Topic: Transport
In preparation for the planned assault on the Saxon positions south of the Daugava river, Charles XII on 17 April 1701 (Swedish style) instructed Governor General Dahlbergh in Riga to prepare the construction of a bridge. Unfortunately the conditions during the crossing on 9 July made it impossible to use the bridge in the way it was intended, so the bulk of the Swedish cavalry did not arrive until the battle was over. Apparently the bridge was subsequently donated to the city of Riga.
In the spring of 1702 the Riga City Council presented Dahlbergh with a proposed tariff for those using the bridge. Those on official government business (civilian or military) would get free passage, but otherwise the proposal looked like this:
A single person on foot - 1 shilling
A person on horse - 7 shillings
An empty peasant wagon (without horses) - 3 shillings
A basket wagon (without horses) - 6 shillings
A chaise or Berlin coach (without horses) - 12 shillings
A coach (without horses) - 18 shillings
Each person travelling in one of these - 1 shilling
Further:
Each horse, whether loose or part of a team - 6 shillings
An ox, cow or large pig - 6 shillings
A sheep, calf or small pig - 1 shilling
A barrel of salt or herring (without horse and wagon) - 2 shillings
A sack of flour or rye (without horse and wagon) - 3 shillings
A baker's (?) sack of flour or rye (without horse and wagon) - 3 shillings
A common sack of flour or rye - 2 shillings
A sack of malt, oats, barley or wheat (without horse and wagon) - 2 shillings
A cart with flax seeds, including wagon and horse - 18 shillings
A cart with hops or leather, including wagon and horse - 24 shillings
A pipe of wine or snaps, including wagon and horse - 43 shillings
A hogshead of wine or snaps, including wagon and horse - 24 shillings
A tierce of wine or snaps, including wagon and horse - 18 shillings
A barrel of beer, including wagon and horse - 6 shillings
Two barrels of beer, including wagon and horse - 9 shillings
A sack of spent hops, [?] and coal (when it is carried) - 1 shilling
A quarter of butter, including wagon and horse - 8 shillings
A barrel of vinegar (?), including wagon and horse - 12 shillings
A struse (loaded or not) which wants to pass the bridge when it's opened - 15 shillings
A boat - 6 shillings
Source: Fond 7349, op. 1, vol. 371, pp. 427-428, Latvijas valsts vestures arhivs, Riga
