Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1842-01-12
This however, is a question

] For the debts now due to contractors on
these lines, as well as for repairs on the other
lines, rendered Indispensable, and without
which many portions of our canals would have
been unavailable and useless throughont the
season, ! respectfully urge that some prompt
and Immediate provision be made. Many OF
the contractors have laid out of their money
for long time, and have suffered serious inju
ries by the delay. If no better expedient can
be devised Il would recommend the immedi-
ate issuing of a six per cent stock, to all such
creditors, redeemable at such time as shall
be thought.most expedient
The amount required to pay debts due for
repairs on the several lines of canal and rail
road, it will be observed by the report of the
4 Canal Commissioners is unusually large. This
is to be ascribed to the unprecedented breach
which occurred in the Delaware division, in
January last, which cost about $3.50, 900; to
the renewal of the North track OF the Coium-
bia rail road to the rebuilding, in perma-
nent manner, the 10, ks bridges and aqueducts
on several of the divisions, and particularly
on the North Branch, where the original su-
pers!ructur,s composed entirely OF wood, had
SO far decayed as to leave no other alternative
than either to renew them throughout, or
abandon the navigation entirely. 1t is also, III
part, to be ascribed to the fact, that only
portion of the funds appropriated by the act
of the 4 Of May last, for repairs, and to pay
!debts tnen due, became available; leaving a
large Eallnce of the appropriations OF these
objects, therein authorized still due to the
Ipubllc creditors.
There is always. even under the most econ
omiCa administrations of affairs, greater
amount of expense incurred in managing and
keeping in repair great public improvements
tor the Commonwealth, than it would cost if
/ they were IN the hands of individuals. 1t is,
therefore. respectfully suggested for the con-
sideratIon of the Legislature, whether the
public interest would not be promoted, and the
amount of the State debt considerably lessen>
ed, by sale of the canals and rail roads be-
longing to the Commonwealth, or at least,
portion of them, or such other disposition as
would diminish their annual expenses to the
Commonwealth, and increase the amount of
revenue from them.
Were the Commonwealth free from debt,
should hesitate to recommend the sale of any
of her public Improvements. But oppressed
( as she l., the cost which the repairs require,
and the necessity Of relieving ourselves as far
as possible induce me to urge action on this
1 subject, at least SO far as regards the Coum-
ba rail roJd, ard the Delaware division of
the Pennsylvania canal. 1t will matter but
little to those interested in the use of the inn
provements, whether they are in the hands of
the public or of Individuals, provided proper
safeguards are enacted to protect the public
in the free use and enjoyment of them, and to
guard against abuses and exactions
If il be objected that sales cannot be effect
ed in the present state of our pecuniary en-
! barrassments, that will be no reason why
law should not now be enacted, authorising the
sale of such portions of them as shall be DEEM
ed proper, subject to the appreciation of the
Legislature, on the sale being reported. If
sold, even on an extended credit, if the prin-
ciplc be secured and the interest punctually
paid, it will so far relieve the Commonwealth.
If it were made condition, that State stock
SHOULD be received in payment, it would prob
ably make the sale more advantageous to the
Commonwealth.-Th disposition of capital
lists would thus be made known, and it can, at
least be ascertained whether a sale at an adj
equate price can be effected The policy of
leasing for a term of years, one or both of those
iimprovem ents, has been more than once sug>
gested. Of the propriety of so doing, | am
not prepared to express decided opinion, but
have thought it worthy of a suggestion for
your consideration.
That the puJliC works should be unproduc-
tive, is owing in great measure to want OF
proper legislation on the subject, and unless
this be remedied, it must impair public conf
dence in their ultimate utility. The Canal
NOlllUlISSi 'ISIS lldEC ItpGdlSClty uISSu ui1Oll
the legislature, the propriety of allowing the
Commonwealth, alone, to carry the passengers
on the Columbia rail road NJ rail road in
the United States could sustain itself, ii it
were to relinquish the carrying of the passen-
gers, yet on that road, this strange condition
is exhibited. The State has expended in its
construction over four millions of dollars, while
the capital employed by those carrying the
passenger, IS perhaps thirty thousand dollars
The State on her immense outlay, is reaping
about per cent. while the individuals carri-
ers on their thirty thousand dollars, are clear
ing nearly 200 per cent. So it is also. with re-
gard 10 the transportation between Phi'adel'
pha apd PjtisJurg. The line of our improve
ment between those cities, was constructed at
cost of a fraction over four millions of dolls.
The transportation on it, is monopolized by
some seven or eight companies. employing a
capital of less than four hundred thousand
dollars; yet, while the State is receiving little
mere than will keep it in repair, the transpor-
ters are realizing mmense profits, and that
too on comparatively small outlay.
This can only be remeded by vesting the
canal commissioners with full and ample au-
thority to adopt such measures, as in their
Judgment, will be best calculated 10 enlist in.
dividuaI enterprise, and invite competition
and TO oounteract the effects OF the selfish anC