Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-04-29
LETTERS PROM HA ARRIsBURGH.
Harrisburg, April 18th, 1857

HARRISBURG, April i'th, 1901.
Ma. Enron OF JOURNAL AS the bill now
before the Legislature for the sale OF the Main
Line of our Internal improvements is attract
ing a good deal of attention, and as this sub
jcct receives additional importance in our es-
timation from the fact, that the late American
Republican convention has made the sale OF
the Main line one of the planks in their plat
form. IL may be well to draw the attention OF
your readers to this subject.
Much might We said about the corruption
connected with the Locofoco management of
our internal improvements but shall deal in
facts and figures for the present The Canal
Commissioners either have not understood
their own reports, or they must have made an
attempt to blind the people in relation to the
working of our internal Improvement SYSTEM
The Main line from Pittsburg to Philadelphia,
although all the freight of the Pennsylvania
Railroad passes over the State road from CO.
lumbia, or from Lancaster TO Philadelphia,
does not sustain itself ; but on the contrary
the taxes, paid into the State Treasury by the
people is in part consumed to keep up this
main line.
The total receipts from the Main line. for the
year 1858, was 81 ,4e5,S13 90
The total expenditures upon the
same, for the same year, were ,26o 20
Loss to the State, or excess of ex-
penditures, in the year 1858 S65Ss s412 W
Total receipts for the year 1854 S1,219, ,909 OF
Total expenditures 90 4" I,S55,2i6 40
Excess of expenditures S635,307 q )
Total receipts for 1855 S1,14.224 33
Total expenditures ss 1,5S5,40i 30
Excess of expenditures S44l,lT9 81
Total receipts for 1856 S1,2i4, OIL Sc
Total expenditures IS 1 ,662 ,429 90
Excess Of expenditures S4ls. .357 "a
Total receipts for 1s5S-5+55-56 s5.O7I, OBS i3
Total expenditures for sc 1,22S,315 Sc
....e .h --.t -
Excess of expenditures S2,154 ,2s7 l3
You see Mr.. Editor, have given Won the ac-
tual working of the system. The people have
had TO pay out of their own pocket, in four
years, to keep up the main line Of her internal
Improvements, the enormous sum of two mil
lions one hundred and fifty-four thousand two o
hundred aud eighty-seven dollars and thirteen
cents. 1t is true portion of this sum was to
construct the new Portage road i. e. 81 $780,
597 6s. of S7,228,3l5 Sc expenditures, but
even taking this of the total which should not
be done, and it leaves a great amount of expen-
ditures above the income.
Now Mr.. Editor, our State debt is upwards
of forty millions of dollars, and it is only a
few hundred thousand less than il was ten
years ago. The amount paid into the Trcasu-
ry of this Commonwealth in the shape OF direct
taxes upon real and personal estate, in those
ten years, is sl4, 1863, ,564 IL. Now sir, have
We, the people of this State, paid into the
| Treasury of the State, fourteen millions OF
dollars towards paying off our debt, and vet
| that debt undimIuished, and the Main line not
| only sinking the interest of the money paid 70!
its construction, but absorbing the direst taxes
/ OF the people, also. Shall this state OF things
! last viii the people continue TO pay, year
( after year, their millions OF dollars, to be ex.
| pended in this way, without diminishing the
| State debt Must this political gambling up
on the honest peoples money be perpetuated |
Are they willing, for the sake of supporting O
party, 10 continue to throw away their money
/ by the million
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company are
anxious for the sale of the main line, and they
wish to become the purchasers, and be reliev.
ed of the tonnage tax. There are now five
bills before the Legislature for the sale of tho
/ Main line. Many of the leading Democrat:
/ seem disposed to make overture of necessity
| and go for the sale.
| Yours truly, CUJUs.