Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-03-26

Pennsylvania Railroad, must, in fact, pay the
whole of The tax, not only upon their local
business, but upon the through business, also.
The injustice Of this imposition is apparent;
but the oppression cannot be charged against
the managers Of the Pennsylvania Railroad,
inasmuch as they are bound, by duty to the
lockholdeis, TO fix the rates sufficiently high
TO yieli a remunerative average, and if one
part of the business must be transacted be.
low cos, another portion must necessarily
be charged above cost, or the improvement
cannot be sustained.
Had the tax been entitled an act 10 pre-
vent the development of the resources OF the
Slaie-to prohibit mining and manufacturing
operations, and prevent the increase of pop |
ulaIion and of taxable properly-its title |
would then have expressed some Of the effects
which necessarily result from its operation. !
Along the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad
are ine Ahauslibe mines of coal, but not one
ton can be mined or sent 10 market while the
tax continues; and hence a business which
might AFFORD employment 10 thousands OF
our industrial yeomanry, which might be the
means of increasing the taxable property oi
| the State 10 the extent oil millions, which
might offer inducements for emigration and
settlement, TO great extent is nipped in the
bud, and that, too, when, from the remote
ness of the Pennsylvania Canal, it cannot be
pretended that its interests could be affected
in any way byslhe encouragement OF this bu-
sness.
A writer, over the signature of Juniata,
complains of the high charges for local
freigh,s on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and
contrasts them with the charges on the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad, upon which he
says coal is carried at ST per ton for l7s
miles. If this be true, how illiberal and un-
Just must be policy which, on the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad, taxes ton Of 224o lbs. with
60 cents for an equal distance, and on the
Lancaster and Harrisburg Railroad with S.
for the same distance. Could any argument
more conclusively prove that, during The con-
tinuance OF this imposition on the part OF the
State, no hopes can be entertained that capi-
taists will venture a dollar in such business? ?
How could the Lancaster and Harrisburg
Railroad Company transport at the rate OF 81
for 17S miles, wien, for nine months in the
year, the whole receipts would be absorbed
by the State in the shape Of taxes! Let the
taxes be removed from through and local
freghis, and the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company could well afford 10 reduce the To-
cal charges 10 an extent considerably greater
than double the amount of tax.
Lumber furnishes another iustraiion.-
vania are still almost uhnhabited. Popula-
tion is sparse. Lumber cannot be manufac.
lured, hauled 10 the railroad, and then trans.
ported, without the encouragement of very
low rates OF freight. The tax upon this ar,i.
Gle also is a prohibition. So long as it con.
linues, the silence of the forest will be un.
disturbed save by The howl of beasts of prey;
Sut remove this restriction, and the wood
mans axe will at once awaken the echoes o
the mouutain-towns, villages, mills, facto
ries, farms and settlements, teeming with q
busy, healthy population, will almost magi
cay spring into existence, and, by the in.
creased value Of taxable property, more than
yield a tenfold compensation for The abate'
ment of the tax.
The farmer is likewise seriously affected
from the same cause. The value of land
depends not only upon lis fertility, but also
upon its distance from market, or the cost oI
transportation of his produce TO the place o
sale. If, by the imposition of tax which
requires high charges, the produce from the
interior of Pennsylvania pays as much a:
that which is sent from the Western States
of what advantage to the Pennsylvania far
mers is his geographical position? He il
taxed with lands at high valuation, The
produce of which cannot compete on equa
terms with that which is brought many hun
dreds of miles farther. The tendency o
such system is clearly TO depress the valu'
= of property in Pennsylvania, discourage i'm
provements and production, elevate relativel
. the value of land in other States, and give /
! them a population which it is vitality import
= ant 10 our interests 10 secure.
lneSe illustrations cOuIu De greatly eAlenC
e ed, but enough have already been given |
y show the effects of discriminating Ia
n against the business of the Pennsylvani
r. Railroad. Such taxes were once levied
J. the legislatures of other States but the errC
Is was discovered and principally corrected =
c 1t is to be hoped that the age Of darkness
- Pennsylvania will not long be suffered
Is continue. Could the Pennsylvania Cam
al maintain a successful competition with II
y first class Improvements of other States, II
to policy pursued might not be so absurd bl
DO when such competition is hopelessly impo
sible, and must so appear, after any INTEL
lx gent examination of the facts the impIorri
ie iy of obstructing The business of the Pen
oil sylyania Railroad and The trade of the Sta
ID by prohibitory taxation, is so obvious as
II excite surprise that such means of pTolectiC
nc have been resorted to.
e. PENNSYLVANIA.
b Prom the North American and u s. Gazette.
Nv PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD-sTATE IT,
he ON TONNAGE. NO. 3.
lie win the Slate lose by the abatement
the tax on the tonnage Of The pennsylyan