Warm Springs Toll Bridge North Carolina 1879

Below you'll find the actual writing of the portion of the act of the North Carolina General Assembly allowing the Warm Springs Toll Bridge Company to charge for tolls across the bridge. As an author I'm always looking for the actual costs of items or services during the time period I'm writing.

Sec. 5. That the company shall be entitled to receive Rates of ton. the following toll, to-wit: Six-horse wagons seventy-five cents, four-horse wagons fifty cents, three-horse wagons forty cents, two horse wagons twenty-five cents, one horse wagon fifteen cents, man and horse ten cents, loose horses and mules five cents each, cattle, sheep and hogs two and one-half cents each, pleasure carriages four horse one dollar, two horse fifty cents, horse and buggy twenty-five cents.

Ratified the 5th day of March, A. D. 1879.

Louisiana Purchase Significant Dates

Treaty was signed April 30, 1803
Jun 20th Jefferson wrote a letter to Lewis to "explore the Missouri River...
Announced to the American people on July 4th by Thomas Jefferson.
Ratified by the Senate Oct. 20th
Oct. 31 Congress made temporary provisions for local civil government to continue
New Orleans was turned over by France on Dec. 20th
March 10, 1804 formal ceremony for the transfer of ownership was held in St. Louis
Oct. 1, 1804 the territory was organized as "Territory of Orleans"

Blue Laws

Quite a while back I encouraged people to take a look at Blue laws and how they might affect your historical articles or novels. In google books I found a history of blue laws from 1861 titled "The Blue Laws of Connecticut"

It appears that the blue laws of Connecticut seemed to be the standard. Rev. John Cotton of New Haven, Ct. in 1655 and Gov. Eaton at the time found the need to write these laws. They were printed in England and distributed in New Haven in 1656.

Wikipedia has an interesting article about the blue laws and lists several. Wikipedia link.

With regard to the 19th century Blue laws were still in effect. However, they mostly pertained to the buying and selling on the Sabbath/Sunday.

Filibusters

Taken from the book "Things Not Generally Known" by John Timbs, David Ames Wells. ©1857

FILIBUSTERS.

The title of Filibusters is a mere corruption of the English word freebooters—a German term imported into England during the Low-Country wars of Elizabeth's reign. It has been erroneously traced to the Dutch word/r/JoaJ; but the Jesuit traveller Charlevoix asserts that, in fact, this species of craft derived its title from being first used by the Flibustiers, and not from its swiftness. This, however, is evidently a mistake, as Drayton and Hakluyt use the word; and it seems to bo of even earlier standing in the French language. The derivation from the English word freebooter is at once seen when the * in Flibustier becomes lost in pronunciation.—C. W. Thorribury.
End Quote

The term was revised in the mid 19th century to describe the actions of adventurers who tried to take control of various Caribbean, Mexican and Central-American terrorists. (According to Wikipedia)

The first well known political filibuster was U.S. Senator Henry Clay with regard to a bank bill he was in favor of. This filibuster took a month in 1841 and ended on March 11th.

Filibusters continued in the Senate's history during the rest of the 19th century by the end of the century the term was in common usage.

Postage Regulations Part two 1889

Fourth Class - Merchandies, Samples, Etc. - Mailable matter of the fourth class includes all matter not embraced in the first, second and third classes, which is not in its form or nature liable to destroy, deface or otherwise damage the contents of the mail-bag, or harm the person or any one engaged in the postal service.
All matter of the fourth class is subject to a postage charge at the rate of one cent an ounce or fraction thereof, to be paid by stamps affixed.

Postal Cards - Postal cards are sold at a fixed rate of one and two cents (for foreign) each, in any quantity. Unclaimed postal cards are never returned to the writer. Anything pasted on or attached to a postal card subjects it to a letter postage.

Money Orders - Orders not over $10, 8 cents;
$10 to $15, 10 cents;
$15 to $30, 15 cents;
$30 to $40, 20 cents;
$40 to $50, 25 cents;
$50 to $60, 30 cents;
$60 to $70, 35 cents;
$70 to $80, 40 cents;
$80 to $100, 45 cents.
Postmasters cannot issue more than three orders to the same person in one day, in favor of the same payee, at the same office.

N.B.- Postal orders or notes under five dollars are issued without corresponding advices, and, when duly receipted, are payable at any money order office in the United States, selected by the bearer. The fee is three cents for each order. Postal notes are payable to bearer when presented at office of issue. The government is not liable after a note has once been paid. Postal notes are invalid at expiration of three calendar months from the last day of the month issue.

Foreign Postage- Canada - letters 2 cts.; and 5 cents on all letters to all countries belonging to the "Universal Postal Union" which embraces all parts of Europe, Mexico, Equador, Cuba, Brazil, Japan, Hong Kong, Chili, Peru, Egypt, Hayti, etc. Latter rate is on each 1/2 ounce; printed matter 2 cts. for 2 ozs.

Source Houghtalings Handbook 1889

Postal Regulations Part One 1889

United States Postal Regulations

First Class Mail Matter-Letters.-This class includes letters, and anything of which the postmaster cannot ascertain the contents without destroying the wrapper, or anything unsealed which may be wholly or partly in writing--except manuscript for publication accompanied by proof sheets. Postage, two cents each one ounce or for each fraction above one ounce. On local or drop letters, at free delivery offices, two cents. At offices where no free delivery by carriers, one cent.

Second Class - Regular Publications.- This class includes all newspapers, periodicals, or matter exclusively in print and regularly issued at stated periods from a known office of publication or news agency. Postage, one cent a pound or fraction thereof.

Third Class - Miscellaneous Printed Matter. - Transient newspapers and periodicals, one cent for each four ounces or fraction thereof. Mailable matter of third class includes printed books, circulars and other matter wholly in print (not of the second class), proof sheets and manuscript accompanying the same, and postage shall be paid at the rate of one cent for each two ounces or fraction thereof, and shall fully be prepaid by postage stamps affixed to said matter.
All packages of matter of the third class must be so wrapped or enveloped that their contents may be readily and thoroughly examined by postmasters without destroying the wrappers.

From Houghtaling's Handbook