Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-01-07

East IN Il Junials
| DIV sions 95,7s6 l6 45,072 l2
! Allegheny Portage
Railroad l24 25S 40 96 52S 63
| Wesicrn Division s54iy42 26 $50 90
S762. SAG as $500, $50 20
Leaving an excess OF tolls over expenditures
of S462, 100 2S, on the above usually denomi.
mated the main iine from Philadelphia to Pitts
| burg.
On the Delaware Division and other branch.
es OF the canals, the excess OF tolls ovef ex.
! penditures during the same period, has been
! S61, 1,6o3 "A. Ii is worthy too of remark that
the expenses Cor repairs alone for the nine
months has been only sl64 ,526 90
This exhibit cannot fail to inspire ns with
increased confidence in the ultimate value and
usefulness OF our public works, strengthened
as it is by the fact, that there has been falling
off in the canal tolls Of New York, for the fiscal
! year ending 30th November S25i39l 50.
! IL Is proper here also in explanation to state
one fact worthy of consideration. At the com.
| mencemcnt Of my administration there was
debt due for ordinary repairs previously done,
| inde pendent otthe debts due on the Beaver di-
vision, of S3l0,574
| For the repairs of the Huntingdon
county breach 3s0OOO
! For repairs indispensable to OPEN
ing and the successful prosccu-
ton OF the navigation. &c, as
! her report Of engineers ospecial-
! ly detailed for that service 1,676002
! Amounting to the sum of SS,367,56S
Which has been hanging, like an incubus, on the
! whole system, and has contributed much to EN-.
barrass It's operations. and 10 paralyze the most
laudable cxertions of those entrusted with the
conducting of them. in one progress of time,
! too, the greater portion OF the perlshab!e mate
rials, 10 the construction of our public works,
because 20 far decayed and dilapidated, as to
require, IN most Instances partial, and IN ma
ny instances an entire renewal, during the first
three years of my administration. Large a.
mounts were necessarily expended in making
these repairs, so large indeed, that public con-
fdcnce was very considerably shaken IN the
usefulness and value Of the system ITSELF
Those who 1Id not reflect on the circumstances
to which have Just advertcd, supposed tins CX.
traordinary outlay for repairs must be annually
repeated. But the work being done, the ex-
pcnses for that purpose for a number OF years TO
come will be greatly diminished.
While speaking upon this subject, may call
your attention to n considerable item OF expen-
dlturc, which may be, with justice, hereafter
wholly cut off. A very considerable sum is
annually paid for repairing and rebullIng the
various bridges for public and private convent
ence, acrnss the canals and railways. This
burden has been therefore sustained by the
state, but considering the great increase IN val
ne of the private property, through which the
improvements pass, and that a considerable
portion of the people of the commonwealth de-
rive no immediate benefit from the outlay for
that purpose, it would seem TO be Just and pro-
per, that the rebuilding and repairing of the
! lnriv 70 brd ffnr hn hu 4 ba
owners Of the property, and the public ones by
the townships or counties, in which they are
situated.
Since my last annual message, in which ]
took occasion 10 refer To the combinations OF
private companies and ndlv duaIs, 10 monopo-
lIze and reap nearly all the advantages from
the transportation on our internal Improve
mentS, there has been trial and conviction OF
several persons, on the clearest proof, or most
fragrant conspiracy TO render this mouopollzlng
comblna,o on still more triumphant over the laws.
This convection will have the sautary tenden.
cy to arrest hereafter any such illegal attempts.
1t is now to be hoped, that by the removal OF
these ob,,acles Ill the way of fair Individual
competition, our public improvements will be
open, as they were intended 10 be, TO the tree
and equal enjoyment OF all.
Several recommendations, or what were
deemed essential reforms, in the management
of our internal improvements, made either by
the executive or canal commissioners, have
been hitherto bsfiled and defeated, by combna
tons OF interest, which il is not easy to com
prehend. | do not deem it necessary to specl.
fly particularly all these suggestions, but vii
reter you 20 my last annual message, and the
last and present report OF the Canal Commits
sIoners, in which they are contained. | trust
, that whatever may have been the doubt here.
totore on the subject, If any there was, the JUS
tce and the propriety of making them are now
: beyond queston.-Durlng The last year, as wei
as former years, the canal commissioners have
| been assldlously laboring to correct the most
: glaring Of the errors and abuses which had
crept into the management of our public i'm.
provements. They have done much, but much
remains TO be lumcnted without the power Il
remove II.
Nothing has been done under the acts of As
I senbly passed at the last session, for the corpo
5 ration Of companies to complete the unfinished
/ lines of our improvements. 1t any more eflec
tusI mode for the accomplishment of this Ohlec
. can be devised, il will afford me a great pleas
r ure to cooperate with you in carrying it int
execution.
: The resolution of the General Assembly o
+ the 9TH of April last, "relatve to the psymen
= Of interest to domestic creditors provided .ha
Il such Of the creditors of the Commonwealth a
= do not choose 10 receive certificates of stock
IS shall be entitled TO credit for the amount O
o their claim on the books of the Auditor Gener
z al and shall receive interest at six per cent. OF
balances due for work done prior TO the 4th O
e May, lSil, interest TO be allowed from tha
It date, and on balances due for work done sine
n the ith of May, lSil, interest tobe allowe