Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-04-29
HARn1snrne. April 18th. 1857


DEAR Journal The matter of special in
terest to your readers, (the log loating,) is not
attracting so much OF the attention of the Le-
giSlature as many Of them may wish. That
which absorbs the greatest share of attention
now, is the apportiOnment bill, the bill for the
sale Of the ''NGiH iine," and the various Bank
bills. The House is now devoting its evening
sessions to the consideration of Bank bills. and
are "killing them OFF, pretty rapidly. The
friends of the free banking law are in hopes of
passing their bill. IL has been reconsidered.
and is now before the house. 1t is good bill
and ought to pass.
There is majority in the Legislature in IA
vor of the Main line, and they resist all amend
meBts 10 the bill. One amendment, which
shonld have passed. failed by one rofe. 1t was
this In consideration that the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company were about TO construct a
Railroad along side Of the Pennsylvania Canal,
the State, in the act of incorporation, imposed
tonnage tax upon that company to compen-
safe for the loss to be sustained by the State
from the income of her internal improvements
In consequence of the construction of the
Penn'a Railroad, the Canal from Johnstown
west, has been a constant expense to the State /;
the expense of keeping il in repair being much
greater than all the tolls received from it
One section Of the bill for the sale of the Main
line provides that In lieu of the tonnage tax
q mills per tun of freight passed over the
road with some articles excepted.) II the Pa.
Railroad Company become the purchaser, they
shall give an additional sum of 81 900 coo. a.
bove the price at which the works shall be bid
in. The amendment referred to, was to give
the same privileges to any other company who
may be the purchaser, i. e. that the purchasing
company should, for the one and a half mil
lion of dollars, be entitled TO receive the ton
mage tax from the Penn'a Railroad Company
instead of the State. The Penn'a Railroad
Company wish to purchase. They will then
have the carrying trade through the State with
out a rivals and will have by purchasing the
road from this place to Lancaster, q continuous
road from Philadelphia to Pittsbnrg.
There is bill before the House to incorpo-
rate the BelPs Mills and Fallen Timber Turn
pike and Plank Road Company. The termi-
nus of this road viii be miles above Tyrone.
1t will be by several miles a nearer route to the
Railroad, for the citizens of the southwest
part of Clearfield county, than by Tyrone or
Upton. They estimate the distance from
Clearfield creek to Gen. Bells to be 10 miles.
The persons who are at the bottom of this
movement have the necessary means and ener-
gy TO carry it through.
The number of Girorces in the city of Phila-
delphia, within the last nine years, is 1 ,135-
What amount of domestic misery there
must be These things are borne while they
are bearable, in secret. These divorces are
principally sued out by wives for desertion
and cruel treatment. Who can say how much
of that cruel treatment and desertion is caus-
ed by drunkenness, Shall we have more
stringent laws on this question
CuRwEssyIlLE.