Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1857-08-19

alone,sbut the whole of it would be clear in
crease of the business of the Penn'a. Rail
Road, for not one foot Of 1t saoao passes ouer
that road.
In ascertaining the facts which your Com
mittee set forth, we will state that we have
been extremely careful in getting the proper
data, and that we set nothing down which
the figures did not more than warrant US to
do. Our estimate of coal is made on the
basis, that there is now consumed in Ebens-
burg 80, 600 bushels of coal, at a cost of
from s to 10 cents per bushel. Were the
branch made, it could be delivered at cents.
Our facilities for establishing planning mills,
sash, door and blind factories, are fully equal
to any in the State, and that capital would be
invested in them, is undoubted. These man
ufactories would consume large quantity of
fuel, and, therefore, we think our coal esti-
mate is much below the mark. z
Our lime estimate, we think also low
Our land here is of that character, which is
greatly improved by limeing. and needs it
badly, and the only reason which has preven-
| ted our farmers from using it to any extent,
is its extremely high price Lime cannot be
delivered here for less than thirty cents per
bushel mo,c !; but, were the Road constructed, !,
it would be sold at least for half that sum.
The increase in Hemlock is estimated from
the fact, that by the present facilities for
shipping, it does not pay, when, with Rail
road connections, it always does. That the
estimate is low can be judged by the in
stance, that a single firm, Chat of the Messrs.
Whites, ) manufactured over million feet,
during the last year. From the foregoing it
will be perceived, that your Committee hare
been careful not to oyerestimate. We pre-
fered keeping much below the mark, and we
feel satisfied, from the experience of other
Roads, that, should the one contemplated be
built, our estimate of increase VIII be found
to be extremely low.
In our passenger estimate, we take the ae-
tual figures of the hackInen The number
of passengers who have travelled in the hacks
alone, within the last three months, is3, ,269.
Add one-tenth that number tor persons, who
have travelled by other conveyance, and We
have total of $3.50; which makes the tota
travel, in year, taking the last threce months
as an average, 1874. We have put i
IA 900 even. We have only estimated tn.
increase of passenger travel at one-half tht
present number. Few that we have converset
with are willing to put it SO low, and wher
we take into consideration, the fact that trave
always increases in proportion to its facilities
we feel certain that we could safely doubl
the number.
Thus far we have endeavored to show that
, from the amount of freight and travel whicl
would naturally pass over the road, it mus
} prove paying investment TO the stockholders
} 1t remains to prove that it would be an ad
vantage to the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
} lpany to aid in the construction of this branch
We would urge the following as reasons.
, 1t would largely increase the amount {
freight and fare received now by the road
for the increase of freight above noted, woul
be clear gain to the road, as no,c none
= y this can be shipped at a profit, nor can
y likely for years to come, without an increas
y of railroad facilities, such as we here seel
And, rceolleef the figures above do not e,
n press the gains to the Pennsylvania Railroa
Company; for the greater portion of I'll
q freight would be shipped many miles ov'
y their road, giving them this additional prof
In relation to passengers, it must not
n overlooked, that the greater portion of Il
y travel, al least two thirds, would be from Il
: West, giving to the Pennsylvania Railro;
y the additional profit of this number, passir
6 over the ten miles of their road, betwet
y Wilmore and Cresson.
: 1t is admitted by all conversant with Il
= facts, that American energy and capital Cal
i not overlook the immense mineral resourc
:, OF the Blackhck region, greater perhaps tn
, any portion of our State, if not our Uniol
~ and when that day arrives, which cannot
y distant, we shall then be nine miles on o
'e way to the developement of this source
wealth Nor must we forget. that the col
N pletion of this portion of the road will rapid
~ ~ hasten this anticipated event.
~ In conclusion, your Committee would
N turn their thanks to Mr.. Kerby, the gent
~ ~ manly agent of the Pennsylvania Railroa
~ ~ for his kindness in permitting them to exa
~ ~ inc his books, and thus enabling them to
~ tain reliable data.
% All of which is respectfully submitted. q
~ your Committee ask to be discharged.
D. w. LEWIS, }
f. ROBERTS, Committe