Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-01-05

the nature of the security to De gwen Ihe OBJ
iect being 10 procure competition In the supply
If the Motive Power, encouragement should be
given TO individuals, willing to undertake the
duty Of running one or more locom tives on the
road whether belonging to the State, or the in
diyidual bidder. Should the locomotives belong
ING TO the State be furnished to the bidders, the
contract should stipulate the terms on which
they should be used.
The transportation Of passengers should be
done by contract with the lowest bidder. In the
agreement, it would be necessary that the Canal
Commissioners should fix the kind of cars, and
such other details as would secure the accommo-
dation of the passengers, and faithfully guard
the public interest.
In the transmission of burden cars, an arrange
ment might as well be made with their owners,
by which the State would receive instead of the
present tolls portion of The freight charges.
The consequences would be advantageous to
both parties.
The changes in the present system would, it is
believed, largely diminish the expenses of the
Motive Power; would authorize deduction in
the rate of tolls produce increase of business
upon the road furnish with profitable labor
many citizens now refused employment, by rea-
son Of the monopoly held by the State over the
Motive Power on the road prevent the expen-
diture necessary for the purchase Of new loco
motives; save to the State the immense sacrifices
III the old engines accommodate the travelling
public by lower rate of fare and would ad-
vance the public interests by essening the annual
outlays, aud increasing the income from the road
more than 500 600.
Determinations 10 the tolls on the Public
Works against portions Of our citizens, by means
of Il system of drawbacks and maximum rates of
tolls, are unjust and improper. Their labor and
property, in common with others, were incum-
bered in the construction of the improvements !;
their industry and wealth have for years assisted
md ant tn in aF,lI ic
difficult to perceive upon what principle Of pub
lie policy a Tariff of tolls is maintained, dis
eliminating against their interests. The de-
mands Of trade cannot excuse 4 palpable wrong
of this character, while reduction of tolls on
the whole line Of Improvements would produce
an increase of business aud secure the desired
foreign trade.
The practice of contracting debts for repairs,
and for the purchase of materials beyond appro-
priations for these purposes, should be prohibited
by severe penalties. Nothing can be more de-
structiye of all accountability, or offer stronger
inducements 70 extravaganza, than such power
over the public money. An officer guilty of an
act Of this kind, violates the trust committed to
him. aud should be forthwith dismissed from the
public service. Debts already contracted in this
way should be paid, for the labor in behalf of
the State has been performed, and il would in
lct an injury those who could not have a
knowledge of the wrong, to withhold from them
the value of their services; but Immediate
measures should be adopted to prevent occur
rences Of like nature in future. A practice OF
this kind, authorized in some measure by subse-
quent appropriations Of the Legislature, for the
payment of the debts thus contracted, cannot
fail to mIslead the people, and embarrass the
public officers in their estimates and recommen-
datons. The large appropriations for the pay
ment OF old debts, made at the last session of the
Legislature, show the extent 10 W hich the prac-
-. l. 1.
guard against recurrence Of the evil. In pro-
yiding by legal enactment against the mischief
here stated, authority might be given to the Ca
nal Commissioners, should il be deemed neces-
sary, TO meet deficiencies in the funds provided
for any line Of Improvements to draw from a
specific appropriation for that purpose, requiring
from them detailed and special report on the
subject, 10 the auditing department as well as 10
the succeeding Legislature.
The avoidance Of the SChuyIkill Inclined
Plane, and The improvements connecting with
the Columbia and Philadelphia Railroad, " hich
are in rapid progress OF construction, mus ma
teriaty increase the business on that public
thoroughlare, and will render the relaying OF 4
portion OF the said road, work of absolute ne
cesslty. In the performance Of this work,
should the Legislature authorize il, good policy
would seem to require so far as the means Of
the Treasury viii permit, that one track al
least, should be laid with a heavy rail and it
Is worthy OF consideration whether the public
interests would not be greatly subserVed by
location Of the new track, so as TO avoid the
Wuny short CuTyatufes on the eastern end of
said road. Tney increase the danger to pas
sengers and freight; forbid dispatch safely
performed On a straight line; and require
greater force than would be necessary on a di-
rect track with higher grades. In the event
Of the Legislature authorizing the relaying of
the eastern section OF the said road, and the
change of location before mentioned, due re-
gard 10 the public interests and the limited re-
sources of the Treasury wonld seem to demand,
that the Improvement should commence at an
early day, and progress from year to year as the
revenues would warreni, unul it should be
completed.
The Portage Railroad, from the completion
of our line Uf improvements 10 the present time,
has been serious obstacle to the business of
the community, and the occasion of trade
seeking other channels 10 the Atlantic markets.
Any mode therefore, of lesseRing this evil,
must meet the hearty concurrence OF the citi-
Zens. The sum OF five hundred thousand dol
lars judiciously expended, will avoid all the
short levels, and tour of the five Inclined
Planes on the western slope of the Allegheny
Planes is not less than ten thousand do lars tor
each Plane, and If to that amount be added the
cost of the short levels, and the pershuble ma
ture OF the materials connected with these
works, with the delays and risks incident there
To, the annual amount for their maintenance,
cannot be less than one hundred Thousand dol
lars, Were these Planes avoided, and those
on the eastern slope of the mountain repaired,
the commerce on the Public Works would be
facilitated and increased, and the PeHnsylva-
MA CeotTai Railroad Company, would find it
their interest Tor many years to use it in con-
nection with their great Improvement
During the last season, the scarcity of water
on the upper potion of the Western Division
of the Pennsylvania Canal, materially injured
the character OF The Public Works, and di-
minshed the revenue from that source not less
than $4,000. To guard against a recurrence
OF this evil, it is recommended that the West