Ferries and Bridges 



195 



The rates of toll as authorized by the Legislature for the 

 use of the bridge were as follows: 

 Every four-wheeled pleasure carriage and horses. 37^ cents 



19 

 19 



12^ 



cent 



cents 



two-wheeled pleasure carriage and horses 



" pleasure sleigh and horses 



" common wagon and horses 



" common sled. 

 Ox cart and oxen 

 Every one-horse cart and horse 



" man and horse 



" ox, cow, or steer 



" dozen hogs, sheep, or calves, and so in pro- 

 portion for a greater or less number . 6 

 For every foot passenger . . . . .3 



State and United States troops, with their artillery, car- 

 riages, and stores were to have free passage. 



The new road through Westchester County, and that built 

 on the island of Manhattan to meet it diverted travel from 

 the King's and Farmers' bridges at Spuyten Duyvil, as the 

 course to and from Eastchester for eastern travel was much 

 shorter and more direct by the new bridge and road. The 

 bridge was so well patronized and was so financially successful 

 that we find the owners petitioning the Legislature in 1808 

 for incorporation as the Harlem Bridge Company, a petition 

 that was granted. Before the expiration of the sixty years 

 for which the franchise was given originally, Morrisania and 

 Harlem had grown apace, and the bridge was inadequate for 

 the amount of traffic that passed over it, and the lock too small 

 for the accommodation of passing vessels. Still, strenuous 

 efforts were made by the company for the renewal of its 

 charter as 1858 approached. The Legislature took the matter 

 in hand, and after reciting the fact that the bridge would 



