The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-03-10
1,I,e Cenfral RaiIroatl.

EkEG SSsaiE6S E6ta1SFSzt0s
A bill to incorporate the Pennsylvania
Rail Road Company passed finally in
the Senate ON Tuesday. 1t is very
lengthy, and is said 10 name about FIVE
hundred commissioners, from all quarters
of the State-men of standing and inilu-
ence--to open the books for subscriptions
to the capital lstock of the company at
Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Erie and other
intermediate places. Number of shares
to be sold, 10000, of $50 each, with
power to the Company to increase the
number Of shares to 100000 hereafter,
should the same be necessary to enable
them to complete the work; which would
make capital Of $l0,000,000. As soon
as $4,000 shares have been subscribed,
and S5 per share actually paid in, the
Governor is authorized TO issue letters
patent to the Company.
The ROUTE is left to the discretion of
the President and Managers of the Com
panv, being restricted only to commence
at Harrisburg By uniting with the Lam
caster Railroad and proceeding thence by
some direct and practicable route with
moderate gradients, which in the opinion
of the Company will be most advanta-
geous, and terminating at such point at,
in or near, the city Of Pittsburg or other
place in the county of Allegheny. or at
the harbor of Erie, as may be deemed
most advisable by the President and
Managers.
The work to be commenced within
two years, and single track the entire
distance to be completed within ten years
or the charter to be void-alike forfeiture
to be incurred, if, after its completion,
the road should be suffered to 90 into
disuse, for two years, from delapidationor or
decay. A mode is also prescribed by
which the charter. may be forfeited for
violation Of any of It's provisions, by
means of a sCIRE FAcIAs to be issued from
the Supreme Court upon a report of a
committee of the Legislature, who are at
all times to be allowed to have free access
to the books of the Company; disputed
facts TO be tried by ajury.
The motive power is to be under the
control Of the Company, being restricted
however in charging tolls, TO not more
than l ! cents per mile for passengers,
and cents per ton for merchandise, and
| cent per mile per car-four wheels to
be computed as one car. 1t is also pro-
vided that in case of war, invasion, or do
mestic insurrection, the company are to
transport troops, &C., munitions of war,
and provisions for the same, at one half
the usual rate of toll.
The right is reserved to the Common
wealth to purchase the Road with lis
apurtenances at the original cost, current
expenses, and costs OF repair paid by the
Company, with interest the reon att per
cent. per annun from the time Of the ex-
penditures-after deducting the amount
of tolls and other revenue realized by the
Company. This to be after Is years
from the completion of the Road, and
within thirty years from the time Of its
completion.
Its principal amendment is one offered
by Mr.. Bigler, taxing all tonnage which
may be transported on said Road twhen
made) at the discretion Of future Legis-
latures, not exceeding 5 mills per mile
per ton, which is designed to secure the
heavy transportations to the State i'm
provements during the Canal season.
An amendment was also added in the ma
ture af general law allowing the exccu-
tors or administrators of any person
killed through the carelesness or ignorance
of this or any other company's agents,
or through any defect in the road belong
ing to such company, TO bring an action
for damages against the said company,
for the killiag as aforesaid. The amend
ment also provides that no suit brought
by any person who may be injured as
aforesaid, shall abate by the death of the
plaintiff, but the action shall survive to
the personal representatives.