Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-02-08
CANAL COMMISSIONERS REPORT.
OUR PUBLIC WORKS.


Grafton of the public works. II IS lengthy |
document and we are compelled 10 condense
it as much as possible to give it place IN our
columns. We have prepared the following
interesting synopsis;
The gross receipts on all the lines Of canal
and railroad belonging 10 the Commonwealth,
for the year ending the 80. Nov. 1850, amount |
ed to s1.76s ,2O9 46, and the expenditures
for ordinary repairs breaches, including the
cost of the temporary means of maintaining
the passage for boats across the Susquehanna
river at Clarks Ferry, to 1857, 22S showing
an excess of receipts over expenditures of the
sum of Se10,931 46. The net receipts Of
1850 exceed those of 1S49 by $36,204 6i.
The report states that the past year has
been remarkable for high freshes with which
several lines of the canal, yielding the most
revenue were materially damaged Some
loss was also sustained by the destruction, by
fire, of the towing-path and road bridge over
the Susquehanna at Clark's Ferry; in conse
ouence of which the Canal Commissioners
were compelled 20 fit up, at heavy expense,
a steam towing boat. The cost of repairs by
foods and the fitting mp of the steamboat,
irrespective of the loss of the superstructnre
of .he bridge at Clark's Ferry amounted 10
S66 573 "A.
The following are The receipts Of the past
year, from the different divisions Total
collection on the Columbia Railroad, S63S, ,447-
5S total on Portage Railroad, S241,S ,S17 As;
total main lina of Canal, S476, ,446 80; total
Delaware division, S215,347 81 total Susque-
hanna ~ w. Branch, S193,l20 ~. Total
gross receipts s ;76S, 200 ; total gross expen-
sss 1857 ,22S, ,OO-leaving a balance of $780,
9S1, 81 in favor of the State.
Adding 10 the expenditures the pay of the
Canal Commissioners, Secretary, Messengers
and the Incidental expenses of their office,
amounting to $500, the actual net receipts
for the year 1850 are S905, 6s1, 40, being an
increase over the net receipts for 1S49 of $780,
904, 6l.
The number of cars passed over the road
in 1850, amounted 10 l4O, ,344, exceeding the
number passed in 1S49 by 1862. The
freight passed over the road amounted to
265, ,113 tons, being an increase over the last
year OF 45,632 tons. The number of miles
travelled by passengers was s,06o,27S, equal
TO 9S,296 through passengers, being an ex-
cess of through passengers over 1S49, of s.
646.
The number of trips run by locomotives
was SO7l, or 639,0S4 miles 4: being an in
crease of 6O4 trips, or 47,112 miles over the
preceding year
The inventory of materials on hand at the
Parkesburg shops, exceed that of last year BY
S7,173.A5. The labor at these shops cost
S1,742,6l less than in 1S49 and although
the locomotives made GOA more trips the
pay of engineers exceeds that of that year
by only 1920, and the pay of fireman only
S3S15O
There are belonging 10 the road 43 locomo-
tive engines Of this number, l3 are Of the
first class, 81 of the second, and Q of the
third. One of these engines is, however, now
employed on the steam tow boat, where heI
year. Notwithstanding the number Of engine.
here stated, there is an obvious necessity fol
an increase to this branch OF the SERVICE
The reason for this recommendation is TO bt
found in the annual increase Of trade anC
travel upon the road, and the strong proba
biity that the increase in 1881 will exceed
that of 1850 by from 90 to % per ceut. !
is deemed proper TO purchase thee first clas
burihen and two first class passenger locomo
tive engines, so that the business on the roa
may be performed with the utmost prompt
iude and economy.
The superintendent of motive power, re
commends an appropriation of $4,000 fo
alterations and Improvements in machin
shops at Parkesburg. The ground for til
additional space required has been ollere
free of charge by the proprietors Of the ad
joining property.
1t is proposed TO form connections with th
magnetic telegraph al Parkesburg and at tn
depot in West Philadelphia.
There will be twelve sets of boat trucl
in order by the opening of navigation in Ii
Spring. This number is deemed sufficient
consequence of the decrease of section boa
passing over this portion of the improv
men;s.
The Report recommends new rails for II
use of the Columbia Road. The Road
avoid the Inclined Plane has been complete
and the appropriation of 100000 is mo
than sufficient to meet the expenses.
The Board recommend the passage of
act to authorize the proceeds of the sale
the old materials on the Philadelphia a
Columbia Railroad, from its point of int,
section with the road 10 avoid the Schuylk
Inclined Plane 10 Columbia, be applied 10 I
repair and improvement of SAID road.
A large number Of new locomotives ha
been placed upon the Portage Rail Road, a
considerable money has been applied
wards improving the road. The rep
SAYS
'Rlval routes are springng up around
and II II is intended 10 preserve the char
ter OF our line of improvements. and ma