Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-01-13
Sale Of the Public Works.

,ut we defer it to give place to the following from
he Pittsburg Post, it takes fair common sense |
rev of the question.
The Wing newspapers of late have little to say
on the subject of the sale of the public works
Some months ago they were insisting that these
valuable works must be sold, and that the legis-
lature of this winter ought to provide for their
sale as soon as possible. They, at the same
time, argued that the railroads and canals owned
by the State were almost worthless.
These works have cost the State many mil
lions of dollars and we believe they are worth all
they have COST and ought not to be sold for less
They were never before in as good condition to
be profitable and afford a large revenue to the
Commonwealth, as they will be next SPRING
The Delaware Division Canal affords handsome
revenue to the commonwealth, more than twelve
per cent. per annum on its entire cost. The North
Branch Canal will be in good working order
throughout next spring, and will, undoubtedly
be, in short time, source of large revenue to
the State That is very important division OF
the works owned by our commonwealth open
ing as it does, to the great markets OF lac couh-
try large section of Northern Pennsylvania,
with its inexhaustible coal fields, and rich farm
ing lands. The business on that canal cannot
fail to be large, and the revenues from it conse-
guently large @
The main line of the works, the canals and
railroads extending from Pittsburg to Phladel-
phia, has cost the State many millions OF dollars,
and is still incomplete. The new road over the
mountains, to avoid the inclined planes, will re-
quire considerable appropriation yet to COM
plete it. And, we believe if the legislature now
in session does its duty, it will, w1ttom delay,
make the necessary appropriation 10 push forward
| the entire work to completion as speedily as pos
sible. The money appropriated last session is
exhausted, and the work must stop till the means
| are furnished to carry it forward Every day IS
delay in making the appropriation Is loss To the
State. That new road completed, and the planes
all avoided, the expenses ofthe State will be i'm
| mediately reduced to the amount of about four
hundred thousand dollars per year, more than a
thousand dollars per day, in keeping up and work
! ing the old road and the planes, with its costly
and mbering machinery, and its army Of Off
cials.
| This new road over the mountains completed
and the double track Oh the Columbia road laid
down, this line of works from Pittsburg to Phil
/ adelphia will become one of the most profitable
and thronged avenues ofcommerce in the coun-
try.
4 letter from Mr. Baker, published in this pa
per some time ago, discloses several facts worthy
of remembrance. This has been unfavorablc
year for this Line of Works. The Ohio river has
been low nearly all the season, and that has
doubtless reduced the amount of freights arriv-
ing at Pittsburgh for transit eastward over this
line. The water in the canal was sometimes sc
low as to impede its navigation. The tolls had
to be considerably reduced last spring to enable
it to compete successfully with rival lines. Ii
has had to compete, not only with the New York
and Maryland railroads, but with own Cen
trail road. Yet, notwithstanding all these disad
vantages, the receipts from it have been larger
this year than ever before-some S35 900, we be
lieve, larger than last year. Complete speedily
the new road over the mountains, and avoid al
the planes, and the yexatious delays they occa-
sion, and the business ofthis channel of ofcommerct
will soon be nearly doubled, notwithstanding al
competition, while the expense will at the sam,
time be greatly reduced. The reasons are obvi
Gus. 1t will be the last channel for heavy freights
between the East and West. All know how rap
| idly and vastly the trade between the East anC
West is increasing 1t will require all the ave
nues that can be opened to accommodate thai
vast commerce. And this line properly mana
ged, will ever be one of the most successful ant
popular of those avenues and the State will de
rive from it revenue to reduce and PERHAPS ulti
mately cxtinguish the debt.
We assert that this line of works has already
been profitable to the State 1t is difficult to fin
reasons for the assertion. The property of tn,
city and county of Philadelphia is now assessed
at about $l55, 100000. What was the valuation
before these publcworks were commenced? VIZ
have not the figures before u.s. but it is doubtless
safe to say it was less than half that sum. The
same is true of Pittsburg and Allegheny county
and of all the counties along the line of the pub
lie works. This avenue to the seaboard markets
has greatly enhanced the value of every acre o.
their soil, and of the products of the soil and
mines. While individual and general wealth and
prosperity have been thus increased, the revenues
of the commonwealth have proportienately in.
creased, from taxation upon this enhanced value
We believe the people of this State have no
reason to regret the construction of these works
| at the time they were undertaken. Individual
and corporate wealth and credit could not then
have done it. fit has run the State largely in
debt, it has vastly increased its capacity to pay.
Complete the new road over the mountains and
the annual expense is at once greatly reduced, the
capacity of the line for business greatly mcreas-
ed, and it will pay for itself
1t would, in our humble opinion, be the most
suicidal policy to attempt to sell the main line in
its present unfinished state, yet so near compile
ted; and in the midst of the constant clamor of
the Wing presses that it is worthless. Complete
It and test fairIu its canacitv for nrndc;,,e-