Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-10-05
Ifa proper course is pursued by our Legisla.

be so reduced that in another year the income
from the main line will nearly if not wholly
pay the interest on the State debt. There is,
however, great danger to be feared that in case
a majority of votes should be found in favor Of
selling the works, that a company would induce
the Legislature to pass them into their hands
without limit, or at u small advance; and thus
the public for whose use the works were con-
structcd would not receive any immediate or
final benefit. Under all these circumstances,
think it would be better to vote against their
sale at the ensuing election, and endeavor to
! lay before the Legislature some plan by which
they may in future be mnde more profitable.
That this can be done, have not the slightest
doubt. to suggest which shall be tie subject OF
my next communication. d.
The connecting link between New York aud
Boston with the West and the Mississippi val
ley, is by all odds in favor of the Main Line Of
Improvements between Philadelphia and Pitts
burg, by several hundred miles. Not only in
distance does the dircctnass ofthc route lay in
/ Cur favor, but also in regard to the expedition
and safety with which merchandise or passen-
/ gers may be at ell times conveyed and at all
seasons. There are at least two months in ,Ee
year, one in the fall and one in tie spring, that
our line has the advantage; | mean those months
when it is positively jeopardzng life, and cX-
tremely dangerous TO property, to venture upon
the stormy and clustering lakes--and which
must necessarily be encountered by those who
now 90 by the New York line Nature has
done much for MS in regard to the facility and
safety with which we can carry passengers or
freight; and it should therefore be our duty to
make the most OF her indulgence.
To do this and to contend successfully with
New York, we must carry goods as cheap as
they do. How is this to be done We will
see. Every ton of goods carried from Philadel-
phia to Pittsburg, cost the owner on an average
eighteen dollQrs-of which the State receives,
say nine dollars. This immense charge is sut.
ticient to keepall goods of our improvements,
and retain them in New York and Boston during
the winter, and sometimes late in the spring,
until the lakes nrc completely clear of ice, or
drive them around by sea to New Orleans and
thence up the Mississippi We consequently
lose, by reason OF our cXorbitant charges. at
least two tons Of goods out of every ,hrcc-the
same proportion in passcngers-and very nearly
all the emiurants. Now suppose we carry goods
at twelve dollars a ton. ond the State receives
six dollars Of that sum, (Which the increase Of
business viii readily warrant It's in dojng,) we
will most assurcdIy transport three times as
many goods as we now carry over our public
works, and the State receive eighteen dollars,
where she, under present existing arrange.
ments, receives but nine. This would at all Q.
vents be doubling the income due the State
from her public works. Not only this but by
thus lowering onr tolls one third, We would
drain all the produce from the Ohio valley ~
to Pirsburg to find an Eastern market, that
nrc now prevented from using our improve
ments, for the reason already stated
So much in favor Of the Main Line for carry
ing freight Now, in relation to passengers
we arc still more favored The State at pre-,
sent, out Of the ten dollars fare charged from
Philadelphia toPntsburg. receives obou. 6yc
dollars II, therefore, she were to carry them
herself, aud charge in full bat SIX dollars, there
cannot be the least doub, bot that in very shor
time we would carry three passengers where
we now carry orc, and instead ofreceiyiug FIVE
dollars, as we now do, we would receive
eighteen dollars This would make a very
handsome difference in the quarterly return:
Of the toll coiectors--which, have not the
, slightest doubt, could soon be so much incroas
ed by proper perseverance,, honesty, and good
} management, as to make Z very respecta5,,
appearance on the crciH SHE OF the annua
interest of our State debt
, But there is another source Of revenue tina
= could be made to arise from onr public works
which has heretofore been ulmo., entirely over
$ looked. ! alIude to cmigyquis. About nine
tcnths OF the cmigrants that come tothIs coun
p try arrive at New York, aud pass oscr her pub
L lie Improvements by way of the Lakes Of Nj
T. chigan, Illinois, Indiana and to Missouri The,
can reach all these points much sooner and ca
+ ser by our line. To PttSburg three hundred
5 miles, to which place they should be taken 70
h tGo dollars, instead Of Scren as now charged
d and when at Pittsburg they can 90 to st. loui
n for f,co dollars, making but four dollars, an
c they can get there in at least halfthe time the
G can possibly reach Detroit by tho New Yor
: line, without running any risk or danger what
If ever. To facilitate this great balance OF trad
e IN our favor, (for it would eventually be a souic