Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-03-28
SALE or TIE MAIN LINE.

The Select Committee of the House has re-
! ported bill for the sale of the Main Line of
| the Public WORKS, which, from the strong ef-
| forts made in its favor, viii no doubt pass.
| We think many of its features are oEjectiona-
ffble, and hope before it becomes a law they
viii be amended. It is rather too liberal in it's
provisions, but it is exceedingly difficult to a.
void, on the sono hand, restrictions that would
destroy allthopes of "a sale, and on the other
too much liberty and too many benefits to the
purchaser. The following is an abstract of the
bill as reported
The 1st section authorizes the Governor to
advertise for proposals to purchase the Nam
Line, from any Road or Canal Company, and
to award the same to the highest and best bid
der on the 1st Of June next.
The I'd section provides that any such com
pany purchasing such works shall be clothed
with all the powers and privileges enjoyed by
the State in their management and improve
ment, and shall be exempt from taxation.
The Sd section provides that ten per cent. of
the purchase money shall be paid down with
in thirty days, and the remainder in ten annu-
al instalments, the first of which shall become
due in twenty years, and shall be payable in
cash State loans at par. These payments
are to be secured by bond and mortgage, bear
ing interestat percent. payable semi-annually.
This section also contains a proUiso, that no
sale shall take place for less than seven mill
ions of dollars, and upon failure to comply
with the terms of sale, that all payments made
at the time of such failure shall be forfeited.
The 9TH section authorizes the extension of
the Columbia Road TO the river Delaware, and
provides that the Company purchasing may al
ter the canal, or any portion thereof, to Q slack
water navigation, and may dispose of any part
of said works to any other corporation which
would have been originally authorized to pur-
chase Procided That said purchasers shall at
all times maintain and preserve q continuous
railroad and canal communication between
Philadelphia and Pittsburg and shall, within
twelve months after receiving possession of
said works, relay the South track of the Phil
adelphia and Columbia Railroad, where the
same has not been laid with heavy rail.
The 5th section provides thatif the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company shall be willing to
pay a sum exceeding seven millions of dollars,
4 III ten IIlc
! shall be payable in ten years from the date of
| the passage of this act, and shall pay interest
and give security therefor, as required in the
| 81 section, the tax now required to be paid by
| them, and the Harrisburg, P Portsmouth, Mount
Joy and Lancaster Railroad Company upon the
! tonnage passing over their roads, shall cease
! And the right of tn Commonwealth to resume
| the Pennsylvania Railroad, as provided for in
| their charter, shall also cease and determine
The 9th section authorizes any association
| of individuals to purchase, if no railroad or
| canal company shall make the offer.
The 7th section pledges the faith of the State
| for the enactment of all such laws as NAV here
after be necessary TO secure the purchasers in
the position now occupied by the State in the
control and management of the Public Works.
| Too LATE-the communication of our friend
Jerry, Come 10 hand just as we were goingto
press. E