The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-24
"Hon. SAMUEL. l.. SoUTHARD,
president of the Senate"
PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC I'M
PROVEMENTS

| Recent articles in the Harrisburg newspapers
| inform u.s. that the present Board Of Canal
| Commissioners of Pennsylvania ale effecting
some wholesome reforms in the management
of the public works of that great Common
wealth. While it is scarcely to be expected
| that, under the party system of managing af-
fairs in Pennsylvania, a thorough reform can
| at once be effected, it is, vertheless, crafty.
ing to find that some steps are being taken to-
wards it; and to whatever party the Commits
sioners may belong, they deserve credit for
number OF officers has been reduced at least one
half and while the duties have generally been
increased, the salaries have been in some in
stances diminished The Commissioners have
given assurances that they will be able to make
the main line of canal and railroad, from Phila
delphia to Pittsburgh, source of considerable
revenue to the State. All the men in the SER
vice of the State are required to De industrious,
honest and sober, intemperance not being tole-
rated.
Pennsylvania has long needed reform. For
years her public works have been managed en-
tirely by political parlisans; favoritism, prodi-
eality and corruption have prevailed the pub
lie funds have been made the stakes of gamb-
ling politicians; and an immense debt, laxity
of public morals, discomfort among the people,
and burdensome taxes, are the consequences.
That the public works of the State are valua-
ble cannot be disputed but they might have
been equally valuable at far less cost. No re-
| H., L-. Il A.
we find the main line has scarcely kept itself in
repair; while the Ohio Canal, from Cleaveland
on the lake to Portsmouth on the Ohio river,
paid last year fraction over six per cent inte-
rest on its cost, after deduc!ing all the ex-
penses of management and repair. This fact
shows what can be done under a better system,
and we have no doubt, has had its weight with
the Commissioners Of Pennsylvania.
| The debt of Pennsylvania is now nearly forty
millions of dol ars; but the annual productions
of the State, according to the best information
which can be obtained, are nearly two hundred
millions; or rather, they have amounted to
nearly that sum in prosperous times. The
| State has resources as various and abundant as
| any territory of the same extent in the world.
| She has an excellent sea port on the Delaware,
and one of the BEST if not The very best, har-
Dor on Lake Erie. The great Ohio river is
formed within her borders and at the ''head of
navigation" Eve beg pardon of our Wheeling
lriends,) she has the busy and growing city of
Pittsburgh, whose enterprsing and skilful man
ufacturers already furnish immense supplies to
the great West, and have even pushed their
trade to the Pacific ocean. She has an agricul-
tural population noted for honest industry, ope-
rating on soil naturally productive, and rem
dered more prolific by the perfection Of hus-
bandry. She has mineral wealth incaculable,
water power inexhaustbe, and nearly two
millions of people. The city of Philadelphia,
notwithstanding the disgrace she has suf-
fered by fnancierng" rogues, is an ornament
to the Union, while the inland towns of Lam
caster, Harrisburg, Carlisle, Lewistown, Holli-
daysburg, and many others, are among the most
hourishng of our country.
Then why should Pennsylvania despond p
Her people only need sound currency, and a
revival of business, to enable them to NEE: all
their obligations. The necessary operations of
this government, reSuidteu ny d JuuiciouS anu
patriotic regard to the interests of our whole
country. will afford to her industry all the
encouragement and to her productions all
the demand, which sound prosperity requires
and the measures of the Administration,
when carried out by Congress as the People
desire, will be felt with quickening power
in every muscle Of her giant frame. The
indispensable revenue duties, laid with wise
discrimination and with view to the coun-
teraction of restrictions by foreigners, will
abundantly encourage the development of her
mineral wealth. afford home market for the