Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-04-17

In Krie aud Warren counties, will complete
\ the road from Erie to Warren. The people
| of these counties have struggled with hero
| ism worthy of 90 noble o cause, to keep up
this enterprise. They have given the credit
| of those counties, and subscribe OF their pri.
vate means with q most liberal hand, and have
| kept tn work progressing slowly but surely TO
| completion. The Ga miles from Erie TO War
reu, and the lO9 miles from Sunbury to Sin
abandoning, making l12 miles in all, can thus
be completed at u cost not exceeding 81 ,000,-
00C, lea Wing Sc miles TO make entire, and "a, =
500, 600 OF the estimate TO complete il.
have shown that the objections urged
against this bill are groundless. We have n
q responsible purchaser oiiering US the most
ample security. We are offered FUR price,
and seventy five per cent, ID addition for
whatever the Canals may bring above the
consideration named in the bill. What more
do we want? If we held valuable improve.
ments which, under State management yiel-
ded q revenue TO the State, there nigh. be
some excuse for men to hesitate; but we are
mportuned by the people Of all parties, and
all sections TO relieve the tax payers OF the
Canal Board and the entire Canals, for the
reason that, however valuable the improve
ments are, they are mere instruments OF pecu-
lation in the hands Of officials. AS to the
necessity OF Il sale, there has been no divided
counsels in the whole discussion on this bill.
An, all have pnid tribute to the great issue
every voice has joined in profession, at least
that the sale is one Of our first and highest
duties to the people. why this misrepresen-
tationP Why this struggle against this BILL
as il il presented q question of life or denth :?
| cannot be un,nindful of the fact that we have
q Canal Board hard by us 10 trhich re hare
L.. ,s,If,,
thousand dollars Of The public money. With
that power this bill grappies, and one or the
other must die; and is the Canal Board hoe
no resurrection. That it should have friends
here ID hos surprising. 1t has power, it has
honor, il has emoluments-it has noV in its
clutches uhich muSl come back 10 the treasury
If his bill Succeeds-and it would be strange
II it had not friends who would put forth their
best energies when 1t is struggling in the
throes Of death
BY this bill we rot only yield to the long
UNDECIDED prayer of Taxpayers to sever the
State entirely from all Improvements but we
also accomplish what is not oil less interest to
every ytux.puyer--the conll letion OF the Sun
bury aud Erie Railroad. 1t is at once great
question of Economy and Reform, and also
question or Progress. The Pennsylvania Ia
nal, stained and slotted rs is !ts history in.
creased the taxable property between this
place and Pttsburg over one hundred Ind
fifteen millions of dollars. Its construction
was therefore wise, as was its sale after it had
served its purpose. And such is the history
of every importont Improvement made by the
State. Some have been utterly abandoned;
others have been u constant drain upon the
treasury, and all have been made the engines
of wrong upon the people 10y corrupt officials,
yet if they could this day be voted out OF exis-
tence, with the good points which have fol-
lowed them. we should spread desolation over
some of the iairest and richest portions OF our
beloved Commonwealth
regard the completion OF the Sunbnry and
Erie Railroad as the great measure of this
age. 1t is not merely question of to-day.
nor tf this generation. When you and ],
Mr.. Speaker, shall have passed away, the
fruits Of this great measure will not yet have
reached ther lullness. The hardy farmers OF
the North, who are strangers to the bounty
Of the Commonwealth. will teach those who
to corre after thvm 20 bless the men who this
day penI their canse. They have struggled
for quarter of century, but now can point TO
10 evidence Of progress around thetn that s
not the fruits Of their ucceasing toll They
have hoped on as disaster clouded the pros
poets of this great movement and etli they
hone for the day which trust is now soon TO
dawn upon them when the Lakes and the
Atlantic shall strike hands in the Northern
wildAness, and pour its eShaustless native
wealth into the lap of commerce. They have
borne their share Of the burdens imposed upon
/ h. ppuple to make our more favored sections
develop their wea,h-thcy have helped, by
the fruits OF their l4brr TO build our Railroads
our Canals, and oar Colleges and now they
ask--not our bounty, nor our gifts. nor our
credit; but they ask that We shall enable
them, hy generous policy, involving no pc.
cuuiary sacrifce to the State, 10 consummate
an enterprise that must scatter enlightened
and uutOed wealth over the long
neglected regions Of the commonwealth.