Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-01-13

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on SIX millions OF the public debt, and to 20 per
expenditure tor new works.
The North Branch canal and The Columbia rail.
! road also present favorable results. The business
and tolls on the former have increased with lark
ed rapidly and the management on both these
branches bear the marks Of SIX and economy
The expenses on the Allegheny Portage road have
been largely reduced, and the business better reg
ulated than al any former period. AS whole,
feel constrained 10 say, that, the condition of The
public works have been improved during the last
year; in no particular 10 so valuable an extent, as
in The matter of contracting debts, which il seems
has been almost entirely avoided. The officers on
The respective lines report that they have paid all
expenses; and some of them have gone so far as
TO say 10 the Canal Board thai they will be person
ally responsible for any debts tha, may hereafter
be discovered This is truly great reform-ior
nothing has costthe State so much, as The pernici
Gus practice OF making debts OF. The public works :;
still think II should be inerdc,ed by positive
law.
In my last message gave my views al length,
as 10 the principles and rules that should control in
the management OF the State Improvements, and
need not repeat them in this / would respectfully
suggest, however, that so much of The law as binds
the Canal Commissioners 10 fixed rate of tolls for
the whole season, should be repealed The Off
GERS directing The operations of The public works
should, il seems 10 me- be left free 10 meet the ex-
igencies in trade and commerce, as they may
arise.
The work on The Mountain railroad has progress
sed slowly, and il is obvious that il will not be ful
ly completed before the summer OF 1855 must
confess myself sadly disappointed as 10 The time
and money consumed in The construction of this
work. The expenditures, since came into office,
have greatly exceeded the whole amount eslim a;ed
as necessary to complete the line, and yet, is
but justice 10 say that the Pennsylvania RAILROAD
lying parallel h il, has still larger sum per
mile
Lhaye endeavored, during my service, 10 guard
against the commencement of schemes OF this or
any o;her character, 10 entail future liabilities on
tie Treasury This ought TO be the settled policy
of the State. No new Improvements should be un
derlaken, upon any prclex whatever. The pay.
menl OF the debt, and that only, should absorb the
surplus revenue OF The treasury If this pccy be
pursued, no olEer financial scheme, TO pay The
debt, will be necessary. The large annual surplus
will reduce The States Indebtedness with sufficient
rapidi'y.
regret, exceedingly, the necessity of announc-
ing 10 you that the North Branch Canal is not yet
IN uI operation 1t is now more than year sIuce
the Canal Commissioners directed the water TO be
let into the main trunk of that improvement, and
declared heir confident belief, that it would be in
succtsslul operation by the middle OF last summer
but their sangune expectations, as well as those
OF The people, have, in this respect been sadly dis
appoined. variety OF unforeseen difficulties
presented themselves in the way OF the attainment
OF this end The Old work, construed some Twelve
OF fifteen years since, well as some sections OF
the new, located on the hill side, near The mrrgn
OF the river, when tested by the admission of waller
turned out 10 be porous, and totally insufficient in
lis material and formation. In some ns tances
rocks, roofs trees and slumps have been concealed
under the bottom OF The canal channel, covered
only BY a few inches OF earth thus presenting but
sligh, obstruction 10 the passage Of the water on,
into the bed OF tie river. This is especially The
case in much of The old work, in all such sections
OF places, no remedy, short OF reconstruction OF
the bottom Of The canal, could prove snfficeul;-
and This was necessarily a tedious and expensive
process There is sill considerable portion of
The work 10 remodel in this way but it is conf
dently believed that il will be ready Tor use in the
early part OF the coming season. That the uimos,
skill and vigilance has al all times been exhibited
by the agents OF the Safe, on this line, do not be-
Iieve; but The deficiency, in this particular on the
new work, has not been so Palpabe as alleged by
some. Indeed, since May last, great energy has
characterized The management on this line The
Presiden, Of the Canal Board having devoted much
of his time to personal supervision Of this work
But it is obvious, no degree OF capacity in the
States agents, for The last year, could have over
come all The difficulties lha, were encountered with
sufficient celeriy, 10 have entirely satisfied public
expectation.
A, The time came into Office the sum necessa
ry to complete this work was estimated al S772,-
600. Since that time the sum OF 81 2o6, $50 80
has been expended, and il will still require, as es.
lmaied by the Canal Board $50 900 10 put ii into
complete operation
W H'ls 'e Sc 'i'iS uhioieSeeH coe' aHu u0i"J1
cannot refrain from repeating my unfaltering con-
fdence in The wisdom of The policy thai dictated
the completion OF this work. The large increase
Of business and tolls for the year just closed, The
older portion OF the line, indicates what we may
safely anticipate from the new and cannot doubt
that The gross amount oi business il will command,
and The revenue il will yield, will exceed The most
sangnine expectations of lis advocates The mex
hauslible mines OF coal wiih which hist section of
the Stale abounds, The products of which are des.
tined 10 pass through this avenue 10 llmiiless
Market will furnish ior its never failing supply Of