Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-04-28
[Frtm the Luzerne Union.]
North Branch Canal Meeting.

tn. North HrGuth C,,nti
Cpl GEORGE ~ EolG sSEAcy, was unau
,aorsly elected President Of the meeting.
The following named gentlemen were aI'-
pointed Vice Presidents
John T. Evcrllart, Xiba Bennett, Isaac ;.
Ostcrhout. DR. Thomas ". Miner, Andre" T.
NrClintock, Sharp d. Lewis, Jameson Harvey,
Washington Lee, Jr James M'Farlane
And Stewart Pierce and Warreq j. Nooti-
ward were appointed Secretaries.
The Object of this meeting was stated by the
President.
MessrS, Geo. W. Woodward, John " Con
vngham, V. l.. Maxwell, Isaac Wood, J. j.
SIocum. \. c. I.anning, l.. u. Shoemaker, :
S. Winchester, Charles Bennett William Z.
Miner, Joel Bowklcy, Charles Dorrance, Calvin
Parsons and C. f. Wright, were appointed
committee to prepare resolutions for the con-
sideration Of the meeting.
The committee, through their Chairman, G.
". Woodward, reported the following resolu-
tions which were adopted.
The completion of the North Branch Canal
from Pittston, nortbward to the boundary line
of the State, is an object Of vast magnitude,
which we. in common with all the citizens OF
Northern Pennsylvania have long anticipated
with unspeakahe desire. That it isa work not
merely of local interest, but Of State and even
of National Importance, will appear to all Who
reflect that il is to establish continuous Eater
communication between the great lakes Of the
North and the Chesapeake Bay-to open up
an easy outlet for the coal and iron Of Penn
sylvania to the markets Of North Western
New York-the Canadas, and all these ample
territories which are denOminated the Great
West to bring lis, and to forward to The sea
board the grain, lumber salt and plaster OF
these regions in exchange for our staples to
awaken into existence over large surface OF
our common country, new sources and elements
of trade and commerce to augment popula-
tion,-to stimulate industry and enterprise-to
widen the basis and multiply the objects of
taxation and thereby improve the public
revenues, while individual burthens are light
ened These are some Of the consequences,
direct and incidental, which we confidently
anticipate from this great work. And we claim
for these anticipations the solid foundation of
recorded history, for no where i'll our own
country or abroad, since the modern era of
internal improvements commenced, has great
thoroughfare of trade, so connected, and so
provided with regular tonnage in coal and iron,
failed to exceed the hopes Of its founders in
proftableness and usefulness The West
Branch Canal will conform to the general law
Eminent in it's opportunities and facilities for
trade, it will pay faster and do more for the
State and Nation, than lis most sanguine
friends have permitted themselves to hope
Yet its history has been one Of delay and dis
appointment.
Remote from the seat Of Government, the
Importance of its early completion has not been
r II 1tl- ~ sotn nd
those in administration Of public affairs. The
work has been several times suspended and
always tardily prosecuted Entrusted necessar-
lily to local agents. the numerous appropriations
of public money have not been judciousiy ap-
piled; and now, after years Of deferred hopes,
aud expenditures large enough to have finished
the work, much remains still to be done to
bring it into navigable condition, and more to
maintain it in that condition. 1t is not our
purpose to enter into any discussion of the de-
fects Of construction or OF the delin9uencics
of public agents. 1t seems to us that the part
of wisdom is rather to repair the errors of the
past, than to make them the subject Of unavail-
ing complaints, and We come together, not TO
lament opportunities lost, but TO improve such
as remain.
At one time doubts were entertained as toa
work, and the Canals of New York, but by the
prompt construction of the Junction Canal, a
few enterpris;ng citizens have diSsipated these
doubts, and given the highest possible express
sion Of their confidence in the practcabilitv
and value of the North Branch Canal The
JunctionrCanal is understood to be finished and
ready to introduce The tonnage Of the North
Branch into the Lakes and Canals of New
IL
iron are ready to I've sent northward the peo-
pie there are moro than ready-most anxious
10 welcome them, and 10 send us their produc-
tions The Canals arc all ready, save only this
long-desrcd and TOO long delayed North Branch
extension but when is it to be ready7 Navi-
cation may be commenced this season, Put we
have reason to apprehend that it cannot be
maintained thorough the drcughts of summer,
without large expenditures for repairs and the
most exact and energetic administration.
The Canal Commissioners, always fayorably
disposed towards this work, cannot by reason
of their distance from it, and their numerous
duties and responsibilities in other parts Of the
State, give it that amount and kind of atten-
ton which it requires The circumstances seem
to demand special agency-a peculiar effort
to complete this work without more delay, and
to exempt the State from these heavy annual
draughts which so exhausted her treasury, and
which are liable to be continued indefinitely if
radical change be not effected in the admins
tration of this branch of our public improve
ments.
Entertaining these views, We have been
pleased to observe that bill has been report
ed and is now pending in the Legislature, the
object Of which is, to place this section of our
internal improvements in the hands of VIM. r.
Maffet, Esq, for a period of years, on terms
and conditions which promise the most salts
factory results We trust that BILL with such
notifications as shall effcctually guard the
public interests and secure the early completion
and steady maintenance of the North Branch
Canal may become law and, for, further