Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1857-08-07
cad!
SiLB Oh THE MAIN LINE.
LETTER No. 9.
REHABILITATION OF THE LEAD
ING FACTS BROUGHT OUT.


Previous to submitting the few general
remarks which this subject suggests, re-
eapitulation of the points established in
these letters will aid the reader in grasrilg
all she bearings of the question.
letter | refers to the Importance of the
subject, and points out wherein onerous
taxation had crippled our industrial inter
.ests. It announced as the main PROPOSE
ton to be proved, that the Main Line is
not self sgsteining, bat has exhausted and
IS exhaus;ing the whole proceeds from the
taxation of the people. As general proof
OF this proposition, it was shown that since
1916 there had been no material diminu-
ton in the amount cf tue debt, notwith-
standing the fact that over seventeen mill
liaas of dollars hal, ia that time, been
raised from tax on real and personal es-
tate Ii this immense sum bad not been
used in paying current expenses, why Lad
not the debt been partly paidl That it has
not been, is the best evidence that it could
not be; aud that it could not be, Is the best
evidence that the Main line has drawn
largely npon this amount for the payment
Of expenses, Of one kind or another, in.
cured upon it.
No . explains the difference between
tho modes Of keeping the account of ex-
renses on the Main Line, adopted by the
Auditor General aud the Canal Commits
sioncrS; and shows the classes Of payments
which the latter officers exclude from their
annual statements From 1858 10 1876
certain of hese excluded items amounted
to s., ,070,S96 - Which. If placed opo-
Tite The fabulous profits reported BY the Ca
nal Board, would have made a fearful hole
therein. Likewise in 1886, the payments
on the Public Works are stated by the Au
ditor General, as Sl,04o,004 90 greater
than BY the Canal Commissioners; and Oh
tue Main Line. as 372,159 II greater
whence is inferred the necessity, in order TO
gain an accurate knowledge Of the facts, Of
a thorough investigation Of tie payments
for each year.
No. 5 makes such an investigation Of the
operations Of the Main Line for 1856, and
proves that, instead OF making S382,596
II as the Canal Board assert, it actually
lost S256.I94 0l, and this without inc!u
ding the S1SI, ,495 a spent on the new
Portage Railroad. It also investigates
each portion of the line-the Columbia road
the C4ual portion aud the Portage road-
and shows the condition Of each, as fully as
the data supplied by the Commonwealth's
officers permit.
In No. 4, review is given of the State
Of tie Line, as found in the report Of the
State Engineer, Edward f. Gay. 1t shows
that ihc Engineer asks this year Sl17 ,0i0
98 more for repairs than we're expended last
year, and announces the necessity for more
expensive repairs in year or two 1t also
publishes the Main Line appropriations in
the General Appropriation hill, which foot
up 1888, 437 Is more than the gross reVe-
rua from the line for 1886.
No. ) discusses the line foI 1859 The
. Canal Commissioners reported profits at
S202,38 So. The expeuditures-excin-
sivc Of new Portage pavments-exceeded
the revenue S45,07l 5S, 10 which must be
added interest OF cost. In 1854, the bal.
ance against the line was S222, ,065 q,
although the Canal Commissioners reported
balance ie favor of S233,l42 OF. 1883
and 1852 present substantially similar
state Of facts-the discrepancies le'ween
the two statements being caused by the Ca
nal Board 9mitting staEdry items of expense
which ihc auditing officer includes, because
The money for them passes through his hands
aud he of course, claims credit for the pay
ment.
No. G gives a summary of the total re-
ceipts from, and total expenditures upon,
the Main Line for 1888, 254 80 ADD SO,
and shows the balance against the line, ex-
elusive of new Portage work, to be $457,
$50 4j The Caual Board made the prof
lis of these years over million. Ii is also
shown by the official figures that while the
gross revenue from the Public Works has
been increasing for years, tho gross revenue
froa. the Main Line is diminishing; and that
tho gross expenditures, whether inclusive Q:
exclusive Of construction, are increasing
the line thus doubiy losing ground.
No. : shows the profits for 1883, '54,
80 and 80, claiu,ed b. The Board to have