Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-03-26
Central Railroad.

We learn from reliable source that tho
remarks which We made few DAYS since in
reference to the Pennsylvania Central Ro;T
Road CO., although substantially correct did
not embrace the whole and exact truth In
justice, therefore, to the Company and the
! public, we now present what we believe TO be-
the facts
About month since an Agent of the Com
pnny called on the iron men along the Sus-
quehanna and urged them to subscribe to an
agreement binding themselves to ship no iron
westward by canal and to use the Railroad
exclusively. The penalty of refusal was to
be increased rates of freight. which it was
plainly said would be imposed on all who re-
fused to enter INTO the arrangement The
Company well knew that contracts had been
entered into with parties in Pittsburg. and
that the iron must be delivered, at any cost,
before the opening of navigation and, with
this knowledge, they undertook to eoerce the
iron masters into their measures. Many at
first refused, preferring to pay the increased
rates rather than commit so manifest an iniu-
ry to the State But the Company were not
satisfied with this. Daily applications for
cars were met with almost uniform reply.
d" We can't furnish any to-day ;" when, few
hours later, numbers of empty cars would
pass the furnaces, on their way to Pittsburg
having Just been dispatched from the Office TO
which application had been made. Hints
were given, at different times, that signing
the agreement would bring the cars; and
thus several parties were driren into the ar
rangement, under protest. And vet this
Company, which has never ceased its efforts
to cripple the State works and deprecatc their
value, receives almost every year some sub
stantial token of Legislative power Last
year the coal and tax on lumber was taken
off, and vet who ever heard of reduction to
that amount Of the rates of freight? Tho
Company derived almost the sole benefit, and
then showed their gratitude by Withdrawing
several lines from the Canal and reducing its
capacity to accommodate the public. They
are working now in the same way; believing,
with very good reason, that if they can still
further cripple the public works this year,
they can purchase them on their own terms.
We can frd DO proper terms in which to eI-
press our indignation at such conduct, and
We trust the present Legislature viii not over
look IT,
We understand that several enterprisiug
business men have been making arrangements
TO put through lines on the canal the present
season The people and the State are deeply
interested in the success of this enterprise,
and every facility which can be properly Civ
en- by legislation, should be extended =
Thousands Of tons of iron are annually sent
TO Pittsburg from this side of tLs Alieghen-
les, and as the shippers almost invariably
prefer the canal, this large quantity Of back
lading westward viii, itself, greatly encour-
age the enterprise Of which we have spoken.
We have no III feeling towards the Rail
road Company, and would not injure it in its
legitimate business; but its continued machin-
ations against the interests Of the State, we
must now and ever protest against and con-
demn.--H Harris5itrg PGsriot. -t.