road fund of the county wherein the offense occurred.[1]
Persons making long trips on the road could pay toll for the entire distance and receive a certificate guaranteeing free passage to their destination.[2] Compounding rates were early put in force, applying, in Ohio, for persons residing within eight miles of the road,[3] the radius being extended later to ten.[4] Passengers in the stages were counted by the tollgate-keepers and the company operating the stage charged with the toll. At the end of each month, stage companies settled with the authorities. Thus it became possible for the stage drivers to deceive the gate-keepers, and save their companies large sums of money. Drivers were compelled to declare the number of passengers in their stage, and in the event of failing to do so, gate-keepers were allowed to charge the company for as many passengers as the stage could contain.[5]
