Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-04-10
Correspondence Of the Miners Journal.
suNBuRY AND ERIE RAILROAD.
PHILApA., March 23d, ieA

fHfLADA., Wafch 23d, lo47
B. BArsAs Eso-Dear Sir The Central
Railroad coicern, Notwithstanding the refusal Of
the Legislature to legalise the City subscription
have determined to organize their Cor,paay, and
have nominated Samuel v. Mertick, % their Pre-.
s"ient. This nomination is probably the wisest
act that has yet been exhibited to the public but
when he looks at the difficulties to be encoun.
tered, the money TO be raised and expended, and
then at the opposition TO be met at the terminus
he will probably exhibit the wisdom for which
he is credited, by declining the hoGor To an en-.
l'ghtened community who are actuated by lib.
eral spirit Of entsrpri1e, the service. although
laborio would result both pro6tably and hon.
orab'y--but when he becomes the leader ofa
party ignorant Of the facts, and inspired only by
impulse and spirit Of rivalry it will not be dif.
hcut to fore'ell the consequence that follow It
however. he has become weary Of the glory he
has achieved by the hammer, he will rush at the
darling object before him. and like his supporters
depend upon come nterposition Of Heaven, to
crown the success Of the enterprise. So far,
consequences and the natural tendency of human
events have not been looked at, nor 10 il necessa.
~ to contemplate any contingency when an i'm.
rrecnaele force is ready at the outset
But people will reason, and people will look
at the facts-when the instalments are to be
paid, and that too 10 be dragged from the pockets
of the mechanics and laborer, will it not BE- ask.
ed from whence shall we derive the dividends
upon our expenditure? At Pittsburg there 10
nothing to be had. The fact that the Baltimore
and Ohio and the Richmond and Guyahdotte
roads will intercept and monopolise oil the trade
efhe rirer above Cincinnati, is 80 clear to the
people of Pittsburg, that they propose to aban.
don every thing for 4 western direction. They
see that the Ohio Canal from Portsmouth TO
Cieveland-ths Cincinnati, Xena, Columbus
and Cleveland Rail.road-the Cincinnati and
Toledo Canal, with the Wabash and Erie Canal,
have already drained the river Of its commerce
End nre carrying it to the cities on the Lakes, and
that there il finds better mart; a cheaper, and
more direct route TO the market, than can
possibly be had at Pittsburg. They see also,
that at Erie, Philadelphia can intercept the whole
Of this trade, aud bring it to her doors for half
the money that will be required to 60 to Pitts
burg, and hence their disposition TO connect with
Baltimore, and leave Philadelph to 20 where
she likes.
In the Pittsburg Gazette, Of March 18th, in a
long article on the subject of the Baltimore con.
nsxion. the Editor says. and he reiterates the
general opinion Of the citizens, that we ought
not to loose sight Of the fact, that New York, di
v,ded by Boston, will put forth every exertion
TO extend Rail road communications from Buffalo
and Dunkirk, around the shore of lake Erie, to
the interior Of Ohio a nd we shall find, il we de.
lay western communication too long that all the
Improvements and trade Of Ohio and the greai
,Dea hare taken that direction instead Of coming
this woy. This part being SO plain that he who
runs may read, and as the works through Ohio
are already constructed, and the direction 10 Civ.
en- to the trade, will not Mr.. Msrrick and hi.
friends look into the matter, and save their sub
scribers the trouble Of directing them where tn.
trade can be found.
To 60 to Pittsburg, will therefore. end in dis
grace, and the project Of going through Ohio in
search Of the Trade would be worse than Japhe,
in search of his father. The people of Ohio ant
on the lakes having made their Improvements
their Railroads and Canals, and like us, having
them yet to be paid for, will they give them a
way or, will they give rights Of way, 10 de
stroy either the one or the other
Before we rush heedessly into the expendi
ture would it not be well to place these facts be
fore the People-to enquire Of Ohio, not OF tn
people before whose door the work shall pass
but of the people of the State. whether, as Mr.
Roesling says, 1--WE shall intercept them at righ
angles and monorolise and appropriate the who'll
of their trade ?"
To prudent and cautious people, ever astini
upon principles of wisdom and justice, the an
swer would be clear, and the determination tha
would result from such an influence, would b,
10 20 where we can reach the trade-where W,
could interfere with no private interests, nj
rights of way, no rivalry, but an honest and leg
itimate enthusiasm, to do what would benefit ou
State, enrich our city, and make us a. natur
intended We should beUY- the great centre of tn
Union. SUNBURY AND ERIE.