Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-04-21
PROPOSITION IN REGARD TO THE NJ B. CANAL


ate, a bill providing for the appointment for ten
years of Superintendent of the North Branch
extension of the Pennsylvania canal, with a
salary of ten per cent. of the nett receipts of
the work, and has named WM r. MAFFET,
Esq, the present Superintendent and Engineer,
for the appointment.
We publish this bill in full below, that our
readers may judge for themselves of the pro-
position. We have no doubt that any mca-
sure will be received with favor by the people
of the North, which will ensure the immediate
and thorough completion of the Canal, and its
proper management after it is in use, and which
at the same time shall conduce to the interests
of the Commonwealth.
There is no question but that the radical de-
fects in the management of the public works of
this Commonwealth, arise from the want of
individual responsibility in those to whom their
care is intrustcd This proposition of Mr..
BUcKALEw's s will obyiate so far as the North
Branch is concerned, that great evil We
have every confidence in the capacity, expert
ence and energy of Mr. MAFFET, and feel GER
tanty that if confidcd to his care, all that hui
man cXertion or skill can accomplish will be
done to place the North Branch in good repair
| and keep it so. At the same time, we would
have the interests of the State carefully guard
| ed, and no advantage given, except what can
be secured by the Superintendent, from his
energy and economy in managing the work.
The PottsrjHc Register comments upon the
| bill of Mr.. BUcKALEw as follows :-"The idea
of Mr.. Buckalew appears to be, to place the
Superintendent of the North Branch cxtcn-
sion in the hands of an individual, with such
| an interest in the clear profits as will make it
an object to the Superintendent to make the
work profitable to the State as well as to him
self. That individuals can manage such bust
ness better than than the salared officers of
! Corporations, is principle well ascertained in
Schuylkil county, and we rejoice at this recog-
milton of the truth in the bill under considcra-
| ton.
For the first ten years, the expenditures of
| the Canals of the State, exceeded the revenue
by about one million of dollars, as shown by
the statement of the Auditor General and State
Treasurer to the Legislature last year, and it
appears to us that the experience shows it adj
visable to test the principle of individual man
agement, responsibility and particpations in
the profits, in the management of those canals,
in contrast with the old mode.
"This Mr. Buckalew proposes to do and holds
out to the Superintendent to be appointed
under his proposed law, the prospect that, by
making the North Branch Canal pay clear
profit of nine dollars to the State he shall earn
one dollar for himself In the present condition
of that Canal, such task does not present a
very hattering prospect. Owing to the material
through which the Canal passes the attempt
to fill it with water has hitherto been unsuc-
cessful, and for that reason and also by reason
of its defective construction, it is exposed to
frequent breaches and land slides, difficulties
which will doubtless require the utmost skill
and energy of the Superintendent to surnount
But against these obstacles we would oppose
the Schuylkill county idea of individual enter
prise, which has been here fully tested and
found amply sufficient for similar emergencies
Weare acquainted with the gentleman NAM
ed by Mr.: Buckalew for Superintendent He
is the present Superintendent, has the necessary
experience, soundness of judgment skill and
energy, to accomplish whatever the exigency
of the case may require, short of actual i'm
possibility. A Pennsylvania by birth and
residence, he has the confidence of the whole
people of the District through which the Canal
passes, and the respect of all who are acquaint-
ed with him in the State