Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-01-15

/ suined along It's entire length Soon after the
same dam was again extensively injured by a
/ sudden aud heavy lreshet, and the greater part
of the canal rendered useless for business. An
appropriation will be required to reconstruct
! the dam
! This canal, although useful and valuable,
/ appears to be doomed to failure aud disaster.
/ Tilcse are the fruits II former niisniapagemen
/ ans fraEd IN IFS construction. Every effort
has been m1de to repair the errors OF It's early
I management, and TO complete and render nsefuI
tbs division Of eet, pnblie works. G1aer propei
management it eau be successfully aocoui-
/ plished.
| ~ pursuance Of the aei of the 18th day Of
4 Mlg, 1851, Providing for tho sale Of the main
Ing o. the pubic works, AFTER giving the notice
1 reqnlred by law, | caused the sad main line to
/ he exposed 70 puoIic sale, at the Merchants
Exehange, in The city OF Philadelphia, on the
| 23ih day Of June iasf, aud sold the same to the
] Pepnsyiyania raiiroad company, for the sum Of
seven lnillions Eve hundred thousand dollars,
tAe highest price 04 far The same, and the
/ iaininlam price liked in he act.
i After foll compliance BY the purchasers
/ With tue conditions Of The act authorizing the
saIe, AND the delivery OF their boals iu nntiber
/ a15 for the amonats equi to aud falling due 1T
/ ing tine provided for TIE payment OF the res
! lestise installncnts, lhe Secretary Of The Com-
/ ti'ss swoattl, on Tie 3lst DAY Of Jaly, 4. D.,
loa a. airecied By the act, transferred, under
4 ;Ae great seal OF the State, ia the Pennsylys-
ulI raiifead campany, their successors or as
sisi,s, the whole Iuan l.ne OF the public works,
between Philadelpbi and Pittsburg, together
/ WITH all toe righ', tide aud interests CLAIM and
deinand. of the Commonwealth OF PeaAsylya-
liia, - al property, rgai, personal aad uixed,
beiuaging 10 er used IN connection vita ,he
same hy tho Commonwealth; aud the purchasers
! s;avIhg gwen notice ef their readiness % take
ppssession OF the said works, possession If ,he
saine. was accordingly deliyered to the Company
on TIE first day Of August last: Of which aoioc
was given 10 all Superintendents anu Agents OF
ihe Commonwealth, by proclamation bearing
dAie the 3lst Gay Of Jaly. 1897, As required
81 te las authorizing the sale,
The b3sds Of the Peunsylsanis Railroad
Company, ~ the snH OF seven aad one .ha.i
nttions ol dol!ags, were resolved hy this State
lsaAarer ana are II lid ID. X ..4il Ais Tvs vie
eeedS u the sale being required by tie I'D
section OF the act 10 be paid ia tile Sinking Fuad
aud applied 10 the payment Of The State dent
saanot ior bear coDgratulating the people o
the GoaimonweaitA on Ihe coHsannsaton OF fbi,
sale. PabiIc sentiment as expressed ihtongl
The bailor box, and IN other forms equally sig
niicah, demanded it--puelc po.isy and tl.e
interests of the Commonwealth required IT,
Il is done Tne naay approve; fts culnplail
those most, who have galeed an unenIlab!,
Z IL
Is Interests, exnl6i;ed ia the exttavagaat
useless aud fiauinieni expenditures OF tAspab
nc naney toF selfish pariizan pnrposes.
The sale OF the Main Line has direcre pub-
lie attention 10 the importance and necessity ai
disposlag ut The fctnatning divisions OF tl,e pub
lie Improvements. The itaS0l,s an,. policy hat
required aud justified Toe sale OF the one, appl,
vita equal force 10 the sale Of the other Ib,
proprieiy ot separating lhe State from the care
and coutrol OF iae puhiie works, is net only
evident TO all who have given tie subject 4
candid and impartial consideration, bat tac
necessity is c!eafiy established, by the history
OF tfeis construction aud management The,
have failed to be source OF revenue to til,
Commonwealth, and ii retained BY tbe State
will require an expenditure in their repair aut
management, largely exceeding any reveune
tiiat n0der the most favorable circumstances
can be derived from them. Ia any phase q
the question, this separation desirabie, bat Il
connection with the payment ct tie public fieb
and the reduction ei State taxation, II becomes
an object OF more than ordinary interest
sale, 1T the earliest practicable period, OF th'
whole OF our public works, for a fair con>ldera'
uoa, Gpol terms just and liberal 10 he pnrela
seIs, aud az the same time Amply protective 0
the rights and interests Of the people, Should b
authorized, by the Legislature. Saca sale
with the application OF the proceeds TO the pay
nicnt OF the public debt, would secaro its sfli
more rapid extinguishtnent The subject
, recommended to your unoiase,l consideration
!, The law incorporating the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company imposed a tax OF three lniil
per ton, per mile, on all tonnage passing owe
tet road, as an equivalent for any decrease IL
the revenues of tic Commonwealth, that nigh
arise from the anticipated competition of IN
road, with the business OF the Main Line ot To-
pu6lie improvements. This tax is not impose,
upon the Company, but upon the toauage, am
is paid by the owners of the freight transport
el over the road; the company acting as agent
in It's collection and payment to the State.
is virtually a tax upon the trade aud eoinmerc
Of the Commonwealth, and upon the commerce
OF other States whose productions seek a
Eastern market over this road; aud thus by Ia
crcasing the rate OF charges aud the cost Z
transportation the produce Of the West IS force
upou the competing railroads of Other State
aud to other markets than our own. Th
necessity that required this tax, as regards ii
! c{tt. Ia.
ceased. Its continuance can only be Justitie
al q revenue measure. Itshould be the pole
oi the State to invite the transmission oi ii
! pfoducts of other States through her tcrtitoi
! I'd her own markets, and, therefore, the pr
! p|iety Of relieving the trade aud business
: ito Commonwealth and country from this Il