Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-07-04
Sale of the transportation Lines.

sale OF the transportation Lines
We last week alluded to the rumor prevalent,
that the transportation lines doing business upon
the main line from Phladelphia to Pittsburg, had
been sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company,
but as some doubt existed upon the subject, we
merely directed the attention of our readers to the
importance of the project, and the incalcuIable
injury that must inevitably follow to the Com
monwealth If the bargain consummated.
This we learn now proves to be the case, and
in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh papers notices
are published that no goods would be recelpted
for transportation by these lines. after Saturday
last The stock is Immediately to be Withdrawn
from the canals, and the cars removed from the
Portage to the Pennsylvania railroad, thus giving
the company who manage the latter Improvement
perfect monopoly of the carrying trade between
the eastern and western portions of our State. =
The boats on the eastern side of the mountain,
we understand, are to be placed upon the North
Branch Canal, whilst those upon the western side
are to be removed to some of the western canals,
and the attempt appears now about to be made,
to carry out the threat of the President of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, '' to destroy the
trade upon the main line, and reduce the canal to
a dry ditch.'' This noble improvement which has
cost the Commonwealth millions Of dollars, by
which the waters of the Delaware and Ohio were
connected, the resources of the State developed,
and thu interests of our citizens promoted, is thus
to be rendered useless, and for the present
at least all business stopped upon it. An incal
culable injury is to be inflicted upon the citizens
of Pennsylvania, not only upon those engaged in
having freight of heavy description carried to
market, but the people of the whole State must
feel it in the great loss to the treasury from the
diminished amount Of tolls. This is one of the
boldest attempts that has yet been made by this
grasping corporation creature of the Com
monweath,- to stab the vitals of its creator, and
place Pennsylvania bleeding and prostrate at its
feet Following it does upon the heels Of its
successful efforts in the last legislature, to procure
a repeal of the tonnage tax, imposed upon it by
its charter, no one can doubt that this gigantic
corporation emboldened by success has finally de
termined to strike fearlessy, not only to secure
monopoly of the carrying trade between the east
and the west bnt control hereafter the destinies
of Pennsylvania both pecuniarily and politically
The studied exertions of the company to depreciate
the value of the main line, diminish its revenues,
and render it odious to the people, SO to induce
them to part with it for song is still fresh
in their recollection. But can these repeated eff
forts the part of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company to destroy The main line of the improve
ments and enrich itself at the expense of the tax
payers of the State succeed We think not The
people are only waking up to sense of their sit
uation, and will patiently wait for the hour of ac-
~ &bo fha inn
provements which have cost her many millions
of dollars, there viii no doubt be found individu-
ais patriotic enough within her borders to sustain
her interests and willing to embark their capital
and take the place of the companies which have
been withdrawn. But time will be requisite to
accomplish all this, and before it could be done,
the navigable season would pass away, the canals
would be idle. the State probably embarrassed in
her for the present year, whilst the re-
ceipts upon the Pennsylvania Road would be pro-
portionably increased from all the trade being
thrown upon it. The numerous high handed acts
already perpetrated by this company are begin
ming to arouse the attention of the people of the
State, and only may hasten the doom that most
certainly will be visited upon it. Pennsylvanians
are not to be bound by the shackles of soulless
corporation, ana we trtSt JDdI tneTe Is YET VII
| tue, liberty, and independence enough in them,
| to uphold the interests and preserve untarnished
the honor Of the old Keystone. From sad expe-
rience they know what it is to contend against a
mammoth monopoly welding pecuniary and pol
itcal power, and we feel satisfied that this expe-
| rience will not be lost upon them. The Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company is yet in its infancy, but
its arrogant assumptions of power, its demands
upon the legislature, and reckless efforts to des-
troy the Improvements of the State must be check
ed at once, long the people of the State will
find that they may have to contend against a MO-
NopoLY in their midst, stretching its Briarean
arms into every County of the Commonwealth,
and welding power the destinies of the
State, greater than ever exercised by the
Bank of the United States when in the plenitude
of its power.
American Convention.
The National Council of Know-Nothings which