Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-01-12

lOr Tie laSI year nave exceeded the revenues OF
1854 by more than $23, ,00O From the abun-
dant crops of the past year, the improved con-
dltion OF the monetary affairs of the country
and the general revival of business, large in
crease in the revenues of the current year may
be confidently expected
The sum of $l6l, ,125 25, has been paid into
the Treasury by the Pennsylvania railroad
company, as the tax on tonnage passing over
their roads This amount largely exceeds the
sum paid by the same companies in 1854.
The Delaware division exhibits satisfacto-
ry result. The total receipts were 1922,
42 expenditures, $G0,097 So; showing net
revenue of 1892, ,575 56. If all our lines of
improvement exhibited similar balance sheet,
the people would have less cause of complaint
and more confidence in the general operation
of the system
There has been a large increase in the busi-
ness and tonnage of the Columbia railroad,
and corresponding increase in the receipts
therefrom. The operations of that part of
the main line from the Junction to Pttsburg
including the Portage railroad, do not present
so favorable result. The receipts have great
ly diminished and were not sufficient to meet
the ordinary expenditures. The revenues from
the main line do not equal the receipts of the
previous years The causes of this reduction
are apparent, and some of them have been
referred to and enumerated 1t is but just to
add that the expenditures on this line have
been much diminished by the avoidance of
some Of the inclined planes on the Portage
railroad
| regret to inform you that the railroad to
avoid the inclined planes on the Allegheny
mountain has not been completed as was con
tdently anticipated. The delay in the com
pletiOn of this work has occasioned much in
convenience to the business of the main line
and a loss to the revenues Of the Common
wealth. The expenditures have largely cX-
ceeded the original estimates for its construc-
ton and although the sum Of $277,730 90
was appropriated at the last session of the
Legislature for the completion OF this work
a sum covering the estimate of the engineer
yet after the expenditure Of the whole amount !
thus appropriated, the road is unfinished and
to complete it, and pay the debts contracted, |
the further sum of $l77 ,573 &c, as now esti
mated by the engineer, will be required. Ell |
ther the estimates have been very careleSsly |
made or large sums of money usclesSly and eX-
travagantly expended in the prosecution of this |
Improvement. As aiding the business of the |
main line, reducing still further its expendi- |
lures and relieving the Treasury from these
constant demands, the announcement of its |
early completion will be hailed with pleasure
by every citizen.
Although the completion of the North |
Branch canal, before the close of navigation,
was certainly expected, yet this expectation
has not been realized. The efforts of the
present Superintendent, Mr. Maflit, during the |
past year, to complete and put in successful |
operation this canal deserve the highest com
mendation. Everything that skill, energy and |
industry could accomplish has been done The |
labor to be performed was great, and render
ed more difficult and perplexing by the imper-
feet and fraudulent construction of the old work
and some portion Of the new. The large guam
tity of rocks trees, stumps and roots placed in |
the bottom of the canal, and the defective ma
terial used in tue cmbankmentS, suffered the |
water to escape almost as rapidly as admitted,
and rendered a reconstruction of the work, in |
many places indiSpensably necessary Its !
successful completion it is hoped will soon be
announced.
1t will appear by the report of the Com
mittee of Ways and Means made to the House |
of Representatives in lS49, that tue entire
amount necessary to complete and put in opera
ton the unfinished portions Of this canal was
estimated at the sum Of 81 ,l06,037 co. The |
amount actually expended on the work since
that period, as appears from the reports of the |
Superintendent, Engineer and Canal Commits |
sonerS, is 81 ,857,31I p, being an excess of
expenditures over the original estimates of
$T5l $40 50 and the canal not yet in opera
ton With such facts before us-such evi-
dence of mismanagement and reckless eXpen-
diture as the history of this canal shows, it is
not matter of surprise that the Commonwealth
and people are burdened with debt and taxa
ton.
In pursuance of the act of the Sth of May
last, providing for the sale of the main line of
the public works, after giving the notice requr
ed by law, caused the same to be exposed TO
public sale, at the Merchants Exchange, in
the city of Philadelphia. No offers were made
and consequently the works remain unsold.
Sealed proposals for the sale or lease of the
main line" were subsequently invited, as di-
rected by the seventeenth section of the said
act and the proposals received are herewith
submitted to the Legislature for their action
and final disposition.
Having on former occasion presented my
views of the propricty and policy of a sale of
this branch of ourpublic improvements repe
tition of the sentiments then expressed becomes
unnecessary. In relation to this subject my
opinion has not changed. On the contrary
the experience of the past, and careful eXami
nation of the question in its economical and po
litical relations, have strengthened and con-
frmed it, That the State should long since
have been separated from the management and
control of these works, the history of their
construction and management clearly demon
strates. Public policy and public sentiment
demand this separation and every cousdera-
ton of present aud future interests requires
their sale The late financial embarrassments
of the country-the imperfect character of
some of the provisions of this bill authorizing