Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1852-04-09
FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 8, 1852.

O'i0hu tlliS SUBJECT 10 the favorable con-
Slderatlon OF the Legislature in his last annual
message. Ihe pohcy OF resuming the prose
cutlon OF this work is 70 longer an omen
issue, and need not now be discussed This
question was settled by the Legislature of
1919, since which time about $3.50. 900 have
been expended ON the work: all Of which.
together with two and half millions origi-
nally expended, and the amount Of retained
per centage, and the usual damages to the
contractors on the abandonment of the work,
must be entirely lost, unless the canal be
completed. The whole length of this i'm
proYement IS ninety-four miles, fifty miles of
winch are fully completed, and the remain
ing torty-four are under contract, or ready
TO be put under contract so soon as the I.e-
glslature may make provision for the payment
OF the same. According to the estimate of
William j. Foster, the experienced engineer
on that line, $4,000 viii be sufficient to
complete it and that, should the means be
promptly furnished, the whole line may be
brought into use i'll the early part of next
season. Can it be doubted for Il moment
that the net annual receipts on this work will
largely exceed the interest on this meagre
sum? | am confident that those who have
given the subject the least attention. will not
hesitate on this point. | confidently believe
that they will be sufficient not only to do this,
but also to pay the interest on the 5000, 600
expended since 1919, and on the two and
half millions expended prior to 1871, and
leave balance to 90 into the Treasury be-
sides. l need not give you my reasons in
detail Tor this opinion. The data on which
1t rests has been presented to YOU in more
torclble terms than | could employ 1t re-
qulres but glance at the operations on the
completed part OF that improvements the
vast district Of country which would be sup
piled with anthracite coal through the medi-
um OF this canal--the rapidly increasing
consumption of this article wherever it has
been brought into use--to satisfy the most
ncredulOus mind that the tonnage on this
improvement must, in few years, be almost
equal TO It's capacity. Some twenty-five
counties Of the State Of New York, rich, pop
uIons and growing, embracing a number Of
Incorporated cities, now paying high prices
for fuel, would be supplied with this article
for domestic, mechanical and manufacturing
purposes; in return for which. the canal
would, to some extent, be freighted with salt,
plaster, &c. The growth Of the anthracite
coal business in the State is almost incrcdi-
bic. If we may be allowed To take this in
crease as data Oh which to base an estimate
Of the future business Of this canal, it will
more than equal the expectations Of its most
sanguine friends. We can scarcely realize
the fact, that the operations in this article
have grown from 500 600 tons in 1870 to
near /, 800, 900 tons in 1851, and in all prob
ability the amount will exceed five millions
for the current year.
If, then, it be so apparent that the income
from this work viii pay the interest on its
cost and leave a surplus for the use Of the
Treasury besides wise policy would seem to
dictate its speedy completion. ! most re-
spcctfully and earnestly urge upon you the
favorable consideration of this subject at the
earliest day possible. The time for doubt
and delay, it seems to me, has gone by
This work must either be finished, or over
three millions of the peoples money, already
expended on 1t, must be thrown away. To
depend upon the present means Of the Trca-
sury would, | am confident, lead to vexatious
and injurious delay. The sum necessary to
complete il should, and | an assured can be
obtained on a loan, at Il rate of interest not
exceeding five per cent. reimbursable at such
period as the revenue, therctrom, shall have
reached the amount Of the interest and prin-
cipaI. | am aware that there is a proper
sensitivcness in the minds of the people, on
the subject of borrowing money, and | am
sure that | should not recommend any meas
ures that would have the effect Of increasing
their burthens. But | sincerely believe that
the tendency of this measure will be to les
sen, rather than increase them-that it Is the
best financial measure the Legislature can,
at present, adopt-that It's ultimate tendency
viii be to aid the Treasury in the liquidation
Of the present debt, certainly much more so,
than the alternative of allowing the sum al
ready expended to be lost. The completion
of the work will also give an impetus to the
growth and prosperity of the northern por-
tion of the State-would invite men and mo-
ney into that rich section of the Common
wealth, and would be an act Of justice to the
people of that region, who have ever, with
true spirit of loyalty and generosity, contrib
uted their proper share towards sustaining
the honor and dignity of the State.
The Importance Of prompt and efficient ac-
ton on this subject, cannot be ovcr-rated-
The citizens Of the State Of New York, who
intend to construct the connecting link be-
tween our improvements and the Chemung
canal, in that State, should have early assu-
rance that our improvement will be compile
ted. Business men who desire to operate on
this line, will not make the proper arrange
ments to do so until ample provision is made
for its completion. Every consideration Of
interest and economy, it seems to me, dictates
prompt and efficient action on this question.
The avoidance of the inclined planes on
the Allegheny Portage railroad was also
commenced under the late administration,
and in my opinion is necessary work and
should be prosecuted to completion as rapidly
as the means of the Treasury will permit.
1t is an important link in our main line of
improvements, and has ever been-and un-
less the planes are avoided-will continue to
be, source of heavy expenditure and great
delay and danger in the transportation of
tonnage. The annual expenditures to keep
these planes in order has been extremely
heavy. 1t is estimated that near hundred
thousand dollars would be saved yearly, IN