Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-01-15

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may be designated. This change in the form
and character of the certificates, it is believed
VIII be SO advantageous to the holders, with
out increasing the liabilities of the Common
wealth, as TO induce willing and prompt ex-
| change, at premium for the bonds proposed
| to be issued" olf..-. -, :,
The report of the Canal Commissioners will
be laid before you, and will exhibit in detail
the condition Of the public workS-their gene
raj operation and the receipts and expendi-
lures for the past fiscal year.
The total receipts at the Treasury, from the
public works, for the year ending November
80, 1856, were s., 2,006,0l5, 66, being an in
| crease over the revenues of the previous year,
of $685. 50. OF this sum Sl,0l3,589 Is
, were canal and bridge tolls, and 1892, APO so,
tolls of the Columbia and Portage railroads.
The aggregate expenditures for the same
year were $l,943,8 500 81, being an increase
over those of the previous year, of $l05, los
ia, the revenues exceeding the expenditures
only $62, ,ll8 ST.
The increase of the revenues from these
works would be encouraging, were it not for
the fact that the expenditures have increased
in still greater proportion--the expenditures,
ordinary and extraordinary exhaustng almost
the entire revenue from this source The sys-
TEN must be defective, Or more care and econo-
my should be exercised in its management.
The receipts at the Treasury from the seve-
raj divisions, were as follows viz
susquehanna, North Branch and West ~
Delaware .349,922 90
Total receipts. ..,................... 2eO6 .Ol5 &C
The extraordinary payments during the year.
amounted to SS0S, ,S92 I6 ordinary expendi.
lures, 81, 1890 90 nctrevenue, (exciuding
extraordinary payments and for motive powerJ
$87l,Ol 90
On the main line the tolls received at the
Treasury from the Columbia road, were S99I.-
GO So; expenditures $52S, ,OS4 Sc tolls on
the Eastern division of canal. from Columbia
to the junction, $ll9,7l8 36 expenditures.
S33,04S 80; receipts from the Junction to
PIttsburg, including the Portage railroad.
SHIFTS 90 ; ordinary expenditures, 1904
702 -. The total receipts on the main line
were 81 .229,212 sc {; aggregate expenditures
Excluding $267 900 90 paid for re- laying the
south track of the Columbia railroad. and
Sl53, 049 ~ for motive power in 1855. and
after December lst 1856, were $9S5 ,835 65.
being an excess of revenue over ordinary ex-
penditures of S343, 431 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 tha Treasu-
ry was S264, ,095 40. Its management has been
characterized by degree of economy too sell
dom practiced on some of the lines of our i'm
provementS
However important this division NAV be to
the trade and business of that portion of the
State, its proposed enlargement should not be
undertaken, unless demanded by reasons of
oyer-ruling necessity The experience of the
past as connected with the Allegheny Portage
raitread and the North Branch extension.
should warn us against undertaking, without
great caution, any new measure of improve
ment which may drain the Treasury, without
aiding materially, if at all, the public interests.
If kept in good order by efficient and timely
repairs its capacity will be fully equal to all
the demands of its trade and business.
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 anXiouSy hoped that this unpro-
ductlye Improvement may soon cease its cor
morant demands upon the Treasury Every
years experience more clearly reveals the i'm
policy 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 other pro-
duets were successfully passed through It's en-
tire length from Pittston to the junction canal.
This work was commenced in lS36-Suspendcd
in lS4l-resumed in 1S49, and finished in $50;
although its completion was officially announc-
ed in 1858. 1t extends from PittSton to the
Newly Ork State line, a distance of about "a
miles, following the valley of the SuSquehanna
to Athens, and thence along the Chemung ri
yer to the State iine where it joins the june
ton canal, and is thus connected with the New
\ ork improvements.
The Importance and value of this improve
ment cannot easily be over estimated Pass
ing through one of the richest mineral and ag-
ri ulturai portions of the State, it offers to the
immense and valuable products of that region
a safe and cheap transit to the markets of New
York, Baltimore and Philadelphia In the
completion of this canal the difficulties to bo
overcome, and the labor to be performed, were
great. Both these, to great extent havo
been accomplished under the snperintendency
of Wm. Il. Mlftt, Esq, to whom this was as
signed
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 tho
hills, and breaches may occur, but these, after
a few years of well applied labor, will be di-
aud by vigilance and care entirely
prevented
This Improvement, although subject to tho