Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-04-09
From the North American and L. $. Gazette.
TAX ON TONNAGF-NO. g.

II will not answer, at present., TO remove
the lax from the tonnage of The Pennsylv
MIA Railroad. The experiment, has no, been
tried sufficiently long. |, would be advisa-
bic 10 wal, at least another year, that an
opportunity may be offered OF asceraining
its effect upon the revenue. The movement
10 remove the tax is premature.
Truly wise opinion. The house is on
fire don't apply the wafer now il is pre-.
mature perhaps it will 90 out itself. At
any rate, let us wait awhile. We can then
better determine how much damage is like
ly 10 ensuc.
The State tax is injnriug the revenues of
the State ii is absolute prohibition upon |
The transportation Of coal, lumber, and other |
heavy articles by railroad it burdens the |
local business and the citizens Of the into |
ior of the State, with the hole of the tax
on through as well as local lonnages it dis |
courages, and entirely prevents many i'm
portant mining aud manufacturing opera J
tions, and the increase OF wealth and popu-
lation that result from them. 1t discrimi-
naies against our own trade and in favor OF
that Of rival roads and rival cities !; the lon
ger this state of things continues the greater
the loss, and the greater The difficulty of re-
covering from lis effects, but we must not
yet ask for relief ri, is premature" Bet
ter suffer the loss year or longer, we will
then be better able TO determine how great
the injury has been.
We have already alluded 10 this subject of
the revenue, and endeavored 10 prove that,
so !ar from suffering loss by the abatement
of the tax, the revenues of the State would
be increased but as The subject is one OF
much importance and about which the
ideas of some Of our friends appear to be
little cloudy, we will endeavor 10 dispel the
mist by resort 10 figures.
The whole question is simply this : Has
the Pennsylvania Railroad injured The busi-
ness Of the main line, and impaired the rev.
enues of the State, or not ? II ii has, ii be-
comes Il grave question whether taxation is
the proper remedy whether the evil is di-
minished or increased thereby. If the Penn
sylvania Railroad reduced the revenue Of
the States, then it does not admit of question
that a tax imposed by error and injurious in
its operation, canno, be continued without IA
violation of every principle of equity, COM
mon sense, aud good policy.
We return to The Canal Commissioner IS
repor, for 1919, the year in which the Penn
sylvania Railroad first commenced opera
tlnns:
The receipts OF the main line in that
year, augmented, no donb', by the opening
of the Pennsylvania Railroad,
were Sl,2l6, 262
We have no report of 1850, but
in 1851 the receipts were 1,359,7Il
: In 1852 the receipts were l,36i,6i9
Exhibiting a regular increase in the re.
cepis of the whole maine line between
Philadelphia and Ptssburg, since the open
ing of the Pcnnsy lvania Railroad, in which
not dollar of tax has been included. The
increase is due entirely 10 the increased bu-
n sness broueh, upon the line by the Penn
Z sylvania Railroad. 1t must also be observed
e that the Canal Commissioners, not consicer-
y ing The tax sufficient discrimination against
e the business Of The Pennsyl l,ania Railroad
r reduced the tolls upon the Canal to almost
= noting in favor of canal tiansporters, anc
= by the sys EN- Of maNimums require The
i company TO pay as much, and in one IN
e stance even more, toll for the use OF par
h OF the State Improvements than ttheIs paiC
e for the whole. Yet, Notwithstanding these
d great reductions, the business and receipts
IF of the main line have been steadily in
II creased.
II In 1919, the number Of passengers over ih'
is Columbia Railroad, 80 miles, was 9o,25'
rs In 1851, the number was S,29
y In 1852, the number was 1872
~ Thus, in The short space of three years
ly from the opening Of the Pennsylvania Rail
Of road, The passenger business on the Colum
e, bia Railroad was increased sixty per cent
ne while on The other hand, it is certain tha
"A without the Pennsylvania Railroad, lheI
te womb have been great reduction conse
nd ouenl upon the loss of all The through travt
ad after the opening Of rival aud superior line
ld Il is altogether within bounds TO suppos
TO that the plese:.t passenger business of III
his would have been without the Pennsylvau
W. Railroad
'ut The report of lS49 does not gives the toi
all mage on the Columbia Railroad, but in II
at report Of 1851 is the following statement
IN ''The freight passed over the roa amounle
as 10 265, ii3 tons, being an increase over Il
ao last year of 1852 tons.
10 Ton
ais We have therefore the ton.
in mage Of 1850 2I9,4
os, 1881 265,
not 1852 3l7,7
ing The increase Of tonnage in two years ha
- therefore been s,SOS tons, or AS per cel
on, When il is considered that this is the
crease OF two years only, aud that a consi
erable portion of this uade would have be
el- lost without The Pennsylvania Railroad, il
'ey not unreasonable 10 suppose that the &C
D struciion OF lhis road has doubled the freie
ra- as well as The passenger business OF the
na- lumbia Railroad. And when it is rene