Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1853-01-13

PA, THURSDAY, JANUARY
years, presents somewhat fattering pic
ture. 1t must be remembered, however
that we have had most fortunate season.
The general prosperity of the State has
tended to swell the amount of tonnage,
whilst no Interruptions of business or in
jury to the works have resulted from fire
or foods. 1t might, perhaps, in view of
these things, and the energetic competi-
ton which has grown up around us, be
unsafe to anticipate any increase on this
net income for any year hereafter, until
the North Branch Canal and the Portage
railroad shall have been completed.
Pressed on all sides by rivals of vast
power, the necessity for an economical,
energetic and skillful management of the
public works is made manifest. The ut
most vigilance to prevent interruptions
by breaks, the greatest skill to regulate
the rate of tolls, and other details, so as
to secure an increased amount of tonnage
and the prompt abolition of every unne-
cessary Office or other cause of expendi-
ture, is demaned by the exigencies which
surround us.
The law passed at the last session, for.
biding the creation of debts by the off.
GERS on the public works: requiring the
payment of cash for all labor and mater
ials, and monthly returns of all receipts
and expenditures, has already and viii
continue to exercise salutary influence
! AS consequence, the expenditures viii
be much decreased, and the receipts trans
mittei to the Treasury with the greater
promtitude. The administration of this
law, however, I regret to say, has moi
been as efficient as it should be hereafter
Its failure was owing to some extent, tc
a deficiency in the appropriations and tc
other difficulties incident to the introduc
ton of new system of business. This
and other reforms so wisely commenced
within short period, with such addition
al retrenchments as experience may have
shown to be practicable, will doubtless bt
rigidly carried out in future, by the off
GERS controlling that branch of the public
affairs.
The net increase of profits on the Co.
lumbia road for this year over the profit:
of last, is but little short of one hundred
thousand dollars, whilst the net lossess OF
the entire operations on the Portage roat
have exceeded that sum. The direct
unavoidable and incidental expenditure
on this latter road, must necessarily b
very heavy. Whether it be practicable
to arrest this monstrous demand upon the
Treasury, by any other means than the
avoidance of the planes, is question
am not prepared to answer, for have no
looked into the details of the subject
Certainly more honest and devoted
public servant could not be found, thar
the gentleman who superintended the op
crations of this work for the last year.
Both he and the Canal Commissioner
concur in the opinion, that this growing
; expenditure is owing to the increased
business and the delapidated condition o
the road.
The avoidance of these planes
completion of the North Branch canal
and the relaying of the north track o
the Columbia railroad, are subjects whicl
will claim your early attention. Thes
measures were all in progress when
came into Office. In special messag
to the last Legislature, l declared the o
pinion, that they were necessary to tn,
public welfare, and should be speedil.
consumated. [ still entertain these views
Should the General Assembly adop
this policy, it will be for them to provid
the means to sustain the Treasury unde
this increased demand upon its resurces
In another part of this communication,
have given you my views touching its fu
ture condition. No permanent loans
it seems to me, should hereafter be mad
for any purpose whatever; nor shoul(
the Sinking Fund be diverted from its lie
gitimate ends. The General Assembl,
may, however, in view of the pressing ne
cessity for the immediate completion o
these improvements, deem it wise to au
thorize the anticipation of the surplu
which may accrue in the Treasury for ont
or two years.
When the foregoing schemes shall b,
completed, the government, in my opinion
should abandon entirely the policy of con
structing improvements of this character
The circumstances which made it righ
and wise for the State to participate il
such work, have passed away, Grant
avenues have been constructed through
nearly all the parts of the State whilst in
dividual capital has increased, and i
rapidly occupying every feasible schem'
of the kind. With my present impres
sions, | shall under all circumstances, re
sist the commencement of any new pro
jects of this character.