The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-01-11
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GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
TO The Honorable the Senator'S and Memters OF
iAe House 81 Representatives. Of tie General
AssembT

e --sNsss, 4 -~ A
To tie Honorable the Senator's and Members of
ne House cf Representatives. Of tie General
Assemby:
, CEsrLEMEs :--Whiist the events of the
year just closed, present many causes fjoy
and congratulaiion, aud afford abundant rea-
son for lhankfulness 10 benifcent Pfoyi.
dencs for his goodness and mercy--onr
prosperity aud happiness, as a people, re-
gretIo say, has net been unaloyed. The
general growth of the country, the progress
ofihe arts and sciences, aud other causes of
moral and social comfort, have not, it is
true, beeu interrupted /; but.the loss of yalu.
able lives agd property, by the casualties Of
the elem enis, has been unusual, both in
numterand extent and in certain sections of
our Commonwealth the Affections of pest-
lence and disease have also been sorely felt.
Eor shoud We estimate lightly the suffering
that manifettly exists amongst the poor in
our cities and towns. The drought of the
season deprived the husbandman, TO some
extent, Of the anticipated rewards ofhis la.
Dor, aud lessened the means of human sub.
'tisteuce whilst the depression in monetary
and business affairs, has deprived many la.
borers aud mechanics Of thet usual earn
ines. The means of Subsistence arc thus
greatly enhsLched ingalue, at the same time
that the opportunities of earning them are
much diminished The field for charity Is
consequently wider than usual; and TO inert
"a. l>la Iar ND ,,,t ho ~ oG fhae
blessed with an abundance, will be 10 sus-
tain the chrisiian character, aud measurably
TO meri, the continued bounty of Heaven.
The operations of the Treasury for The as,
vesr will be presented 10 you in detail, BY
,hs head Of that department. The results are
highly satisfactory, showing a steadily in
creasing revsnue from nearly all the ordina.
~ sources.
, The aggregate receipts ior The fiscal year
Of 1854, iucludirg loans and the balance IN
the Treasury, on the 30Ih OF November, 49,
SO, amounted To the sum of S6,665,9I2 OF
The gross payments for the same period 10
the sum OF s., ,424,9s3 90; leaving balance
on The Both of November, of si,240.s29 72.
The extraordinary payments consisted of
the following itenis, TO wit: loans repaid,
s235,sss 40; 10 the North Branch canal,
s206, ,552 &c 10 the construction of tae new
railroad over the Allegheny mountains,
!. e46l,9 03; 10 the paymenl of debts on
the public works ,s3s9,9i6 50. or the bal
ancs remaining in the Treasury, portion is
applicable 10 The payment of The Stale debt,
and remainder to current demands.
The simple, or ordinary operations of The
Treasury for the same period were as fol-
lows, TO wit The receipts, exclusive of loans
and the balance in the Treasury on The Both
of November, 1888, realized from perma.
nent sources, amounted 10 The sum Of S., ,2lS,-
.O99 90. The ordinary expenditures, incln-
dnghe interest on the Sale debt and ali the
payments on the finished lines Of the public
wo'ks, exSiadina the spaymenis on new
works and loans, amounted TO Si,ll6,744 81 /:
being 81, I0i, ,490 IS less than the receipts.
This statement may be regarded as the
workings of The Treasury simpli6ed; and as
establishing the gratifying fact, !ha! the pre-
6GHt IclihOiO Vi luO GkutSt ShGSCd
she ordinary or unavoidable expenditures,
over a million OF dollars and that, relieved
from the demands for the construction Of
new improvements, the Treasury could pay
million or more OF the public debt annual
ly. twill also be perceived tha, tho in
come from these sources is steadily increa-
sing. For instance in 1916, with the State
tax at preasen, rates, and tho same extent of
Improvements in use, with nearly all tho
presen, sources OF fevenue in operation, the
gross receipts amounted 10 but little over
three and balf millions.
Ne mose reliab!e estimate OF the opera
tion of The Treasury tor 1885 can be made,
than is furnished 10 the results for 1854
The ordinary receipts may be safely eslima-
ted al million OF dollars above The una
voidsble expenditures. portion of this
excess will he required to com pele the new
Podase railroad, and tho North Btsnch
canal and the remainder should be faith
fully applied towards Ihe puymea, Of the
State debt.
The aggregate receipts m the public
works for The past year, as reported by The
Canal Commissioners, amounted 10 tho sum
oi s1s76,f7s IS; and the expenditures 10
the sum of 81, 1oi $40 81 leaving balance
of s77i,5os 81; from which, however,
should be deducted tho sum of S37, go,
properly chargeable 10 the year, for new
locomotives aud other unavoidable expendi.
tules-lhus reducing the net profits 10 $780,
COS 81. II we add to this si3i ,oeo 90 re-
-ceived from the Pennsylvania railroad com.
pany for the three mill tax, which is claimed
by some as part of the income from the
public works, We find net revenue OF
ss67-0oO; sum equal 10 the interest OH
seventeen millions Of the five per cent, debt
of the State. The aggregate receipts were
s57, ,i2i less than for the year 1883, and the
reduction in expenditure announced TO over
si59,2S7 90. The withdrawal of the busi.
ness Of the Pennsylvania railroad from the
Portage road, readily sccoun,s for this dit.
ference.
Viewed in every aspect, this exhibit is
gratifying. Few similar syslons Of improve
ment in the country can present mora ia
vorable picture. Some of Them, IN other