Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-04-02

THE PENNSYLVANIA RAIL ROAD-sTATE
TAX AND TONNAGE-NO. A.


TAX AND ToNNAGE-NO. 4.
We proceed with the cor sidera,on Of the
ques'ion-wil The State lose by the aba,e.
ment Of the tax on tonnage!
While the most Jealous advocates Of the
State lax have never been able 10 prove tha,
the construction of The Pennsylvania Railroad
has resulted in the diversion of business
from the canal-while those who are best
informed in railway economics, and have no
private ends 10 gain, deny that such can be
the consequences Of its operations-whil
all the patriotic appeals TO the dear people
10 protect themselves againsts the encroach-
ments OF mammoth corporation, have emana-
ted IRON petty politicians, g. have been based
upon no better foundation than prejudice
while not even an attempt has been made to
show in what manner the operations of the
Pennsylvania Railroad are to iujnre the State
III has been clearly proven, on the other
hand, that the Pennsylvania Raroad has
already conferred most important benefits
upon the Commonwealth, and must continue
10 pour into the treasury, directly and indi.
recily, stream of wealth which the Canal
alone could never have produced.
The increase of business over the Column
bia Railroad in consequence Of the consruc.
lion o! the Pennsylvania Railroad has been
very large. No one will pretend that the
increase since the opening of the Pennsylva-
MIA Railroad could have been due 10 any
other cause. Without the Pennsylvania
Railroad, so far from an increase, there must
inevitably have beer great diminuton.
Is 1t reasonable 10 suppose that passengers
would have continued 10 travel in packet
boats on the Pennsylvania Canal, when after
the completion oi the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, they would have been carried be,
tween Philadelphia and Pi,,sburg in single
day! Assuredy not. The through travel
would certainly have abandoned The Penn
sylvnnia route of the completion of the supe-
rior avenues Of communication that were al
ready far advanced. With the loss of travel
would have followed a loss of the trade iha,
invariably accompanies it. Western mer'
chants would have found it to their ineres
10 sever their business connections will
Philadelphia. and establish new relations il
cities more convenient Of access.
The loss from this cause cannot be esii
mated, but it must evidently have been yer,
great, so grea, as 10 preclude the hope ,ha
wilhou, the construction of the Pennsylvani
Railioad, there could have been any increas
Of business or Of revenue. But what ar
now the actual results In 1851 the Com
pany increased the receipts OF the State, &C
, cordng 10 publication OF the Superin,end
i en,, nearly 100000. During the last yea
The business of the Company had doubled
> and the amount paid 10 he State must hav
= been proportionabIy augmented. A slrear
of trade was passed upon the State improve
men,s that taxed them 10 their full capacit,
and which could al times with difficulty b
accommodated f; and yet, in the face OF a
!. this accumulated evidence, it is asserted lha
n the Pennsylvania Railroad is injurious 10 tn
interests of the State il must be taxed |
q protect the revenue. While the revenue
a the State was increased nearly 5000, 900
q 1851, BY the operations Of the Penusylvani
!, Railroad, but small portion Of This ncreas
ia was due TO the State tax, which amounle
e then 10 only s3,s56 ; but as the tonnage il
creases and prices become reduced, this Ia.
, which is uniform on all kinds of freigh
b, must become excessive, and will bear
20 large proportion TO The whole receipts. II
,d even now seriously felt, and every prime
"a pie Of equity, independent, of the direc, al
!, vanlages which must result from its abat
~ meni call loudly for ills removal. 1t was ia
=, posed under belief that the consiruciiC
a. of the Pennsylvania Railroad would afe
:, njuriously the business Of the main liue..
Experience has fully demonstrated iha,
- has largely increased this business. Up
-. what pre,ex,, then, can the tax be co
r. tinued.
- Other States have seen The folly Of su
restrictions upon trade. VIII Pennsyvan
still continue TO close her eyes against I
~. light o. experience, TO disregard the inter,
:, Of her citizens, TO obstruct her own q
mo vancement in prosperity, and continue
~. pursue policy which is most clearly {
- pressve and unjust
y PENNSYLVANIA
From the North American and u S. Gazette
we THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD STA