Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-05-25
Canal Beard VindiCated.


One of the prin -ipal reasons assigned for the
policy Of selling the Main Line Of Pennsylvania
improvements, was the alleged inability cf the
State authorities to conduct the public works III
such manner as to render them productive. This
inability was attributed, byssoIre, to fraud, by
others to improper political schemes, and by
others again, to want Of energy and capacity
in TIC person charged with the experimenting OF
certain portions Of the Main Line. Il was nc-
oordingIy urged, that all that was necessary in
order 10 render the works productive,
change ofowncrs and the transfer, into the hands
of corporation that would bcstow upon them
the necessary care and attention. The argu-
ment, in whatever form it appeared, necessarily
tended to throw some odium upon the Canal Com
missioncrs for failure TO do justice to the Com
nonwealth: and we, therefore, take pleasure in
stating that the Board Of Directors Of The Penn
sylvania Railroad Company have, by recent re
port in relation to the proposed purchase Of the
sIain Line trumphantly vindicatcd the Canal
Board from any just ccnsure. The directors say
that, in their opinion, the portion Of the Main
Line :" between the Susquehanna and Pittsburg,
can never, as whole, become e source Of revenue
either to the State or purchaser" We hope,
now, thet the consure so indiscrminately be-
slowed upon the State authorities, for failure
80 make this part of the works productive will
be candidly Withdrawn.
The report proceeds to make calculation cf
the value Of the Main Line, as follows: The Co
lumbis Railroad is estimated at three millions
and half, but the directors think they could
give four millions ard halffor it. The Juniata
Division is estimated to be worth, to :Ee CorpG-
ny, one million the Eastern Division is valued
at one milen the Western Division is set down
at zero, and the Portage road is considered worth
trife, as cid iron. Upon the whole, the Di-
rectors say that the Company could not afford TO
give more than seven millions for the entire line.
Upon the whole, rather pleased with the
report. We shall presume, for the present, that
it is perfectly honest-that the Directors mean
precisely what they say, and that the report is
not intended for the mere purpose Of concealing
an intended bid of ten millions, nor designed TO
dissuadc other capitalists from making the pur-
chase Believing, then, as we are bound to do,
that the Company will not purchase, and that
no other corporation will venture upon 50 dan
gerous speculation, we are glad that the Com
menwealth will now be compelled to use'proPer
exertions TO make as much money as possible
out of an improvement which has thus been sum
marily condemned.
We have hitherto opposed the sale of the Main
Line for reasons already assigned, and we arc
just as much pleased that the sale is to be de-
feated fot want of bidders, as we would have
been to have the bin for the sale defea cd 0r
want of voters. What shall be done with the
work Simply what every prudent man does
with his property, when he cannot dispose Of it
for what it is worth. Let the Portage Road be
completed, and let the State construct rail
road East and West of the mountains, along the
entire line of canal from the Susquehanna to th'
Allegheny. Michigan has too railroads hardly
thirty miles apart, terminating at the same point
and itr will take no great labor to demonstrate
shat two lines can be well sustained through th'
centre of Pennsylvania. There will be business
enough for nll. The hard work is completed
ne course the canal will furnish q location