Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-08-30
An Important Question for Phiiadc'phions.

capitalist aud business man in Philadclphin ard
indeed the whole State.
PHnADELpmA AND ERiE-Thosp points are
the natural outlets through which the immense
mineral and agricultural products of their re.
spcctve sections of the State must pass. and for
this reason, it has long been desderaun with
every true Pennsy vanian TO unite them by
ta'ropd, constructed either by a company or the
Commonwealth. The latter mode has been here
to'ore, from Tie embarrassed condition OF her
finances, imnossible, and from the same cause,
st'l co,tinues 20: but the former, although for a
few wears pastas equally impossible from SINH
l,r cmbarrassmcnt operating among the people,
is now not only possible, but called for by every
consideration Of interest and State pride. Phila-
Acphia. backed by the whole State. has long
struggled with her rival cities of New York.
Boston and Biltlmore, for the trade OF the igh-
" west-par'icularly that portion embraced in
thc area drained BY the waters Of the great
takes Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior.
This prize, the value Of which is nca'culabIe.
is about to be lost to her without hope of re-
Neve- unless her business meu and capitalists
awake other true interest, and make one more
Struggle to secure it, Their rival capitalists Of
Boston and New York, with the far.sighted
sagacity for which they are prcverbla'. are
straning ever nerve, putting forth every ener
rv 10 accomplish this end, and yet Philadelphia,
her press and citizens, are asleep or if awake, A..
but partially So unconsciouslv DOING q Wav the
precious moments that ought TO be appropriated
30 the consummston of this great protest. The
New York and Erie Railroad, portion Of which
is in operation, and natering proprcls of the
speedy completion of the balance, s one Of the
enterprises resulting from this struggle tn So.
cure tke western trade. The capitalists of
New York saw, with clear.eigtted sacacilv.
7hat unless direct and expeditions comnmni.
cation with some port above Buffalo, where
navigation wou'd not be SO long Interrupted by
ace in the spring, was opened, Baltimore, by
means Of her Ohio Railroad. extended 10 the
fake at Cleavcland, or Philadelphia with the
Erie Extension Canal, affordins an early pas.
sage through. would draw off large portion
OF her western trade; and hence this road was
commenced. 1t is now, ae before intnated.
very probable that the road will be completed.
But does any one suppose it Will end at its
proposed terminus-Dunkirk The idea is
preposterous! The company that could con.
ceiVe andc7rry through such gigantic project.
Will never njure the prospects Of its useful-
ness by suffering it 10 terminate at place
that possesses SO few natural advantages for
k..
This road completed once, with its western
terminus al this place, and Philadelphia nay
give up ali hope of securing the trade of the lake
country.
BIT aside from this, provided the New York
nnd Eric Railroad is never finished, there are
two other routes by which she will be deprived
oi tins trade Boston has laid in her claim to
1t. and With the ability ard the means to secure
1t, who suPposeS she will let it slip through her
fingers without struggled If there are any.
they arc not acquainted with yankee character
and enterprise. For this purpose they propose
connecting that city with the River st Law
renee 1t ogd"n,bnrg, and thus by means Of the
Neinnd Canal, possess themselves Of an unn
tcrrGpteJ water and railroad communica rion
with the Lake country and the Mississippi val
ley. In Speaking Of ths project, the Albany
Argus slys:"i' prospect is more than far
that rhis important road will be uader headw ay
before the lapse OF many months. Since the
completion OF the Fi,chburg, Montpelier and
Ellington railway Is secuted, the railroad
urouah Northern New York is now The road in
Boston 1t Is considered a noble commercial
Struggle .J0r The mdsicry Of he Western trade.
It's Importance Is The more manifest because it
l. the only line yet unoccupied, 10 lnrite the
miShiy and grototns trade Of Aorihnestern
america IL is also calculated to divert from
Montreal an! Quebec, to iloston and to New
York, the fertile region otUpper CansIa, winch
must eventually contain millions OF a thrring
and enterPrlsing population.
Neither are the people along the line asleep
Authorized commissioners are constantly oh
tanning from the farmers voluntary release o.
land tur the right Of way, and what is of more
Importance, they will 90 into Boston with a
handsomc subscription-p probably not less than
JOO,OO6. II Is stated that one person alone, IL
~. Lawrence county, subScrlbes the sum o
SlW,OOO. When those evidences of confdeuc,
are presented to Eastern capitalists. in all pro
babI!Ity they will il up the residue 81 SOC, 600
required"
What say our Philadelphia friends to This
Are they wiling to let Boston secure tina
which lays within their grasp, only regurIn!
snail expenditure of their abundant capita
laying IDLE, TO secure 1t permanently for them
% 4 II