Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-03-21
Governors Veto Message.

t0Nofnoft veto mefhhko.
The following message was sent in
TO the Legislature, by Gov. Curtin, on
the 18th inst, Vctoing the Philadel.
phia O. Eric Rail Road bill
10 The Senate and House Of represent.
dtiucS Of the Commonwealth Of Penn
SylrdRid.
GENTLgMEN-I herewith return to
the House of Representatives, in which
it originated, bill No. S9l, entitled
An act to authorize the Philadelphia
and Erie railroad company TO con.
struct branches of railroad from their
main line.
The completion of this road fur
nished the means OF reaching market
to the productions of a large and veal
thy section of the Commonwealth
The company struggled long under
great embarrassmcnts, but were finally
able, by aid of the Commonwealth
and Of other parties, to carry through
a great and most important public
work, and deserves TO be fostered and
encouraged by the State in its further
development, and in the extension of
its facilities to counties lying near its
route and not yet enjoying them.
Thus far the result has been fortunate.
The road is thronged with trade and
the only difficulty, it is believed, is to
provide rolling stock to meet prompt
ly the increasing demands for it, Ly-
ing northward and southwark Of the
route of this road are portions Of the
Commonwealth rich in mineral wealth,
as yet but partially developed, and
not reached by it or other public i'm
proyements sparsely inhabited, but
most of them susceptible Of the pro-
duction Of large agricultural wealth
when proper outlets are furnished for
their products. The inhabitants Of
these sections have, for forty years,
seen improvements projected and con-
structed by the Commonwealth, and
private enterprise and capital for the
benefit of other parts Of the State,
and thus inviting population and cap
ital while their own remained neglec-
ted. A natural and perhaps the best
mode Of giving them access TO market
and Of reaching the wealth of that
section Of the State would probably
be by branches connecting them with
the trunk line Of the Philadelphla and
Erie railroad, and so far as this bill
proposes to authorize the construction
of branches | should not have with
held my signature.
To n great main line of road con-
Meeting the markets of the Common
wealth East and West, the power to
make branches would seem to be n
proper and natural incident, and such
has been the policy of the State, and
it is believed that most of the leading
railroads have such grants of power
to greater or less extent.
If the railroad company, having
authority to make branches. fails to
use il, others can do it when there is
sufficient inducement, and the Com
monwealth can at all times grant cor
porate powers for such purposes. But
the fourth section of tins bill looks not
to the prompt construction of such
branches, but to the holding, by the
Philadelphia and Erie railroad, of the
exclusive right to occupy all such To-
cations for themselves as the company
shall have filed maps of in the Office
of the Secretary of the Commonwealth
for two years before commencing. and
for five years before completing them,
and that without any obligation on
the company to make any of the
branches designated on their maps.
| think this provision unreasonable.
unjust to the people of the counties
interested; unwise in point of public
policy, and in fact wholly objection
able, especially after the experience
we have had Of the effect of legislation
more or less similar in character in
retarding the developement of the
state and the early completion of
important public improvements.
l have, therefore, felt constrained
to withhold my signature from this