Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-07-25
TE r. NJ s.:
orrespoaderce Of the Daily Neses. ]
THE MAIN LINE,
HARR1spunG, July 4. 1856

HARRIsBURG, July 4. 1850.
Mr.. ED1roR s-As perceive, your valua-
BILE journal is not in the employ of the Central
Railroad Company, permit me through it's
columns to call the attention of the people OF
Pennsylvania to the recent outrage on their
interests committed by the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company.
Their great chain of Improvements, connec-
ting the Delaware and the Ohio-improye'
ments which coz. the State over $15 900, OOo,
which have built up tho cities of Philadelphia
and Pittsburg, which have immensely promo
ted the interests of the State, and have al
ways peen regarded as the proudest monu-
ment of the wisdom and enterprise of the
Commonwealth, has been abandoned-given
up to delapidation and decay crowds of boats
are no longer seen on the canal, and the still
ness of the night, and our quiet slumbers, are
no longer disturbed by the discordant notes of
the boatman7s horn. The Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company has triumphed; all competition
between the State improvements and the
Railroad for the immense freights between the
East and West, is at an end and the Railroad
Company, by short cut, has realized the
consumation of its longing desires, "a monop-
oily of the carrying trade detween the East
and the West.
To accomplish this object. the company has
been laboring for several years, and without
any very punctilious regard to the means
used The Company had done little moro
than effect an organization, when it commen-
ced praying the Legislature to repeal the five
mill tonnage tax. It was reduced to three
mills. But this generous reduction by the
State was not sufficient. The Company next,
though it's subsidized press, and by its officers
and satellites, began to importune the Legis-
lature to sell this chain of improvements.
There was nothing said against the Delaware,
the Susquehanna, the North and West Branch
Divisions no proposition was brought for
ward in the Legislature to sell these, or any
of these Divisions. That was entirely unne-
cessary Whether they were productive of
revenue or not, honestly managed or not. was
a matter Of not the slightest consequence
These divisions of the State improvements did
not come in competition with the Pennsylvan-
Ia Railroad, and the State might therefore.
with propriety, be PERMITTED to retain them.
But general hue and cry were raised against
the Main Line the cry of corruption and bad
management, that they were unproductive,
that they were and must ever be burden on
the treasury and tbs people; that if not sold
kbaxx L.
less. utterly destroyed by the Railroad. and
that then the State would not be able to sell,
or even give them away; the press in the in
terest of the Company from one end of the
State to the other. from the organ of the Com
pany 1.-The North American" down to the
little eight by ten sheets in the country, with
the free tickets of the Company in the pockets
of their editors the officers and their outside
partners and dependents. from the President
down to the runners of the road, joined in the
cry and swelled the chorus.
Many of the members of the Legislature,
with free tickets, de-, IN their pockets, were
easily persuaded that utter ruin and bank
ruptcy would speedily overwhelm the State, if
this Main Line was not Immediately sold. and
certain provisions in the Company's charter
touching the three mill tax, &C., were not re-
peaied, and. accordingly, the bill of 1854 for
the sale. &C., fixing the minimum at 5 10, 900,
600. was passed. But the Company, encour-
aged by their success, and believing from the
then state of the money market, that no COM
pany could be found to complete with it for
the Line, resolved that it would not bid. and
published its resolution, with report careful
ly drawn up depreciating the value Of these
improvements. and thereby deterring others
also from bidding. 1t was wisely considered
that if no sale should take place, by again
raising the hue and cry of corruption and bad
management, &c., a much more favorable bill
for the Company. could be obtained. Th.
event showed the sagacity of the Company
No sale took place and now more favorable
pnl for the sale. and for less sum must be
p''a'ned, Notwithstanding the new Allegheny
I0,sage Road. at great cost to the State,
"' ~ the mean time been nearly completed,