A. I don't want to do that. I don't want to bother him. It is nonsense to talk about that. A man who lives in East Boston would get across if he could; he wouldn't come back and hang around the office another half hour.

Q. (By Mr. ADAMS.) Do you own any real estate in East Boston?

A. Yes, sir; a small piece of land, or the firm do, Pratt & Babb.

Q. (By Mr. MOULTON.) The same piece that Mr. Ingalls testified to?

A. Yes, sir.

Mr. EMERY moved that when the committee adjourn, it be to Monday night, at seven and a half o'clock.

Mr. NOYES moved to amend, by substituing Friday evening next. The amendment was lost, and Mr. Emery's motion carried.

Mr. STONE moved that the committee adjourn, but the motion was lost.

TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM ARCHER.

Q. (By Mr. PUTNAM.) What is your occupation?

A. I have charge, in part, of Chelsea bridge.

Q. How long have you had charge of Chelsea bridge?

A. Since it was freed, a year last November.

Q. Did you have any connection with it before it was freed?

A. I was toll-keeper for seven years.

Q. Then your connection with it goes back seven years before it was freed?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. And you say it was freed a year ago last November ?

A. The 6th of last November, a year ago.

Q. Did you notice any increase in the travel, in consequence of the bridge being free?

A. Yes, sir. I should think the travel was treble now.

Q. If there has been any difference, what kind has increased the most?

A. Well, heavy teaming.

Q. Teaming of all kinds ?

A. Yes, sir, teaming of all kinds.

Q. Before the bridge was freed, how was it about heavy teams? Did they come mainly by the bridge, or how did they come?

A. We have a great many more heavy teams now than we had before it was freed.

Q. How did they come before it was freed?

A. That I can't tell.

Q. Are you familiar with the roads running down into Essex County, and up towards Saugus and Melrose?

A. No, sir; I am acquainted down to Lynn and Swampscott, and that way.

Q. Take the towns that come in on the Salem turnpike; how would the freeing of the East Boston ferries be likely to affect the travel from those towns?

A. I should judge they would take a good part of the Essex County travel; farmers, fishermen and the like of that.

Q. Do you know how the distance compares from the towns farther down on the turnpike, through East Boston and by the ferries, with the distance by the bridge?

A. I have always understood that it was the same distance by the East Boston ferry, as it was to the end of the bridge. Q. Then to Boston it would be shorter by the East Boston ferries?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. How far is it from the end of Chelsea bridge to State street?

A. Two miles and a half.

Q. Then it is two miles and a half shorter by East Boston than by the way of the bridge?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Then you think if the tolls were removed the travel would be diverted that way?

A. I think more or less of the fishermen who come up early in the morning would go back that way. I don't know that they would come that way.

Q. What sort of travel causes the most wear and tear?
A. Heavy travel.

Q. Have you any idea what proportion?

A. No, sir.

Q. How does the increase of heavy travel affect the wear and tear of your bridge?

A. Where a plank lasted two years, it don't last but one. Q. That is, since the toll was taken off?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Have you observed in former times, when there was a toll upon the bridge, whether heavy teams manifested any preference for the ferry over the bridge?

A. I think they manifested a preference for the ferry.

Q. Other things being equal?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. And it is taking the tolls off that has brought them back to the bridge?

A. Yes, sir, brought a great many back. The greatest increase is of heavy teams that come from Somerville over that way with brick and stone.

Q. (By Mr. BROOKS.) If I understand you correctly, you say the largest amount of the heavy teaming comes from Somerville ?

A. The largest part of the increase appears to come from that way; brick and stone, that formerly went around through Malden.

Q. Do I understand you to say, that in coming from Somer ville to Boston, they would come across the East Boston ferries?

A. No, sir; I didn't say so.

Q. A large portion of the increase of the teaming across that bridge, of course, has been owing to the increase of the population of Chelsea ?

A. I should judge so.

building.

There has been a large increase of

Q. It would not go across the bridge with the tolls on? A. No. It went around through Malden into Chelsea when the tolls were on the bridge.

Q. Don't those vegetable teams that come from Danvers, Marblehead, and that section of country, start on their way home about nine or ten o'clock in the forenoon?

A Yes, sir.

Q. That is the part of the day when there is the most leisure on the ferries, is it not?

A. I have no idea of the business of the ferries. I am not acquainted with them.

Q. (By Mr. KINGSBURY.) Do you reside in Chelsea or

Boston?

A. In Chelsea.

Q. Are you one of the petitioners?

A. No, sir.

Q. Do you know to what extent the valuation of property has increased in Chelsea since the abolition of the tolls on that bridge?

A. No, sir, I don't.

Q. You have no doubt it has increased some?

A. I have no doubt it has; rents have increased some.

Q. (By Mr. DICKINSON.) You say rents have increased in

Chelsea since the tolls were taken off at the bridge?

A. I should think they had some.

A. I can't tell that. I pay twenty-five dollars a month for a house now that before let for twenty-one.

Q. Do you know what that house was taxed for before the tolls were taken off?

A. I don't.

Q. Do you know what it is taxed for now?

(Mr. DICKINSON.) I wish you would and let me know. Q. (By Mr. NOYES.) Who requested you to come here?

Q. (By Mr. PUTNAM.) When did you first hear that you were wanted here?

A. About half-past two o'clock this afternoon.

Q. And how?

A. By a summons.

Q. From an officer?

A. Yes, sir; and I received one dollar.

Q. (By Mr. BROOKS.) I understand you to say that house rent in Chelsea has very much increased since the tolls were taken off?

A. I judge from the house I live in.

On motion of Mr. BARKER, the committee adjourned to Monday evening, at seven and a half o'clock.

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