The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-01-14

the said Main Line to lie exposed to pup
lie sale at the Merchants ExuhaDge, il
the city of Philadelphia, on the 18th day
of june last, aud sold the same to the
PeDusylsaria Railroad Company, for the
sum OF 81, ,a00, 900, the highest price bid
for the same, aud the minimum price
fixed in the act.
j After full compliance BY tho purcha.
sers with the condition Of the act author.
izing the sale, aud the delivery of their
bonds, 10 uuu ber and for the amounts e.
quail to and falling due at the tiWe provi.
ded for the payment of the respective in
,talments, the Secretary of the Common
wealth, on the 3lst of July. A D 1857,
as directed BY the act, transferred, under
the great seal of the Stale, to the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company, their sue
cessors or assigns, the whole of the Main
Line of the public works between Pbila-
delphia and Pittsburgh. together with all
the right, title, and interest, claim and
demand, of the Commonwealth OF Penn
sylvania, to all property, real, personal,
and mixed, belonging to or used in coD-
neetion with the same by the Common
wealth; and the purchasers having given
notice of their readiness to take possess
ion of the said works, possession Of the
same was accordingly delivered to the
company on the first day of August last,
of which notice was given to all supefin.
tendent, and agents of the Commonwealth
by proclamation, bearing date the 3lst
day of July. 1858, as required by the
law authorizing the sale.
The bonds of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company. in the sun OF 81 oo,Ooo
were received by the State Treasurer, and
are held by him for the Com n,issioDers OF
the Sinking Fund; the entire proceeds OF
the sale being required by the 18th see
tion of the act to be paid to the Siuking
Fund and applied to the pay yweut of the
State debt
cannot forbear cougratalaing the
people Of the Commonwealth on the con-
summation Of this sale. Public sentiment
as expressed through the ballot-box, aud
in other forms equally significant demand
it-public policy and the interests of the
Comm Oh wealth required it. 1t is done
The many approve, few complain; those
most who have gained an uneBviable rep
utation by reckless disregard of the
public interests, as exhibited in the ex
travasant, useless, and fraudulent eYpen-
ditures of the public money for selfish or
partisan purposes.
The sale of the Main Line has directed
public attention to the Importance and
necessity of di.posing Of the remaining
divisions of the public Improvements
The reasons and policy that required and
justified the sale of the one, apply with e.
quail force to the sale Of the other. The
propriety of separating the State from the
care and control of the public works is not
only evident to all who have given the
subject candid and impartial consider
alton, but the necessity Is clearly estab
li-hcd By the history of their construction
and management. They have failed to
be source of revenue to the Comnon-
wealth ans if retained by tho State, will
require an expenditure in their repair and
management largely exceeding any rev.
enue that under the most favorable cir.
cunstanccs, can be derived from them
In any phase OF the question this scpara.
ton is desirable, but in connection with
the payment of the public debt, and the
reduction of State taxation, it becomes
an object Of more than ordinary interest.
A sale at the earliest practicable period,
of the whole of our public works, for
fair consideration, upon terms just and
liberal to the purchasers, and at the same
time amply protective of the rights and
interests of the people, should be author
lied By the Legislature. Sach sale with
the application of the proceeds to the
payment of the public debt, would secure
its still more rapid extinguishnent The
subject is recommended TO your unbiased
The law incorporating the Pennsylva-
MIA Railroad Company imposed tax of
three mills per ton per nile, on all ton
mage passing over that road, as au equiv
alent for any decrease in the revenue OF
the Commonwealth, :hat might arise from
the anticipated competition of the road
with the business of the Main Line of the
public Improvements. This tax is not
imposed upon the company, but upon all
tonnage, and it is paid BY the owners of
the freight transported oser the road, the
company acting as agents in its collection
and payment to the State. 1t is virtual
y tax upon the trade and com mcrce of
The Commonwealth, and upon the com
nerce of other States whose productions
seek an eastern market over this road
md thus by increasing the rate of char
yes and the cost of transportation. the
produce Of the West is forced upon the
railroads of other States; and
o other markets than our own. The ne.
cessity that required this tax, as regards
he Comuouwealth and her improvements
has ceased. Its contibuaee can only be
ustihed as revenue measure. 1t should
'e the policy of the State to invite the
transmission of the products of other
states tbro ugh her territory to her own
markets, and, therefore. the propriety OF I
eleving the trade and business of the ,
and country from this tax l