The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-01-13

ergetic competition which has grown up
around us, be unsafe to anticipate any in
crease 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
ergetie 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 se>
cure an increased amount of tonnage, and
the prompt abolition Of every unnecessary
Office or other cause of expenditure, is de-
manded by the exigercies which surround
US.
The law passed at the last session. for
bidding the creation of debts by the officers
on the public works; requnin the pay
ment of cash for all labor and materials,
and monthly returns of all receipts and ex-
penditures, has already and viii continue
to exercise salatary influence As
consequence, the expenditures will be
much decreased, and the receipts transmit
ted to the Treasury with the greater
promptitude The administration Of this
law, however, | regret to say, has not been
as efficient as it should be hereafter Its
failure was owing, TO some extent, to de-
fciency in the appropriations and to other
difficulties incident to the introduction of
a new systim of business. This and other
reforms so wisely commenced within short
period, with such additional rctrenchments
IS experience may have shown to be prac-
- IL J,,,l.iooS 10 wildly payrIaH
out ia future, by the officers controlling
that branch of the public works.
The net increase of profits on the Co
lunibia roid for this year over the profits
of last, is but little short Of one hundred
thousand dollars, whilst the net losses on
the entire operations on the Portage road
have exceeded that sum. The direct, un
ax2;.iable aud incidental expenditures on |
this | tier road, must necessarily be very !
heavy Whether it be practicable to ar /
rest this monstrous demand upon the Trca- !
sury, by any other means than the avoid |
ance Of the planes, is question l am not |
prepared to answer, for | have not looked |
into the details of the subject Certainly |
more honest and devoted public servant /
could not be found, than the gentleman !
who superintended the operations OF this |
work for the last year. Both he and the |
Canal Commissioners concur In the opinion,
that this growing expenditure is owing to |
the Increased business and the delapldated |
condition of the road.
The avoidance OK these planes-the COM
pletion of the North Brance canal, and the |
relaying of the north track of the Columbia |
railroad, are subjects which will claim your
Thaca Ali |
in progress when l came into Office. In
special message to the last Legislature,
declared the opinion, that they were neces-
ssry to the public welfare, and should be
speedily contaminated L still entertain
these views.
Should the General Assembly adopt this
policy, it will be for them to provide the
means 70 sustain the Treasury under this
increased demand upon its resources. In
another part of this communication, have
given you my views touching It's future
condition No permanent loans, 1t seems
to nae, should hereafter be made for any
purpose whatever: nor should the Sinking
Fund be diverted from its legitimate erds.
The General Assembly may, however, in
view of the pressing necessity for the i'm
mediate completion Of these improvements,
deem il wise to authorize the anticipation
of the surplus which may accrue in the
Treasury for one or two years.
When the foregoing schemes shall be
completed, the government, in my opinion,
should abandon entirely the policy of con-
structing improvements of this character.
The circumstances which made it right and
wise for the State to participate in such
work, have passed away. Grand avenues
have been constructed through nearly all
parts of the State, whilst individual capi-
tai has increased, and is rapidly occupying
every feasible scheme of the kind. With
my present impressions, | shall, under al!
resist the commencement
of any new projects of this character.
An unpleasant misunderstanding has ex-
listed for so-ne time between the Board OF
Canal Commissioners and the Pennsyiva-
MIA railroad company. The points in the
controversy have been passed upon by the
highest judicial tribunal in the State, and
the decision on each made known to the
public !
The management of the public works is
an independent branch of the public ser
vice, and has been confded to the care of
agents selected by the people. 1t might |
seem unbecoming, therefore, in an officer
of this department of the government to
discuss the action of the highly competent
gentlemen who at present discharge the