Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-01-15
shrink from duty enjoincd by such considera

SHRINK from duty enlOlncd Oy 6ucn cOneMerd-
tons as these.
1t Willis found on reference to the amount
of taxes paid by the people, that comparatively |
a small portion is levied to discharge the inter.
est on the public debt Although in the aggre.
gate the taxes are onerous, by far the greater |
amount is absorbed in the ordinary purposes of
township, city and county affairs. take great
pleasure in stating the fact, that the increase
Of the taxes for the maintenance of the faith and
honor OF the state has been regarded in spirit
of patriotic duty by the public at large, and has
been borne without repining, unless, indeed,
we except a very few persons, residing in por-
tons Of the state which have reaped almost the
entire benefit of the expenditure of the vast
sums OF money, for the payment Of interest on
which these taxes are imposed. I felt salts
fed when recommended, carly in my official
career, the resort to taxation, instend of addi-
tiona loans, to pay the interest annually accru-
ing, that the enlightened ycomanry ofPennsyl.
vania would, under the circumstances, sanction
the recommendation. am now convinced
did not mistake their true character; nor can
the extraordinary conduct Of some persons, pro-
Tossing better principles, who first urged the
adoption of the measure, and afterwards de-
nounced those who acqucsccd in it, shake for
a moment my steadfast conviction on this sub.
ject. always believed the people would do
their duty, let it cost what it might the first
instance is yet to be found in our history when
they have flinched from it, ifrightly understood.
The unprecedented increase of our popula-
ton and resources, cannot fail, in few years
TO render our Improvements SO productive as to
! supercede the necessity for taxation. The ul-
tmate value of onr stupcndous system of public
works can hardly now be estimated. They
have already udded an incalculabe amount of
nj q pt hp
Commonwealth, and given an earnest of their
capacity for future usefulness. The travel and
transportation upon them must increase in full
proportion with the multiplication Of on popu.
latlon, and the development Of our exliaustless
re sources. " hen it is recolec'ed that the
population of this State in the year 1900, was
only Coz, ,545 that in 1890, it was 93l3 {;
and in lS4n, it was l,724, ,O33; show ing an in
crease within the last twenty years, exceeding
the whole population in the year lsOO; and
when it is remembered that this immense and
increasing population has impaired, and is i'm.
parting it's intellect, energy and industry to the
Improvements of the agricultural, mining
manufat turing and commercial interests of the
Commonwealth; and that during the past year
when trade and business were greatly depress.
ed !; when the Delaware division was not ir
use until about the lst of August; and wher
the important anthracite coal trade from the
, Wy oming. Shamokin and Bear valleys, ant
other intermediate points to tide and the btu
minous coal trade from the Allegheny noun
tain, on the West Branch, and Juniata region
to tide; have been barely commenced, the re
, ceipts of toll amounted to the sum OF S762,
260,44, it will be difficult to form just esti
mate of the extent of their future usefulness an,
extented receipts.
,, These internal improvements, for the con
struction of which the principal amount Of tn
State debt has been incurred, consists of 76s
; miles of canal and railways completed, an
1861 miles Of canal in progress of construction
and nearly completed.
= The finished works are the following: mile
! The Delaware canal, from Easton TO tide
:, at Bristol SO
= The main line Of canal and railway from
> Philadelphia to p,tsburg, 395
{ Canal from Beaver on the Ohio river TO
= Greenville, in the direction OF Erie, ~
= Canal from Franklin on the Allegheny
: river to Conneaut lake, AZ
Canal, Susquehanna and North Branch
- from Duncan's Island TO .ackawanna Ill
" Canal, West Branch from Northumberland
i to Farrandsville,
!, Several side cuts and navigable feeders,
e Total canals and railways completed, T6s
~ Canals in progress and nearly compile
D. ted:
'r North Branch extension, from lacka-
$ wanna to New York line,
O. Erie extension, from Greenvle TO Erie
e. harbor, o;
$, Wisconisco canal, from Duncan's Islam
~ to Wiconlsco creek, j.
o, Total canals in progress, l6s
g. The report Of the canal commissioners, wi
a. the accompanying documents, which will shoI
ne y be laid before you. will show in detail, Il
Ks state and condition of our public improvement
'e Having in former communications to the leg
n ature, stated nv views in relation 10 our ey
~ TEN of internal improvements, beg leave, T
spectively, to refer you TO them, as being u
~ changed, without wishing unnecessarily to e
IL tend this communication, by embodying the
10 in il.
ms When first entered upon the duties Of Z
dy executive department., the question Of comp
n ting the North Branch and Erie extensions W
ur submitted to the action of the legislature. j
no representatives ofthe people decided in favor
re- completing both, and nave by three subseque
u- acts, appropriated considerable Sums Of mon
ay for that purpose. The North Branch canal
ed already cost s2.3is, ,276 3S, of which the +,
TO of $3s9,676, AZ remains yet due to contracto
ST. The Erie extension has already cost about =
,n' 9l9,5O7, of which the sum of S574 ,4O6 %, rs
io- due to contractors. The grave question is M
60, presented TO your serious consideration, whe
"u er, under all the circumstances, those TWO lir
ce' are to be forthwith finished or abandoned
IN all time to come, and the entire amount OF lat
net and money expended upon them thrown aw'
Contractors who have gone on to the work, a
act perhaps executed the least profitable part OF