Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-07-25
EBENsBURG, JUIY 25,, 1856.

passageof which every body in Philadelpnia
had knuNledKe. except the ss N. American')
that it should be Immediately rescined, and
that the Company should purchase the Main
Line. ID that article, and in a number of
eminently absurd and puerilc leaders. pub
lished within the last forr or Eve months, the
organ has labored with great show of inde-
pehdence and zeal for the interests of the
people, y persuade them that it would be
dangerous to trust these improvements in the
hands of rival Company, and that the only
saSety fsF tl1o psoplo woul1 IN giving %
the Company a monopoly of the immense
carrying trade between the East and the West,
and In committing their interests. with =
generous confidence, to the tender care of this
corporation. In this enlightened age, the old
notion of competition of competing lines of
improvement, or of competing companies of
carriers, having any tendency to lessen the cost
or increase the amount or facilities of trade
and business, is absurd. and should be ex-
ploded. The P. r. R. Co. OF course would
with both lines in its hands, carry more goods,
carry them cheaper, and furnish greater facil-
tiles to trade than two companies could or
would do; and would of course reduce the
cost Of transportation II But the g North
American" forgot, or perhaps did not know
that heretofore, as soon the canal was closed
in the fall, this Company ADDED about fifty
per cent. to its summer rates of freight, and
kept the rates up until the opening of the
canal in the spring. Though the great COM
mercinl journal of Philadelphia may not know
these things, the people do. and have not
such an abiding confidence in the tender
regard of the Company for their interests as
that journal and they feel that perhaps some
competition in this busines should be encour-
aged notwithstanding. And it is surprising
what an effect the terror, under which the
leader of the 29th was written, produced on
the organ. This leader gives some strong
indications of returning reason and common
sense. and is an interesting commentary on
its immediate predecessor. The organ itself
begins to suspect competition, may not be
such bad thing after all.
And can it be necessary to say to Philadel-
phia and Pitssburg, and to the people all
along the line, how deeply they are interest
ed in keeping the Main Line out of the hands
of the Central Company Can any merchant
or business man any where be found stupid,
at this time OF day, as not to know that an
unrestricted monopoly of the immense and
increasing carrying trade between the east
and west, in she hands of the Central Com
pany, or of any company. would be great
public and private evil, and which would not
be tolerated for any length of time? Would
not such monopoly be ruinous to the trade
of Philadelphia and Pittsburg, and death to
all way trade7 If were an enemy of the
Central Company, and desired to see it ruin
ed, could wish for it nothing which in my
opinion. would SO certainly array an indignant
people against it and utterly destroy it, and
that very monopoly which it is so anxiously
seeking to obtain. But I am no enemy to
the Company. have received no favors and
suffered no injuries at its hands. I regard
its road as one of the greatest achievements
Of the day, and an enduring and magnificent
monument to the wisdom and edergy of Phil
adel2hia. Let no one charge her hereafter
with a want of public spirit and enterprise.
And most anxiously desire to see her and
the whole country, reap all the advantage
from this great Improvement. which, it is SC
well calculated to secure them. But l confess
I feel little admiration for its management,
and its managers. Nay more, contemplating
the naughty and contemptuous disregard it
has shown from the beginning, for the private
rights and interests. of individuals and COM
munities, and its grasping and monopolizing
spirit, have begun to regard it with terror
and alarm.
But TO return to tho subject. It is well
known that if the Company do not buy the
Line under the present bill. it viii not be SC
much because the price fixed is too high, Al
because Of the provision requiring the pur
chasers' to keep forever the Canals and Rail
roads open and in order, and to furnish ths
necessary motive power on the roads. Thi
| is the Objectionable feature, and which th'
Company succeeded in keeping cut Of the bill
whilst passing through the House. but which
| thanks to some Senators. they were not abb
to keep out Of the bill when it came to th'
Senate. It Is also well known that when tha
provision. despite the exertions Of the Com
pany, its aiders and abettors, was inserted il
the Senate. they abandoned the bill as NJ
| Ion oer worthy Of thair. consideration and tha