The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-01-10
VOL. 6.-NO. Ii.

The method adopted in the management
Of the Public Works is evidently defective.
Repairs on the canals and railroads are
made in way to prevent all competition.
Were the ssveral services performed by
contract, aud awarded 10 the lowest bidder
giving the required security can tilare exis,
doubt of favorable results to the public
interests.
The State does not derive an adequate
share of the profits arising from the use of
the Columbia Railroad. The construction
of the road;-its maintenance and super
vision, and the supply of the motiFe pow
er, involving great expense and risk, de-
mand from the profits of The road larger
return than finds lis way into the Treasury.
An evil SO detrimental to the public inter-
ests calls for speedy remedy.
Ii is suggested that the Canal Commits.
sioners should be required to invite proPo-
sails for furnishing the Motive Power on
the said road, siipulating in detail the SER
vices TO be performed; and the nature of The
security to be given. The object being to
procure competition in the supply of the
Motive Power, encouragement should be
given to individuals, willing 10 undertake.
the duty of running one or more locomo-
tives Oh the road, whether belonging to the
State or the individual bidder. Should
the locomotives be'onging 10 the State. be
furnished to the bidders, the contract should
stipulate the terms on which they should
be rsed
The transportation of passengers should
be done by contract with the lowest bid
der. In the agreement il would he neces-
sary that the Canal Commissioners should
6x bo I-ipJ of dataile
as would secure the accommodation of he
passengers, md faithfully guard The pub
lie interest.
In the transmission Of burden cars, an
arrangement might well be made with
their owners, by which the State would
receive instead of the present tolls, por-
ton Of the freight charges. The conse-
quaucss would be advantageous TO both
parties.
These changes in the present system,
would, il is believed, largely diminish the
expenses of the motive power; would au-
/ thorize reduction in. the rate of tolls; pro-
| duce an 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
.
! new locomotives; save 10 the State the i'm
mense sacrifice in the old engines; accom-
modate the travelling public by lower
rate of fare; and would advance the public
! interests by lessening the annual ou,lays
and increasing the income from the road
more than 100000.
Determinations in the tolls on the Pub
! lie Works against poatons of our citizens
by means of a system of drawbacks and
maximum rates of tolls, are unjust and
/ improper. The labor and property, in
! common with others, were incumbered IN
! the construction of Improvements; their IN
/ dustry and wealth have for years assisted
/ and continue TO sustain them; and II is dlt-
/ fcult TO perceive upon what principle OF
public policy, Tariff of tolls.is maintain
1 ed, discriminating against thep interests.
I The demands of trade cannot excuse
palpable wrong OF this character, while q
reduction of tolls on the whole line OF I'M
provements would produce an increase OF
business, and secure the desired foreign
trade.
The practice of contracting debts for re-
/ pairs, and for the purchase of materials
/ bevond appropriations for these purposes,
should be prohibited by severe penalties.
! Nothing can be more destructive OF all ac-
countabilitv, or Offer stronger inducements
10 extravaganza, than such power over
the public money. An ficerguilty ola
act OF this kind, violates the trust commit
ted 10 him, and should be forthwith dis
missed from the public service. Debts al
ready contracted in this way should be
maid, for the labor in behalf of the State
/ has been performed, and it would inflict an
/ injury on those who could not have
knowledge of the wrong, TO withhold from
/ them the value Of their services, but I'M
mediate measures should be adopted to
prevent occurrences OF like nature II
4 future A practice of this kind author
/ ized in some means are by subsequent ap-
nropriations. of the Legislature, for the
nayment of the debts thus contracted, can.
J not fail to mislead the people, and enbar-
! ass The public officers in their estimates
/ and Recommendations. The large aPPro-
nriations for the payment of old debts,
! made at the last session of the Legislature,
show the extent TO which this practice has
been carried. and should admonish as 10
Guard against recurrance of the evil
In providing by legal enactment against
the mischief here stated, authority might
be given to the Canal Commissioners.