The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-01-19

Reoreseatatiees of the Commonwealth of
peaRsyiuania, IN General assembly met:
GENTLEMEN:
Whilst the events ofthe year Just closed, pre-
cont MANY causes Of joy andcongratulation, and
afford abundant reason for thanklnlness to BEN
s6ceot Providence for his goodness and mercy,
our prosperity and happiness, as people, ] re-
grpt TO saw, has not been unaloyed. The gem
eraI growth of the country, the progress of the
arIs and sciences, and other causes of moral and
sacial comfort, have not, it IS true, been inter-
rnDted bat the loss OF valuable lives and pro-
nortv, bv the casualties OF the elements, has been
unusual, both 10 number and extent and in
certain sections of our Commonwealth the attic
t5ons Of pesilence aud disease have also been
sorplv felt. Nor should We estimate lightly the
suffering that maniiestlY exists amongst the poor
in onr cities and towns. The drought of the
season deprived the hushaudman, TO some ey-
tent. Of the anticipated rewards of his labor, and
Ipsspned the means of human subsistence whilst
the depression in monetary and business affairs,
has deprived many Iaborefs and mechanics of
their usual earnings. The means Of subsistence
are thus greatly enhanced in value, at the sane
tine that the opportunities of earning them are
much diminished. The field fer charity is con-
seouentv wider than usual and to meet its
reasonable demands on the part of those blessed
with an abundance, will be to sustain the chris
tan character, and measuabIy TO merit the con-
finued bounty of Heaven.
The operations Of the Treasury for the last
wear, will be presented to YOU in detail bv the
head Of that department. Tie results are high
" satisfactory, showing steadlv increasing
revenue from nearly all the ordinary sources.
The aggregate receipts for the fiscal year Of
1851, including loans and the balance in the
Treasury, on the Goth Of November, 1853, a.
mounted 10 the snm of S6,G65,9l2 OF. The
gross payments for the same period, to the sum
ofS5,+2+,983 % leaving balance on the
Both Of November, Of 81 ,240.929 II.
The extraordinary payments consisted Of the
following items, 10 wit loans repaid, $685.
SSS 40; TO the North Branch canal, S206, ,552
76; to the construction Of the new railroad
over the Allegheny mountains, S46I .92l 03 :;
10 the payment Of debts on the public works,
S3S9,946 38. OF the balance remaining in
the Treasury, portion is applicable TO the
payment of the State debt, and the remainder TO
current demands
The simple or ordinary operations Of the
Treasury for the same period. were as follow,
to Wit the receipts, exclusive Of loans and the
bIance in the Treasury on the 30th Of Novem-
ber, 1888, realized from permanent sources, a
mounted to the sum Of S5,2lS,099. 90. The
ordinary expenditures. including the interest on
the State debt and al! the payments on the
finished lines of the public works, excluding the
payments on new works and loans, amounted
to m$hll6,744 81 being $l,l0l,490 10, less
than the receipts.
This statement may be regarded as the work
ings ofthe Treasury slmp!itied; and as establish
ing the gratifying fact, that the present reliable
revenues Of the State. exceed The ordinary or
unavoidable expenditures, over million Of dol
lars; and that, relieved from the demands for
The construction OF new improvements. the
Treasury could paw million or more of the
public debt annually. 1t will also be perceived
'aat the income from these sources is steadily
increasing. For instance, in 1916, with the
state tax at present rates, and the same extent
Of improvements in usr, with nearly all the pre-
sent sources Of revenue in operation, the gross
receipts amounted 10 bat ltle oVer three and
half millions
No more reliable estimate Of the operations
Of lar Treasury for 1893 can BE- made, than is
furnished in the results for 1854. The ordina-
ry receipts may be safely estimated at million
Of dollars above the unavoidable expenditures.
A portion Of this excess will be required TO com
pIste the new Portage railroad, and the North
Branch canal: and the remainder should be
faithfully applied toward the payment of the
State debt.
The aggregate receipts on the public works
'F 'ae past year, as reported by the Canal
Commissioners, amounted to the sumo S / $40,
US S. and the expenditures to the sum Of
2i,i0i $40 81, leaving balance Of SI74,-
oUS 81, from which, however, should be deduc-
ted the sum Of $37 900, properly chargeabIe to
Inc year, tor new locomotives and other unavoid-
able eXpendures-lhuS reducing the net pro-
hts to S736,60S 81. If we add 70 thif, SI3i,-
Vo0 90 received from the PENNSYLVANIA rail-
road company for the three mill tax, which is
GAINED by some as part Of the income from
me public works, we find net revenue Of
$780, 900; a sum equal to the interest on seven
'een millions Of the five per cent. debt of the
2'afe. The aggregate receipts were $57,I21
less than for the year 1873, and the reduction
10 expenditures amounted tooqer Sl59, ,287 90.
IoP withdrawal Of the business of the Pennsyl-
wanna railroad from the Portage road, readily
accounts for this difference.
viewed in every aspect, this exhibit is graft
E'hs. Few similar systems Of Improvement in
,ue country can present more favorable pic
'uFp. Some of them, in other States, have re-
Gently been reduced to a condition of virtual in
So''ency. The increase of business OH The State
works Tor the two last years, has exceedPvi our
4n'icipations: and but for the necessity which
SEEMED TO exist for a reduction in tolls TO meet
surrounding competition, the revenue would
nave been largely increased. The general
movement now on foot amongst railroad COM
lantes, 10 advance these rates, may perhaps re-
He9e the State 70 some extent in this respect.