Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-01-23

into successful competition with rival i'm
provements north and south of US, and that il
compels the company to impose higher rates
of charge on the local trade, &c, &c While
there is degree of plausibility in these sug-
gestions, yet il is believed that they are more
specious than sound, when applied to the
matter under discussion So FAR US the pub
lie interests are concerned all these objections
to the continuance of the tax would lie very
easily obviated by the company itself, by sim
ply curtailing their profits.
THE SALE OF THE MAIN LINE.
In regard to the future of the Main Line of
the State Improvements, the Board feel reluc-
tant in making any specific recommendation.
If tie past years experience be regarded as
an index to the future, and the subject be
viewed abstractly as mere question of dol
lars and cents, there would not seem to be
much encouragement. AS has been stated
already, the principal transporters abandoned
the main line in July last. Should this state
OF things continue, it becomes apparent from
comparison of the receipts with the expendi-
lures the past year, that on that portion of the
line west of the junction, the State would be
largely the loser. But will this state of things
be permanent? To arrive at proper con-
clusion of this question, it will be necessary
to look at the causes which produced it. The
most prominent among these, Except the
competition of the Pennsylvania Railroad,
which has already been discussed, ) is the un-
certainty that has been felt among business
men as to whether the State would retain the
ownership of the line. Two successive Leg
islatures have passed bills for the sale of the
main line; and although no sale has been cf-
fected, yet the constant agitation of the sub
ject has deferred capitalists from embarking
in business involving the expenditure Of
thousands, which they had no guarantee
might not be swept from them by the time
they would get fairly into operation. Anoth-
er cause which has contributed no little to-
wards producing the result referred to, was
the old Portage road. liz the active competi-
ton of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company,
the detention incident to the inclined planes
on the old Portage, has operated as a serious
drawback to the transporters on the canal.
This obstruction being now removed, the
change will be sensibly felt by those who may
engage in the business of transportation the
approaching season. The completion of the
new road will very much facilitate the transit
of freight.
The Board, as it has been constituted for
the past three years, have not discussed the
question of the sale Of the main line. For
the reasons which have governed them here
tofore, they will refrain from doing so now
but they would most respectfully suggest that
some definite action should be had, and, if
possible, end put to the suspense which
has been hanging over the matter to the pref
udice of the revenue for the past two or three
years. If the ownership Of the line is to re-
main in the Commonwealth, then policy would
dictate that every effort should be exhausted
to make 1t as productive possible. To this
end it has been suggested that the experiment
be tried of holding out inducements to have il
stocked 1t is alleged that there are parties
willing to do this, if the proper guarantee be
held out. 1t is, therefore, submitted for the
consideration of the Legislature, whether the
passage of an act providing that if companies
should put stock on this line, and the work
should be sold within given time, the par
ties purchasing it should be required to take
the stock at fair appraised valuation, might
not be proper. While it is not perceived that
such an act would, to any extent, embarrass
the sale of the line, should the sale be subse-
quently determined upon, it is alleged that it
men as would secure the stocking of the line
at once This done, ard proper care taken
of the transporters on the canal, in the ad-
iustment of the toll sheet, new life would
vast trade of the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys
which is annually increasing and which must
continue to increase for years to come, would
be carried over the States own improve
ments, and the tolls augmented in CORES
ponding ratio Should the Legislature be
disposed to adopt the policy indicated, it is
suggested that, to make 1t available for the
approaching spring business, action should be
had at an early day
THE CONTRACT.
The contract with Messrs. Bingam q Dock.
for carrying passengers over the Philadel-
phia and Columbia railroad viii expire in
August next As the Supreme Court have
decided, in effect that the Canal Commission
ers have no legal right to enter into such
contract without the concurrence Of the Leg
islaturc, the passenger travel, after that peri
cd, will be thrown open to every one who may
think proper to place cars on the road
Whether the public revenues, or the comfort
of passengers viii be promoted by such an in
discriminate opening of the road, is very ques-
tionable. 1t is, therefore, submitted to the
Legislature whether it is not expedient to
clothe the Board with full power to make such
arrangements for carrying passengers as will
best conduce to an increase of revenue, and
the safety and dispatch of travel
IEsp YraR-The recurrence of leap year