Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-25

The CHANGE IN THE Tunnel LOAN ACT.-
The modification of the tunnel loan act asked
of the Legislature is more important and Sc
rious matter than is generally supposed, or
would specifically appear. We believe it en-
tirely changes the relations of the State to the
enterprise and that, therefore, its purpose and
effect should be well understood before any de-
cision is made by the State Government.
The original act did not contemplate that the
State should furnish but portion of the cost
Of the work its friends neither asked nor ex-
pected more than portion of the expenditure
and if they had certainly no legislature could
ever have been log-roled or lobbied into grant
ing it. The grant gives $l000 900 for each 1000
feet of tunnel excavation and five miles of fin
ished road. The actual cost of so much re-
suit would vary from $150000 to 5000, 900, or
say from $4,000 or $4,000 for the 1000 feet
of tunnel, and $4,000 to $4,000 per mile of
railway. Thus the State furnishes from one
half to two thirds the total cost. This is Just
and liberal it could not do more without the
absolute certainty of loss.
But the modification proposed reverses this
relation of treasury aid to expenditure, and
takes from the State from so to 100 per cent
more money than will be expended in the
ork. The change asked for is to give $75,-
600 for each 1000 feet of tunnel, or for what
NNoeD etDNut WiOjOOO, dllu HZJ,OOO 1OT GdCl I'VE
miles of railway taking no more for the same
amount of work done in gross but so dividing
and unfairly apportioning it as to make one
part highly profitable and leave the other
without enough to tempt to its prosecution
Of course If the loan be thus charged no work
Will be done except upon the tunnel, and for
this the contractors will receive from the State
Treasury from 81 so to So for every dollar
they eXpend. That the tunnel is and can be
eXcavated at $40 a foot or $4,000 for 1000 feet
is admitted, we understand, by the contractors
and the friends of the enterprise, and is proved
by the progress already made. Yet they ask
the State to give them $75 a foot for doing it,
These being the facts of the case there would
seem to be no room, no occasion for argument
The Legislature cannot, with any regard for
the interests of the treasury, or with any pro
priety whatsoever, so change the loan We
shall be glad to see the tunnel built-we be-
lleye 1t can be, and will be. Our interests, and
the general interests Of the public will be pro-
NOTED by it. But it is not of such pressing ne
cesslty or Importance as to justify or excuse
such swindle upon the treasury as we have
described this effort at new legislation to be,
The State never meant, does not mean. and
ought not to pay the entire cost of the work
It's AID to the extent Of two-thirds or three
fourths is all that should be asked, all that
should be granted. But the present applica-
ton not only seeks the whole expenditure, but
at least fifty per cent in addition!
There are three better and cheaper ways Of
the States doing its duty to this enterprise -
l., to adhere to the present terms Of the loan,
which were more liberal than were ever given
to any other work of internal Improvement;
2, to cancel the old act, and make new one,
appropriating three-fourths Of all the money
that may be expended in prosecuting the tun-
mel and road to completion; and, 3, to take the
job wholly into its own hands, and finish it d.
rectly as a State work Either of these are
preferable to the grant asked for. II the tun-
mel can be excavated for $40 foot, why should
the State pay $75l--SprinGfeH Republican,
Jan. %