Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1852-03-26
Some Interesting Facts.

Robert FAIRIES, engineer on the Allegheny
Portage Railroad, has made report 10 the
Canal Commissioners, which has been for
warded to us by one of our attentive
friends in the legislature. He gives the
particulars of the contracts on the road to
avoid some of the Planes on the western
slope OF the mountain, showing that work
to the amount of $299,06G has been award
ed by the Canal Board-beng, as the Ca
nal commissioners admitted III their re-
port. $l24 ,066 more than the legislature
authorized.
Tie suggests various mprorements-on
here, another there-which. if made, will
involve the State still deeperin financial diff
hcuity, though we admit it will give further
opportunity for plundering TO those locofo-
co patriots who are always within reach,
when money is TO be handled.
Last winter the legislature appropriated
$4,000 TO complete the western reservoir,
and re-employed Messrs. Moorhead &
Parker, who were the contractors under
former law and then suspended opera
tons, owing TO the embarrassments of the
State. Mr.. FAIRIES reports that the appro-
prlallon OF $4,000 was insufficient, and
that $4,000 more will be necessary
The understanding last winter, when the
appropriation was granted, was that that
amount would finish the reservoir for use
Now the engineer says that S55 900 in ad-
dIuon to the previous appropriation will be
required Give us pure canal-bred loco
tocos, when swindling is TO be done.
Nothing can slIrpass the dexterity of their
manpuvTes.
The same report says " during the past
fall repairs have been put upon the Sha-
mokin Schultz, ercJ. beyond the amount
appropriated by the legislature for that
poopOse." He recommends additional i'm
provcments on this work, and finally saws
TO - carry out the repairs as contemplated,
and oPoy the balaace die beyond The qp-
preparation Of last gear, the sum Of ten
thousand dollars will be required
These Canal officers have as much i'm
pudence as dishonesty. They abuse their
power, contract debts illegally, report the
amount and then unblushngIy ask the
State 10 stand responsible for their disre-
gard of law and their violation of the
oaths they took to discharge their duties
faithfully.
Look at the amount OF the bills these
fellows now seek TO lasten upon the State
bills contracted without authority aud
for the corrupt purpose Of brbing voters
To aid in the election Of Wm. Bigler and
Seth Clover. The demands unlawfuIlv
contracted within the space OF few miles
are as follows:
On The Portage road, SI24 O6G
Amount demanded for the Western Re
seryOr, $4,000
Amount demanded for the Shamokin
Schultz, 10000
$685.
This amount be it remembered, is ex.
elusive of the heavy appropriations made
last year, which have very much crippled
the treasury, of the amount annually ap.
proprated for repairs, and of the large de-
mands made for new work on the Portage
Railroad These facts are but few of the
many which could be found everywhere
OH tho public works, if the truth were di
vulged. They exhibit degree of corrup
ton which would be startling if it were
not unfortunately common. Never until
the people drive these plunderc:s from
power, will the public works be economi
calIy managed and will they be really use
f,,l I'M the n,oterinl redurtirr IF tL n hurfbous