The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-01-19

minimum is said by some to be too high. and
the failure TO sell, regarded as the consequence.
Others attribute the absence of bidders, to the
condition Of the money rnarket-to the strin-
gent restrictions imposed upon The law and to
the efforts that had been previously made to dis
parage the value ofthe line. But IT is obvious
that more than one of these causes NAV have
operated; and a greater than all may have
been, the hope Of getting this property on bet
ter terms, at future time. ! feel very conf
dent that the latter consideration was not with
out its infnencp. But, be this as il may, il is
cestainly wiser 10 fail to sell from any one Of
these causes. than to hazard the works in the
market, without any restriction or limitation as
to price or conditions. A bad sale would as
spredy be greater misfortune, than no sale at
all.
The benefits resulting TO the. people from
these improvements, have been numerous and
Diversified. They have facilitated trade and
commerce stimulated productive industry in
every department: and have not only enabled
the farmer to reach ready market with the
fruits Of his labor, bnt have furnished convent
ent outlets for the rich mineral treasures ofthp
State w ithont them, the miner would be de-
priyed OF his occupation, the transporter be left
in helpless deStitution, and the Commonwealth
! Itself Be permitted to retain parsimonious pos
session Of vast masses of natural and uuproduc-
! tive riches. Our predecessors were wise 10
opening these avenues to trade and commerce.
and if we wish 70 be rated wise hereafter, We
shall not rashly and hastily throw away The ad-
vatagpS oil their future use. This use, to the
| fnfl egtpnt in the event OF a sale, can only be-
secured 5y JEALOUS protection Of The right Of
/ the people to enjoy it. The very first condi-
iloDs OF such meaSure should be, that the works
and every branch Of them, BE- Kept at all tres
( in good order and in operating condition, and
remain forever public highways, for the use
/ at al persons who NAV wish TO transport goods
or merchandize over them, upon rates not great
4 er than those charged upon other similar i'm
provements. No corporation should get pos
session of these valuable avenues, on such con-
I dronS as would enable ii 10 impose unreaSona-
! BE burhenS oB the internal trade and tonnage
/ Of the State, or in anv way to encroach upon
/ the rights of the individual citizen. To obvate
snees resnls, the powers, privileges and rrstric-
/ tons OF any corporation getting the works,
i shoRld be ninutely defined. Past experience
/ sug&ests these prudential counseIs sAer-we have
soits&sSeeu 10 ills State, how tsss8Ssat it's 10
confne the operations of these artificial bodies
within the limits prescribed by the law; and
We should not fail 70 profit BY the lesson.
/ BY the 29th section of The act Of the 9th of
/ Nav last, providing for the ordinary expenses
! OF government and other purposes, Nlmrod
/ Strickland, Of Chester county, john y. Pnrvi-
ance, OF Butler county, and John Strohm, 7i
Lancaster county, wele named as commissioners
] TO settle certain claims and debts against the
/ Commonwealth. 1t was also made the duty Of
the Governor 10 supply, by appointment, any
vacancy IN this commission which mIghtoccttr.
Fhr gentlemen already named have declined 10
serve. accordingly appointed William w.
Williamson, OF Chester county, William En-
gilsh, OF Philadelphia, and John {. Magill, OF
/ Westmorrand county, IN their stead.
a ter tedious and laborlous investigation,
these gentlemen have completed the duty as
signed to them, and the rtSuft VIII be commu-
nlcatrd to YOU, IN detail IN tne1f own report.
regret 10 perceive that tnP accounts so eX-
| ami1ed and settled, exceed the amount OF TIE
appropriation nearly Sl90,0o0. IT IS well,
/ however, to see the end OF claims OF thls Char
actrr and having accomplished thiS' II VIII or
prudent to guard against tAe recurrence OF
siHnar state OF affairs. indeed, tne PractIce OF
contracting debts on the pubic works, should
be at once and forever abandoned. II mas been
a iFoItni source Oh confusion IN tnp accounts
u not OF paiPaoe wrong upon 'hr treasury
be tigit to scatter me ete0't % me Con'ioh-
"raHn IN ''''s onSoar"ea way - venture 70
assert Without faraiiei N Tue i'ahd2F'ieHt q
Pu2lc aHa'Fs. u Tue many 0e'ee'S III 'ne S{s-
lem oil managing 'hf state improvements '"is
l.as hfPn 'i'e "osl p'oo"olse q e'i' :" ~.
hrs'' as aso IN ny 'aS' dlluaI ''iessdg' ll'os'
eaInFS'ls oi'a .,'F oPis'd, 1sss','"S ~ - p'ol
Fiu@, oy raw ''a' 10 oe"' s''oU" oe 'a0.,"
ov lhe oiHcerS on lhe puolc WORKS .-'oat 'He