The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-02-10
PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE.
IN SENATE.
FRIDAy, January 30, lS45.
THE RIGHT OF WAY.

Ohio railroad, the right oil way through
PENNSYLVANIA TO Pitlsburg.
The first section being read. Mr. Blgler
Offered an amendment imposing certain
restrictions Oh lhs grant and requiring the
company to pay certain amount OF the
profits of the road 10 the Commonwealth.
The question being on the amendment
10 the bill. Bar. Darsie said no one would
concur more heartily than himself, in an
amendment of this kind. The more re-
strictons we're placed upon the company
the greater the amount required OF them
10 be paid into the Treasury of the State,
the better for Pennsylvania. But he
feared that by placing restrictions and
Onerous burdens upon the exercise of the
rights granted to the company, they might
feel themselves obliged TO reject the grant.
1t might have the effect of procuring
renewal of their application to the. Vir-
ginia Legislature, for the privilege of pas
sing through the territory of that State.
The amendment might produce a reve-
nue. of forty or fifty thousand dollars to
the Commonwealth, but if it occasloned
rejection OF the grant by the company, ii
would be productive of the most serious
evils. Never was thcre bill before the
Legislature of ihis Commonwealth, of
more importance than the one now under
consideration. and he might say, never
had bill been opposed by means so un-
fair. Even in this hall map had been
nailed up, pretending TO describe the route
Of the road to Parkersburg, which was
printed le--a carica,ure bCtraylng either
the grossest ignorance, or the most UNI
principled righteousness. lie could
prove it TO be such, and when he had
pronounced il so in the presence of the
Senator who procured il 10 be put up, he
had not a word to say. The author OF
that map was grossly ignorant of the sub
iect which he undertook TO exhibit; 1t
was not a representation of the survey
but was copied from map made more
than two years ago, before the survey was
made by the engineers of the company.
Blank memorials had been procured by
Senators on that floor, franked, and sent
off through the mails for signatures in or
der to manufacture public opinion, and
create an opinion here that large major
lily of the people were opposed TO the
grant of way through the State.
Mr. Crabb called the Senator to order
He thought he was diverging from the
subject under consideration, and indulging
in personalities altogether improper.
The Speaker required the Senator from
Allegheny, TO confne himself to the sub
ject before the Senate.
MIR. Darsie said he should conGne him
self TO the question under consideration.
The question was on the amendment and
it was in order, to show the importance
of the bill to which that amendment had
been made. This bill was not new
one. 1t had been the subject of previous
legislation. The first act granting the
right of way was passed in 1928. 1t
was liberal in It's provisions, imprescrip-
tive, and passed with unprecedented una
nimity. The company proceeded under
the faith of that law 10 construct their
railroad from Baltimore TO Pitsburg.
But owing TO The pressure OF the time
owing to the Overwhelming revulsions
which prostratcd public energy and pri-
vate enterprise, they were unable to pro-
ceed as they had anticipated, and in 1899
applied TO the Legislature for an extern
sion Of time. Their request was COM
piled with, but such a multitude of re-
strictive and burdensOme conditions were
coupled with that compliance that thew
were under the necessity of refusing to
accept. They then turned their attention
TO another quarter. They applied to the
Legislature of Virginia for law authori-
Zing the construction of their road within
the limits of that State, and set their en-
ergies to work to complete the road.
MIR. d. here referred to statistical facts
and stated the distance of the several
routes.
se said the question now was whether
the company should be permitted to ex-
tend their road to Pittsburg-to expend
within the limits Of our Commonwealth
five millions Of dollars TO enrich our citi-
zens-to build up the city Of Pittsburg.
securing TO ourselves the right of connex-
ion at any point of that road! Gentlemen
had told us that the Company were una
BILE TO continue the road through Virginia,
but he warned them that it was a mistake.
Whaf could the company not accomplish!
ii was declared by able and experienced
engineers who had surveyed the route
that ii was entirely practicable, while the
contrary assertion rested on the mere ipse
dixit of interested and preiHdiced men,
unacquainted with the country, and alto
gether ignorant Of the route itself. That
company was able TO accomplish what
ever was possible to be accomplished
They had full treasury-three millions
of Maryland bonds, and could command
any amoHnt of credit And, notwilh-
standiug all The difficulties of the times
through which they bad passed-not-