3.69%o
Three axle vehicle-362, ,191.0O =
.6349o; Four axle vehicles - 1885,
SS4.50 - 2S.S3q6; Five or more
axles-6,64S - 1870; Special
permit vehicles-5,O15.5O = .O99o;
Passenger cars, 50-trip commuta-
6,390.10 - 1879; Passen-
ger car, 10-trip tickets-122, ,995.75
- 2.15q6; Total-5,712,936.S5 -
100000.
The report also points out under
it's statement of budgetary expen-.
ditures that the span operated on
an estimated budget of $725 5,372.31
during the last fiscal period. Ac-
tual expenditures were $712,429.31,
leaving a balance of $12,943.00 on
hand in addition to the $42,148.4S
unexpended budget of the previous
year, showing that the manage
ment kept well within it's esti-
mates during the fiscal period.
Another interesting item reveal
ed under cash receipts and dis
bursements was the amount of
money spent on snow removal dur
ing the period. Last winter was one
of the best ever experienced by
the span, so far as bad weather
is concerned and this reflected in
the fact that the snow removal
program cost a mere $1,9S8.51.
Delaware Memorial Bridge bonds
in the following categories were
redeemed during the period through
the Bank of Delaware, which acts
as trustee: s3,497 900 in bonds;
$376.000 in 3%q6 bonds and $217,-
600 in rs bonds. Interest on re-