Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1854-01-14
EXTRACTS FToM GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

year JUST closed 90 not present very Halter
Ing picture, SO far as relates TO net revenue.
The aggregate amount of business was larger
BY twenty per cent. than that Of any former
ysat, and the gross receipts amounted 10 the
sum Of $685., ,4s5 SO, being an excess Of bn,
S35,6s3 81 over the receipts Of 1852. This
increase Of tonnage without corresponding
increase Of receipts is the consequence Of a
very great reduction in the rate Of tolls, mea-
sure, in the opinion of the Canal Commission
ers, demanded by public policy; and ii may
be said that whatever has been lost to the
treasury was given 10 extend commerce and
trade. The expenditures for the year accord.
ing TO the report OF the Canal Commissioners,
amounted to the sum Of ST. 177,742 rs, leav.
ing a net balance of $754,752 So; but as
ahis sum does no, include any portion of the
cost Of new locomotive engines and the erec-
lion of farm bridges the deduction Of the
proper proportion OF these will leave the sum
of S704, 1852 5S as the actual net balance.
The receipts and expenditures and gener-
al operations Of the Columbia railroads exhi-
bi, an encouraging state of affairs, as they
also do on the North Branch canal and Della.
ware division on the other divisions Of the
canal they are toerable; but on the Alleghe-
ny Portage railroad, the condition of affairs is
entirely unsatisfactory. The system of man.
agemeni HERETOFORE practiced on that compli-
Gated and difficult work, would seem 10 de-
mand speedy and radical change. But the
Executive, under the laws as they now are,
having no contlol or direction over the public
works, it is righ, and proper that should
leave the explanation OF the details Of their
workings and management 10 the peoples
agents, who have charge sf the whole sub
' iect.
am, however, still entirely sanguine that
with the necessary change IN the system of
management, the pnblic Improvements can
be made to yield a very handsome revenue
to the treasury; indeed, even for the las,
year, had the expenses on the mountain di-
vision been confined 10 a reasonable sum
,he net, revenues would have rea ched neal
one million of dollars. Relieved t,om these
absorbing demands by the construction Of The
new road, or in some other way, and ws
shall realize, by the year, ne, profit equa
to the interest on twenty-five millions o
more of the public debt.
The work on The railroad TO avoid the in
ciined planes on the Allegheny mountains
has rot progressed as rapidly as had beel
anticipated. 1t is the opinion Of the engineer
however, as will appear on reference 10 hi
report, that should the necessary means b.
promptly furnished, the entire line could b.
completed during the coming year. Th
grading for double track is finished wit,
the exception of four miles, and the cost @
laying down single track, is estimated a
six hundred and five thousand dollars, in al
diion 10 the value Of the old track. Tn
engineer also estimates the anual saving, a
compared with the expenditures OH the oil
road, on a business equal TO that of 1852, a
Two hundred and ninety thousand dollars
lie also states that the road between plan
No. and Hollidaysburg, with double track
will cost about eight hundred thousand do
iArs less than the Pennsylvania road, for
like distance.
Viewed in every aspect, II must be cor
tessed that this branch of the public affai
presents an embarrassing alternative Th
prompt completion of the new work will il
volve the expenditure of more capital lha
abe state can command without resorting
farther Temporary loans whilst on the 9th
hand, maintenance of the old road, a, co
of four hundred and fifty thousand dolla
per annum, is quite out OF the question.
exhaus,ing demands on the treasury must
speedily obvia,ed. and for my part can s.
no mode Of doing this except by the compl
tion Of the new road.
At the time assumed the duties Of n
present station, fourd this work in progre
of construction; the western slope up 10 4
summit having been placed under contra
during the summer OF 1851. On referring
The reports of the Canal Commissioners a
the engineer, the only data which COT
properly consult as 10 the policy of the me
sure, found that the total cos. Of sing
track was estimated al S1,0l5,ooo. I
materials on the old road were valued
S2is, $50, which together with the apprcpr
lions previously made; reduced The amor
10 be provided 10 complete the work TO t
tneagre sum of S59i,350. With these c
eulations before me, and even adding lar
amount for errors in the estimates, and /
enormous expenditures of the old road in (
view, could not doubt the expediency a
economy of the measure. But the usual /;
vance in the price of labor, material and ST
sisience, added 10 the obvious errors in the
Inmates, has changed The entire aspect of 1
enterprise. The sum of $685. 900 has be
appropriated since that time, and over
bundled thousand dollars is still requir
with the value of the old road, 10 bring
line into use.
The estimated cost of completing
North Branch canal, al The period alfes
named, was s772, 900. One million of d
lars has since been paid, and sum exec,
ing one hundred and fifty thousand dollar:
Hill required 10 pay for its completion. w
such unexpected demands upon the ireasr
within the short space Of two years, it wol
not be unreasonable 10 expect an increase