Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1866-01-17
THE ENGLISH RAILROAD RAID.

4
six feet guage railroads from New York
westward, by the construction of the At
lautic and Great Western Railroad. They
aimed at a continuous six feet gauge from
New York to st Louis, and that has beed
accomplished or soon will be. The first
grand movement Of the English operators
being about completed, Sir Morton Peto
the great Railroad King Of Europe, with
party of capitalists, visited this country,
and personally inspected all the important
railroad lines in the Northern States
They were received with the utmost qos
pHality, and had every opportunity to es
innate correctly the resources of the coun.
try. While here they conceived or ma
tured the grand idea Of construo ing a
continuous line through Pennsylvania,
professediy for the purpose of developing
certain portions of The State not favored
with railroadsy and instead of proposing
their scheme to the legislative power Of
the State, they have attempted to secure
the necessary franchise for through route
by leasing the Catawissa and purchas n
several charter, held by spectators. They
have secured possession of the Morris and
Essex road of New Jersey, which with the
Lehigh Valley, Quakake and Catawissa
gives them through line from New York
to Milton. They have also purchased the
Centre and Spruce Greek and the Western
Central charters by which they hope to
reach Franklin, and also to intersect their
own road below Greenville, ia Mercer
county. Thus do a party of English
capitalists. an organization foreigD and
un:rienily to all our interests, attempt to
acquire possession of through route in
our State that would paralyze both Pitts
burg and Philadelphia, and use our terri
tory merely to sweep our cwn wealth aud
that of the West, to foreign markets
Such an enterprise might receive the
sanction of a Pennsylvania legislature
but it would be under restrictions and con
ditions which were not deemed important
in granting local charters such as the Ca
tawissa aud Centre and Spruce Greek
roads.
At first blush most men are prepared to
welcome capital from any part Of the
world to constru ct railroads in Pepnsylva-
mia; but when the aim and we'll matured
purpose of this enterprise are considered,
it would be suicidal act to allow the pro
posed route TO be constructed without
revision Of its franchise by the proper
legislative power. To understand the
character of this enterprise, and its fatal
consequences upon our industry and com
mcrce, we must look to the settled policy
of English capitalists as acted upon with
fatal consistency since they have commenc-
ed the gigantic work of controlling the
trade of the North aud West. England
las been ready for years to make almost
any sacrifice to control our trade Its
first aim was to cripple our industry and
paralyze our commerce and improvements,
and its secondary aim was to possess TIE
trade which should enrich our own com
mercia emporiums. Acting upon this poll
cy the English government authorized the
construction of the Great Trunk line in
Canada, some years ago; and 10 enable it
to compete successfully with al. the great
lines 10 the United States, its bonds,
stock, real estate, rolling stock and all its
property, were exempted from taxation
Thus we're millions of dollars made from
the oppressive taxes of the English gov
ernment solely for the purpose of striking
a fatal blow at the commerce, the indus
try and transporting lines Of this country
By :his enterprise the English carrier
now gives bill of ladins in Detroit or
Chicago through to Liverpool, and few
years ago the English line could carry a
barrel of -four through Canada to Port
land and from thence TO New York or
Philadelphia at less cost or certainly net
a greater cost, than it could be transport
ed over the direct lines through the States.
This enterprise necessitated New York
and Pennsylvania to remove their taxes
on tonnage. or surrender the wEole teem-
ing wealth of the west to the grasp Of
England.
The proposition to secure franchise by
stealth through Pennsylvania, and con
s'ruct thorough line from the West to
New York, is but part of the grand
scheme that originated the Great Trunk
and would be the consun alton Of the
came. 1t would benefit few localities,
because it would hasten their development
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