The Cayuga Lake Bridge from Cayuga to Bridgeport played an important part in the development of the country to the west, and it made Bridgeport or West Cayuga a political meeting place for the politicians of the east and west.
The famous Titus Inn was located in Cayuga on the corner of Lake and Main streets and is mentioned often in the early newspapers.
At Bridgeport there were at least six taverns, including those of Gen. Christopher Baldy, which stood on the north side of the Public Square near the lake; Russell Pratt, at whose inn Col. Richardson quartered his troops on the way to Niagara in the War of 1812, a bakery for making “hard tack” for the soldiers was located there.
A map of the village of West Cayuga was filed in the office of the Cayuga County clerk in 1801 and a copy was later filed in the Seneca County clerk's office. This map shows the village lots and their dimensions.
The troubles of the Bridge Company were not limited to difficulties with the Free Bridge advocates because the early court reports show considerable litigation regarding the rights of the people to cross in boats or upon the ice in winter, thus avoiding the use of the bridge and the payment of toll.
In 1823, the court ruled that it was not an infringement of the exclusive rights of the Bridge Company to cross upon the ice.
But in 1827 this opinion was reversed, the court holding that unless the start upon the ice was made within the three-mile limit and ended within it, so that the whole trip was made within the exclusive territory of the Bridge Company, there was no infringement.
It appears the plaintiff in this case came across from a point six miles below the bridge but ended his trip at the foot of the bridge.
Upon demand for toll, he paid the fee of 25 cents and later brought suit to recover his quarter.
The case was carried through several courts and, on final decision, it was held that the bridge tender had the right to collect the toll, but as the plaintiff had paid the fee willingly, the legal maxim “Volunti non fit injuria” applied and he could not recover the toll paid.
This is but one of the many interesting bridge cases found in the court reports.
For those who desire to read these interesting cases as to grants of exclusive rights to individuals and corporations, the following cases with reference to the Cayuga Bridge Company are cited:
€ Cayuga Bridge Co. vs. McGhie: 6 Wendell 85 and 2 Paige 116
€ Sprague (toll collector) vs. Birdsall (the 25 cents case): 2 Cowan 419
€ Cayuga Bridge Co. vs. Stout: 7 Cowan 33
Note that the Asa Sprague mentioned above as the toll collector sold the land to Elam and David Beach in 1824, which land comprises the land of Chester Beach, of the late Wm. H. Beach and of the late James Souhan.
Asa Sprague was later a conductor of the Auburn and Rochester and still later the president of a bank in Rochester.
The charter of the Manhattan Company may be found in the Laws of 1799 at Chapter 84.
The original directors were: David Ludlow, John Watts, John B. Church, Brockholst Livingston, William Edgar, William Laight, Paschal N. Smith, Samuel Osgood, John Stephens, John B. Coles (who was, in 1795, given the right to collect tolls for 60 years for crossing the Harlem River) and Aaron Burr.
The charter of the Cayuga Bridge Company may be found in the Laws of 1797 dated March 28 - also the amended charter extending the life of the company to 75 years and granting monopolies - can be found under the Laws of 1799, dated March 1.
Ruth Probst is historian for the town of Aurelius.
At Bridgeport there were at least six taverns, including those of Gen. Christopher Baldy, which stood on the north side of the Public Square near the lake; Russell Pratt, at whose inn Col. Richardson quartered his troops on the way to Niagara in the War of 1812, a bakery for making “hard tack” for the soldiers was located there.
A map of the village of West Cayuga was filed in the office of the Cayuga County clerk in 1801 and a copy was later filed in the Seneca County clerk's office. This map shows the village lots and their dimensions.
The troubles of the Bridge Company were not limited to difficulties with the Free Bridge advocates because the early court reports show considerable litigation regarding the rights of the people to cross in boats or upon the ice in winter, thus avoiding the use of the bridge and the payment of toll.
In 1823, the court ruled that it was not an infringement of the exclusive rights of the Bridge Company to cross upon the ice.
But in 1827 this opinion was reversed, the court holding that unless the start upon the ice was made within the three-mile limit and ended within it, so that the whole trip was made within the exclusive territory of the Bridge Company, there was no infringement.
It appears the plaintiff in this case came across from a point six miles below the bridge but ended his trip at the foot of the bridge.
Upon demand for toll, he paid the fee of 25 cents and later brought suit to recover his quarter.
The case was carried through several courts and, on final decision, it was held that the bridge tender had the right to collect the toll, but as the plaintiff had paid the fee willingly, the legal maxim “Volunti non fit injuria” applied and he could not recover the toll paid.
This is but one of the many interesting bridge cases found in the court reports.
For those who desire to read these interesting cases as to grants of exclusive rights to individuals and corporations, the following cases with reference to the Cayuga Bridge Company are cited:
€ Cayuga Bridge Co. vs. McGhie: 6 Wendell 85 and 2 Paige 116
€ Sprague (toll collector) vs. Birdsall (the 25 cents case): 2 Cowan 419
€ Cayuga Bridge Co. vs. Stout: 7 Cowan 33
Note that the Asa Sprague mentioned above as the toll collector sold the land to Elam and David Beach in 1824, which land comprises the land of Chester Beach, of the late Wm. H. Beach and of the late James Souhan.
Asa Sprague was later a conductor of the Auburn and Rochester and still later the president of a bank in Rochester.
The charter of the Manhattan Company may be found in the Laws of 1799 at Chapter 84.
The original directors were: David Ludlow, John Watts, John B. Church, Brockholst Livingston, William Edgar, William Laight, Paschal N. Smith, Samuel Osgood, John Stephens, John B. Coles (who was, in 1795, given the right to collect tolls for 60 years for crossing the Harlem River) and Aaron Burr.
The charter of the Cayuga Bridge Company may be found in the Laws of 1797 dated March 28 - also the amended charter extending the life of the company to 75 years and granting monopolies - can be found under the Laws of 1799, dated March 1.
Ruth Probst is historian for the town of Aurelius.
