Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-01-08

Ply s.zg
ordinary expenditures, ,l35, ,004 dollars net
revenue (excluding extraordinary payments
/ and for motive power) 81 OH dollars.
On the main line the tolls received at the
Treasury from the Columbia road. were 99l,-
6fO dollars 90 cents expenditures 629 ,084
sc; tolls the eastern division of canal,
from Columbia to the junction. ll9,7l8 36 ::
/ expenditures, 53,048 SO; receipts from the
junction to Pittsburg, including the Portage
Railroad, 1918 90; ordinary expenditures
/ 3O4,7O2 %. The total receipts on the main
line were ,229, ,272 Sc; aggregate expendi-
lures, (excluding 267 900 paid for reaying
the south track of the Columbia Railroad,
and 1885, ,Oi9 42 for motive power in 1855, and
after December lst, 1885, were 885, ,S35 IS,
/ beng an excess of revenue over ordinary ex-
penditures of 343, ,437 81.
/ Although the receipts from the Delaware
! division are less than those of the previous
year, yet the general result of its operations
/ is satisfactory. The net revenue at the trea-
sury was 264, ,095 40. Its management has
} been characterized by Il degree Of economy
! too seldom practiced on some Of the lines of
our improvements.
| However important this division may be to
the trade and business Of that portion Of the
! State, its proposed enlargement should not be
undertaken, unless demanded by reasons of
overriding necessity The experience Of the
past as connected with the Allegheny Port.
age Railroad, and the North Branch cxten-
sion, should warn US against undertaking,
! without great caution, any new measure of
/ improvement which may drain the treasury,
without aiding materially, if at all the public
interests. If kept in good order by efficient
and timely repairs, It's capacity will be fully
! oil Tl,a Il Il, 10 o,,l
siness.
The Portage railroad is not fully completed
A small additional appropriation may yet be
required to complete, for the fourth time, this
road. 1t is anxiously hoped that this unpro-
ductive improvement may soon cease its cor
morant demands upon the treasury. Every
years experience more clearly reveals the
impolicy of the State in undertaking this
work
1t gives me no ordinary pleasure to inform
you that the North Branch extension of the
Pennsylvania canal has been so far completed
that boats freighted with coal and ether pro-
ducts, were successfully passed through it's
entire length from Pittston to the junction
canal. This work was commenced in 1886
suspended in ISil--resumed in 1919. and
finished in 1886; although its completion was
officially announced IN 6j3 1t extends from
PittstoH to the Ncw York State line, dis
tance of about ninety four miles. following
the valley of the Susquehanna IL Athens
and thence along the Chelnung river to the
State line, where it. joins the Junction canal"
and is thus connected with the New York
i'm prOvemcnts.
The importance and value Of this improve
ncnt cannot easily be over estimated Pas
sing through one of the richest mineral and
| agricultural portions of the State, it offers to
the immense and valuable products Of that
region, safe and cheap transit to the mar
kets of New York, Baltimore, and Phiadel,
phia. In the completion Of this canal the
difficulties 10 be overcome, and the labor TO
Dc performed, were great. Both these, 70 q
great extent, have been mpiIshed utder
the SUPPLEMENTARY Of Vim. X. Mattet, Esq,
to whom this work was assigned.
This canal although completed and before
the close Of navigation, used for the purpose
of transportation, is not perfect. Sinks in
the bottom, from the nature Of the formation
| and soils through which it passes, slides from
the hills. and breaches may occur, but these
after 4 few years of we'll applied labor, will
be diminished, and by vigilance and care ell
tirely prevented.
This Improvement, although subject to the
rivalry Of competing railroads. if keep: in
will receive its full share uf coal and other
tonnage. It is anticipated that the revenues.
for the current year, viii equal, if not exceed
the expenditures; ana increasing with the IA
ciiltIes afforded, and the rapid development
of trade, will. instead of lis heretofore uncca-
sing demands upon the Treasury, take prece
dence IN revenue over any canal III the Com
monwcai;h.
In relation to the proprety and policy Of
the sale Of tue main line Of our public i'm
provcments, my opinion has not changed
Every consideration Of public policy, Of pres
cut and future interest, requires the separa
ton Of the State from the management and
control of these works The expenditures on
that portion Of the line, between the junction
and PittSburg largely exceed the revenues,
the excess averaging annually not less than
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars; and
causes are in constant operation that will
still more increase this deficiency. This CON
tinual drain upon the Treasury, TO sustain
work, so unproductive, should at once be
checked. \ sale Of the main line, for Il fair
consideration, and upon terms lust and liber-
al to the purchasers, is the proper remedy.
Such SALE on terms amply protective of the
rights and interests of the people, can, by
proper legislation, lie effected. In connection
with the payment of the public debt this
question becomes deeply important The
sale would constitute new era in the fnan-
cal history of the State, and assure Il still
more speedy reduction Of the public debt,
than that to which refercrce has been made
The subject is earnestly commended to your
favorable consideration.
The subject of banks and banking capital
in its relations to the currency-the general
interest Of trade and commerce and the in
dustral pursuits of the citizen, deserve your
careful attention. My views expressed in a
former communication remain unchanged.-
The incorporation of new, or the recharter Of
old and solvent banks when actually neces-
sa?v, and demanded by the wants Of leniti-