Motorists irate about tolls possibly rising to $4 on the Ben Franklin and other Delaware River Port Authority bridges should consider the round-trip cost when the Franklin bridge opened in July 1926: 50 cents, or $6.12 in today’s dollars.

Using three or more horses with your carriage cost 80 cents, or the equivalent of $9.79 today. The toll for leading your horse, mule, cow, hog or sheep was 40 cents, or $4.90.

The Delaware River Bridge, as it was called, was a joint project between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. New Jersey favored tolls, while Pennsylvania and Philadelphia wanted the bridge “to remain forever free.” To get the bridge built, Pennsylvania relented.  read more »