The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-01-11
l.OYERNOR,S MESSAGE.


eraL Assembly:
GENTLEMEN Whilst the events of
the year just closed, present many causes
of Joy and congratulation, and afford "a
bundant reason for tEankfulness to a be-
nefcent Providence for his goodness and
mercy-our prosperity and happiness, as
a people, [ regret to say, has not been un-
alloyed. The general growth of the coun
try, the progress of the arts and sciences,
and other causes of moral and social COM
fort, have not, it is true, been interrupt
&c; but the loss of valuable lives and prop
erty, by the casualties of the elements,
has been unusual, both in number and
extent; and in certain sections of our Com
monwealth the Affections of pestilence and
disease have also been sorely felt. Nor
should we estimate lightly the suffering
that manifestly exists amongst the poor
in our cities and towns. The drought of
the season deprived the hush andman, to
some extent, of the anticipated rewards
of his labor, and lessened the means Of
human subsistence; whilst the depression
in monetary and business affairs, has de-
prived many laborers and mechanics Of
their usual earnings. The means of sub
sistence are thus greatly enhanced in val
ue, at the same time that the opportuni-
ties of earning them are much diminish
ed. The field for charity is consequent
ly wider than usual, and to meet its rea-
tsonable demands on the part of those
blessed with abundance, will be to sus-
tain the christian character, and meas
uraLly to merit the continued bounty of
Heaven.
The operations of the Treasury for the
last year, will be presented to you in de-
tail, by the head of that department. The
results are highly satisfactory, showing
steadily increasing revenue from nearly
all the ordinary sources.
The aggregate receipts for the fiscal
year Of 1854, including loans and the bal
ance in the Treasury, on the 3Oth No
vember, 1853, amounted to the sum of
Sc, ,664,91 Oh. The gross payments for
the same period, to the sum of $5,424,-
9S3 %; leaving balance on the Both of
! November, of Sl'240,9 ,929 70.
The extraordinary payments consisted
of the following items, to wit: loans re-
paid, s235, 1888 40; to the North Branch
Canal, s2O6,552 76; to the construction
of the new railroad over the Allegheny
, mountains, S46I ,92l 03; to the payment
of debts on the public works, S3s9,94
80. OF the balance remaining in the
Treasury, portion is applicable to the
payment of the State debt, and the re-
, mainder to current demands.
The simple, or ordinary operations of
= the Treasury for the same period, were
as follows, to wit: the receipts, exclusive
Of loans and the balance in the Treasury
on the 30th of November, 1853 realized
from permanent sources, amounted to the
sum of S5,218,099 90. The ordinary ex-
: penditures, including the interests on the
finished lines of the public works, ex-
Guiding the payments on new works and
loans, amounted to s4,116,744 "a; being
l 81 ,1Ol AGO Is, less than the receipts.
This statement may be regarded as the
workings of the Treasury simplifed; and
as establishing the gratifying fact, that
the present reliable revenues of the State,
exceed the ordinary or unavoidable ex-
penditures, over 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 annually. 1t will also be
perceived that the income from these
sources is steadily increasing. For in
stance, in 1s46, with the State tax at
present rates, and the same extent of i'm
provements in use, with nearly all the
present sources of revenue in operation
: the gross receipts amounted to but little
:, over three and half millions.
No more reliable estimate Of the opera,
tons of the Treasury for 1855 can be
made, than is furnished in the results for
Il 1854. The ordinary receipts may be
g safely estimated at million of dollars a.
Q bove the unavoidable expenditures. A
: portion Of this excess viii be required tc
e complete the new Portage railroad, and
the North Branch Canal; and the remand
er should be faithfully applied toward th'
If payment of the State debt.
1t The aggregate receipts on the public
works for the past year, as reported b!
{, the Canal Commissioners, amounted L
the sum of 81 ,07o 90; and the ex
C pendtures to the sum of Sl,l0l, $40 Sd
( leaving a balance of S774,506 "a, frou
"a which, however, should be deducted th'
D. sum of $37 900, properly chargeable t.
the year, for new locomotives and othe
D. unavoidable expenditures-th thus reducing
n the net profits to S736, COS 81, If We ado
d to this, Sl31 900 90 received from th'
al Pennsylvania railroad company for th
IN three mill tax, which is claimed b.
p, some as part of the income from th'
sh public works, we find net revenue
he 1867 900; sum equal to the interes
re on seventeen millions of the five per cent
debt of the State. The aggregate re
ceipts were $57 ,12l less than for the yea
is 1863, and the reduction in expenditure
,e amounted to over $l59, ,2s7, 90. Th
at withdrawal of the business of the Penn
rv sylvania railroad from the Portage road
r I'll i