Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-01-13
TO w A n ID A:
satnrnap alorninn, aannarp 10. 1855.
Governors Message.

tn the Honorable the Senator's and Members OF the
Hoyse of Representatives of the General Assembly:
GENTLEMEN
Wills, the events of The year just closed present
many causes ofjoy and congFalulahon, and afford
abundant reason for thankuIness TO benlhcen'
Providence for his goodness and mercy-our pros
perity and happiness as people, regfel 10 say,
has not been unaoyed The general grown ofthe
country. the progress of the ars and sciences, and
opher causes of moral and and social comfort have
not. it is true, been interrupted; bGt the loss Of
valuable lives and property, by the casualties oflhe
elements, has been unusual, both in number and
extent: and in certain sections of our Commor-
wealth The Affections of peslilencs and disease have
also been soreIy felt Nor should we estimate
lightly the sufferings that manifeslly exist amongst
the Door in our cities and towns. The drought of
The season deprived the husbandman, to some ex.
lent of the anticipated rewards OF his labor, and
and essened The means of human subsistence;
Wills The depression in monetary and business af-
fairs. has deprived many laborers and mechanics
oflheir usual earnings. The means OF subsistence
are thus greatly enhanced in value, al the same
same time that the opportunities of earning Them
are much diminished. The field for charity is scon-
seQueny wider than usual and 10 meet its rea-
sonabIe demands on The parl OF those blessed with
abundance, will be 10 sustain the christian charac
ter, and measurably 10 merit the continued bounty
fTIeaven.
The operations of the Treasury for the last year.
will be presented 10 you in detail, by the head of
-
ry, showing steadily increasing revenue from
nearly all The ordinary sources
The aggregate receipts Tor The fiscal year OF 1854
including loans and the balance in the Treasury, on
the 3Ojh November, 1854, amounted 10 the sum of
s6,664,9l2 OF. The gross payments for the same
period, 10 The sum OF S., ,42l 1888 29 leaving a
balance on the 3Oth ofNovember, offs go 929 70
The extraordinary payments consisted of the FOL
lowing Items, TO wit: loans repaid, &235, ,883 40
10 Ihe North B.anch canal S2O6 552 IS; 10 The
construction Of the new railroad over The Allegheny
mountains, siGl 92l O3; to the payments Of deb's
on The public works, $3.50 946 38. OF the balance
remaining in the Treasury, portion is applicable
to the payment Of the State debt, and the remainder
10 current demands.
Inc vi oiulHdIJ ppSldIioHS VI tiS ledS-
NY for The same period, were as follows, 10 wit:
The receipts, exclusive of loans and The balance in
the Treasury on the 3O,h OF November 1858.
allied from permanent sources, amounted 10 The
sum of s.. .2lS ,099 90. The ordinary expenditures
including the interest OF the State debt and all the
payments on The finished lines of the public works
excluding the payments on new works and loans
haiu =
less than the receipts.
This statement may be regarded as the workings
OF the Treasury simpIfed; aud establishing The
gTaifying tact, that The present reliable revenues Of
the State, exceed The ordinary or unavoidable ex-
peudiures over million dollars; and that, re-
lIeVeI from The demands for The constructions Of
new Improvements, the Treasury could pay mil
hon or more ofthe public debt annually. It will
also be perceived thai The income from these sour
ces is steadily increasing. For instance, in 1916,
with lhe State lax at present rates, and the same
extent OF Improvements in Rse, with neatly all the
present sources ofIevenue in operation, the gross
receipts amount TO but lille over three and half
millions
No more reliable estimate Of The operations of
ed in the result. for 1851. The ordinary receipts
may be safely estimated al a million of dollars |
ABOVE the unavoidable expenditures portion OF |
this excess will be required TO complete the new
Portage railroad aul The Nor'h Branch canal; and
the remainder should be faithfully applied toward |
The payment of the S!a,e debt
Ihe aggregate receipts on !he public works for
n
sIoneTs amounted TO the sum OF 81 S76 O7S 90
and The expenditures 10 the sum aiS1, 101 $40 81
leaving balance OF STA sos 81, from which,
however, should be deducted lie sum of &37 900,
properly chargable 10 the year, for new locomotives
dnl oher unavoidable xpendures-hus reducing
We net profits 10 S736, 608 81. II we add TO this,
1881 900 90 received from the Pennsylvania rail |
'oal company for the three mill tax, which is |
canned by some as part OF the income from the |
P'ohc works, we find net revenue of Ss67 900 |
sun equal 10 the interest on seventeen millions
'Ae I've per cent. debt OF the State The aggre
saS receipts were S57, 121 less than for the year
I'''' and the reduction in expenditures amount 10
wei wei Sl59, ,287,OO The withdrawal OF The business
s'"e Pennsylvania railroad from The Portage road
# . .! aCcOuNts Tor ms difference
''e"ed IN every aspect, This exhibit is crafty
- re" similar systems of improvement in the
-"'! can present more favorable picture. Some
"e"' IN other States, have recently been re
.''ea 10 condition of virtual insolvency The
''S'e OF business on the State works for The two
:. ?eS'S, has exceeded our anticIpaons and but
:, NC necessity which seems TO exist for a reduc.
wa Of tolls 10 meet surrounding competition. the
"us would have been largely increased. The
So~ ~s''' movement now on loot amongst railroad
rsi.' ipaues' 10 advance these rates, may perhaps, |
"e STATE 10 some extent in this respect. |