The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-01-12

the Columbia railroad, -sg55, 500 90
For the construction of a new
road to avoid the Inclined
planes ON the Allegheny
mountains, 658,o34 80
For the completion OF the Wes-
tern reservoir, $3.50 Al
For the North Branch canal, l,000, eco 90
For the new locks Oh the Del
aware Division, sO,OoO 90
Total, $2,1t3,9l5 81
From the foregoing figures it is apparent
that the operations of the treasury have ex-
ceeded our most sanguine expectations, yield
ing over million of dollars annually above
the ordinary charges and expenses; and
showing, that if no new Improvements had
been in progress, two millions, at least, of the
public debt could have been paid during the
last two years In addition to these extra
ordinary expenditures, there was paid out o
the treasury during said period, in pursuance
Of laws passed prior to 1852: for the State
Lunatic Asylum, SO, 700; for the publication
of the Pennsylvania Archieyes and Colonial
Records $23, l63 50; for the improvement
Of the State penitentiaries $50, 900; for the
publication of Professor Rogers geological
surveyor $l6, coo; for the preparation of reg
strat;on books $I2,190 10: to the Sugar
Valley and Deer Greek Turnpike company
5000.
1t will readily be perceived, therefore, that
should the appropriations hereafter be confn-
ed strictly to the ordinary expenses of gov
ernment we shall have an ANIMAL Surplus rev.
enue exceeding one million of dollars, appli-
cable to the payment Of the funded debt
That such should be the policy of the State,
after the completion Of the works now in pro-
gress, will not be doubted The Importance
Of such economy in view Of the great end to
b. attaincd-the liquidation Of the public
debt-and consequent relief of the people
from taxation for State purpose, is too mani
fest for argument Entertaining these views.
Icould not give my assent to any new schemes
Of improvement by the State.
The operations on the public works for the
year just closed Go not present very fatter-
ing picture, so far as relates to net revenue
The aggregate amount of business was lar
ger by twenty per cent. than that of any for
mer year, and the gross receipts amounted
to the SGm Of 81, 932, 495 33, being an excess
of but $35, 6S3 81 over the receipts of 1852
This increase Of tonnage without a CORES
ponding increase Of receipts is the consequent
&C Of very great reduction in the rates OF
tolls, a measure, in the opinion of the Canal
Commissioners, demanded by public policy:
and it may be said that whatever has been
lost TO the treasury was given to extend com
merce and trade. The expenditures for the
year, according 10 the report of the Canal
Commissioners, amounted to the sum of 81.
III, 742 75; but as this sum does not include
any portion Of the costs ofncw locomotive en-
gnes and the erection Of farm bridges, the
proper proportion Of these viii leave the sum
of $704, ,G52 58 as the ac!aai net balances.
The receipts and expenditures and general
operations q the Columbia railroad exhibit
an encouragin state Of affairs. as thew also
do on the North Branch canal and Della
ware division On the other divisions OF
the canal they are tolerable; but on the
Allegheny Portage railroad, the condition
Of affairs is entirely unsatisfactory The
system Of management heretofore practiced
on that complicated and difficult work. would
seem TO demand speedy and radical change
But the Executive, under the laws as they
now are, having no control or direction over
the public works, it is right and proper that
l should leave the explanation of the details
Of their workings and management to the
peoples agents, who have charge Of the whole
subject.
l am, however, still entirely sanguine that
with the necessary change fn the system of
management, the public improvements can
be made to yield very handsome revenue to
the treasury; indeed, even for the last wear.
had the expenses on the mountain tArision
been confined to a reasonable sum, the next
revenues would have reached near one nil |
lion Of dollars. Relieved from these absorb |
ing demands by the construction of the new
road, or in some other way, and we shall re-
ll.se, by the year 1855, net profit equal to |
the interest on twenty-five millions or more of
the public debt.
The work on the railroad to avoid the in |
;llned planes on the Allegheny mountains. |
laS not progressed as rapidly as had been an |
-icipated 1t is the opinion of the engineer,
however, as will appear on reference to his
'eport, that should the necessary means be t
furnished, the entire line could be
Completed during the coming year. The
grading for double track is finished with
he exception Of four miles, and the cost. of
his balance, together with the expenses of
aging down single track, is estimated at
56O0,e05 in addition to the value of the old
rack. The engineer also estimates the ANIMAL
aVlng, as compared with the expenditures {
N the old road, on the business equal to that
# 1892, at two hundred and ninety thousand
Iollars. He also states that the road be- $
ween plane No. 4 and HollidaySburg, with
ouble track, will cost about eight hundred
housand dollars less than the Pennsylvania
abroad, for like distance. /
Viewed in every aspect, it must be cor c
sssed that this branch of the public affairs /
resents an embarrassing alternative. The i
rompt completion Of the new work viii in 4