Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-01-12


have but just commenced the payment of the
principal Of our debt; and that to prevent
misapplication of the public finances, and there
bv insure a continuance of its reduction, from
year to year, is manifestly the first duty of
those placed by the Constitution in charge of
the Public Treasury, and to whom belongs the
exclusive right of raising, econo missing and ap-
propriating the public revenue | earnestly
commend this whole subject to the careful at.
tention Of the Legislature-entirely satisfied
that as it is the most vital of all the interests
committed to the charge of the General As
sembIy, it will receive that consideration which
its Importance so eminently demands.
In my last annual message, communicated
to the General Assembly all that, up to that
period, had been done under the act, entitled
" An Act for the sale of the State canals" !"
approved April 81, 1858 Since the adjourn
ment of the last Legislature satisfactory evi-
dence having been given 10 me, Of the com
piance of the Sunbury and Erie railroad com
pany, with the conditions mentioned in the
third section of the act referred to- the State
Treasurer, under nv direction, has delivered
to the company the canal bonds for two mil
lions of dollars, deposited in the Treasury uu-
der the PROVISIONS OF Tue SalQ acL
The railroad company has also become en-.
titled TO- and has received, one million of dol
lars, of the mortgage bonds referred to in the
sixth section of the same act leaving mort
gage bonds to two and half millions of dol
lars, still remaining in the Treasury of the
Commonwealth, to be delivered to the compa-
ny, " from time to time, pdri paSSu, with the
progress of the work, as ascertaned by the
returns and estimates of the chief engineer of
the said company" When the bonds, last
mentioned, shall have been surrendered to the
company, as directed by law, the State will
still hold, as absolute owner, three and half
millions of dollars of the mortgage bonds of
the company, payable in the year 1872, aud in
the six succeeding years, as mentioned in the
act of Assembly, with interest, at the rate of
FIVE per centum. per annum, payable Semi-an-
nualIy, on the thirty-irSt days of January and
July of each year Interested, as the Com
monweaIth is, in the early completion of this
important thoroughfare, it affords me great
pleasure to be able to inform the General As
sembly, that the progress of the work, for the
past year, has been highly satisfactory
The Eastern division of the road extending
from Sunbury, iu the county of Northumber
land, to Whetham, in the county of Clinton, a
distance of eighty one miles, is finished pas
senger and freight trains passing over it daily
The Western division, extending from the city
of Erie, to the borough of Warren, in War
rem county, a distance of sixty-six miles, is
also, completed, with regular passenger and
freight trains now running over it daily. Max
ing one hundred and forty seven miles of rail
way, along the ue of the route, that have
been already brought into practical operation
Que hundred and seven miles Of which, ex-
elusive of sidingS, were finished during the
past year. On the intermediate portloT OF the
line, between the borough of Warren and
Whetham station, a distance of one hundred
and forty miles, ninety five and half miles are
graded leaving but forty four and half miles
yet to be graded, to place the whole of the
unfinished por ion of the roai in a position to
receive the superstructure. If no INT owarG
another year will not pass before the entire
line of the road will be flashed aud in use !;
thus affording direct and continuous commun-
ication, by railroad, from the city of Phladel-
phia to the harbor Of Erie
BY the twenty-secoDd section Of the act ap,
proved the 18th day of April, 1916, entitled
" An Act to Incorporate the Pennsylvania
railroad company" it is provided tnat all
tonnage, of whatsoever kind OF description,
except the ordinary baggage of passengers,
loaded or received at Harrisburg, or Pittsburg,
or at any intermediate point, and carried or
conveyed on or over said railroad, more than
twenty miles, between the 10th day of March
and the lSt day of December, in each and
every year, shall be subject to a toll or duty,
for the use of the Commonwealth, at the
rate of FIVE mills, per mile, for each ton of
two thousand pounds and it shall be the
duty of said company, between the 10th
and 30th days of July, and between the lst
and 10th days of December, in each and every
year, after thirty miles or more of said railroad
shall have been completed, and in use, to cause
to be made out, and filed with the Auditor
General, true aud correct statement, exhibit
ing the amount of said tonnage, so loaded or
received, aud the distance so carried and con-
veyed, during the respective periods, interven-
ing between the said 10th day of March, and
the Goth day of July, aud between the said
Goth day of July and the lst day Of Decem-
Der, in each and every year which said state
ment shall be verified by the oath or affirma-
ton of the receiving or forwarding agent or
agents. or other proper officer or officers, OF
said company, having knowledge of the prem
ises and at the time of filing said statement
or On or before the said 30th day of July, and
the 10th day of December, in each and every
year, the said company shall pay to the State
Treasurer. the amount of said toll or duty, Sc
accrung for the use of the Commonwealth
during the respective intervening periods be-
fore mentioned" And, in supplement tc
the act just referred to, passed on the same
day, it is further provided, that in case the
said company shall. at any time, fail 10 pay
the toll or charge on tonnage, which may &C
crue, or become due to the Commonwealth
under the provisions of said act, the same shall
be and remain o lien on the property OF The