Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-06-11

Inc OenatOI ItOm DtuulOIu, (N1t. SANDEk'
soN,) residing on and near the line Of the
proposed road, who adopted as the best
route Of coming TO The seat Of government
at the present session, the New York and
Erie Railroad to the city Of New York
thence across the State Of New Jersey to
Philadelphia. and from Philadelphia TO
Harrisburg by the State Railroad travel
ling in all more than 500 miles each.-
Now, sir, two Of those Senators reside in
the valley Of the Susquehanna less than
$50 miles from Harrisburg. the other lives
about so miles further oH-and vet they
are now gravely asked 10 vote Tor pro.
hibitory tax on an improvement leading up
the Susqu ehanna This is the manner in
which the Senator from Philadelphia pro-
poses to improve the North!
But, Mr.. Speaker, the Sunbury and Erie
railroad is the grea,improvement that Phil
adelphia must resort TO, at last, to secure
the trade of the lakes. II is the route the
Pennsylvania railroad should have adopt
ed-and Philadelphia will yet be driven to
il in self.de(ence. In a speech in the
Chinese Museum, in that city few years
since, endeavored to impress upon the
minds of her capitalists the importance OF
this measure, but was unsuccessful. This.
sir, was the favorite project Of the late
Nicholas Biddle, of your city-and what.
ever may be said Of him as politician. or
a fnancer, all agree, that on questions of
internal improvement and commerce, he
was one Of The most sagacions and far see
ing statesmen in this Union. His fault
was. ic fault i, be, that he was twenty years
in advance OF the age in which he lived
Sir, his towering mind, enabled him, afar
off, TO
-. To see the tops Of distant thoughts,
| Which men Of common stature never saw
Had he lived, and maintained the strong
hold which he once had on the affections
of Philadelphia, that city would long since
have been placed in relation to the trade
have attempted TO describe, where New
York and Boston now are. But, | am
pleased TO observe that your intelligent
Board Of Trade, sir. have at length turned
their attention TO this long neglected i'm
provement their views are those of en-
Iishlened wisdom, and commend them 10
the attention, not only OF Senators, but of
every business man in Philadelphia and
Baltimore. In their last annual report they
say, "lhat il is time that we should look
elsewhere than TO the centre OF the State
and to lines of central communication
| From the mouth OF the Juniaia to the har-
I Dor of Erie, there is not one mile of railroad
constructed; and this, though population,
according to the census of 1920, of up
wards of 100000 people is there TO con,rI-
bute, by their industry and products. to
our business prosperity. A railroad com.
municaion from the head waters Of the
West Branch TO the harbor Of Erie is
known TO be practicable. Surveys have
been made. and its probable cost ascertain
ed. Philadelphia has too long turned her
back on that wonderful region; for won-
deriul it is, at least in its mineral resour-
ces, with its Inexhauslible and accessible
masses of iron and biiumiDous coal, thro'
which, by almost bride paths, (for there
are yet. to our shame be it spoken, wilder
nesses in Pennsylvania the traveller pass
es from the mouth Of the Sinnemahoning
to the head waters of the Allegheny and OF
the Lake streams. WhiIo New York is
pushing forward its Erie railroad along
our Lake shore, and through our neglect
ed territory, we are con,ont TO see no,
only north. western Pennsylvania. but all
the intermediate Tertiary, influenced by
adverse policy TO US, pass away to CONNER
cial allegiance in another State. 1t is high
time that our eyes should be turned in this
direction. 1t has ceased to be question OF
rival routes. And whenever those i'm.
provemen,s north westward from the Sus.
quehanna shall be seriously begun, then
taking Sunbury and Caiawissa as the
points by which the river is ultimately
reached Philadelphia, with its works ex-
tending north from Harrisburg, and north
westward from the head waters Of the
SchuylkiIl, may claim it all, beyond the
reach Of rivalry"
Mr.. Speaker. the lumber trade, alone, of
the last year, on the West Branch Of the
Susquehanna, amounted in value 10 more
than 81 100000. The village of Williams.
port, in which | reside, shipped by canal.
over 100000 of feet of lumber-and
this trade is but beginning. Give US a
direct communication by railroad to Phila.
delphia and Baltimore. Abandon the idea
that Philadelphia will not be benefited, un.
less her citizens can see the smoke of the
locomotives, and hear the cars rumbling
over The Market street bridge. Such is not
broad, liberal and siatesmanlike policy
1T Is unworthy OF Philadelphia. Throw
open all the avenues leading from the in,e.
rIor-glve our iron masters, our lumber.
men, our miners, and our farmers, the
advantage Of the best markets, wherever
they are to be found. You will then, sir.
see the wilderness Of the West Branch dis.
appear. her valleys will be made vocal by
Inc painting of The engine and the hum Of
industry and enterprise; you will see her
Hoods clap their hands. and her mountains
be joyful together"
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