Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-03-30


fosters progress aud increases values
and population. Let us see what the
figures tells us upon this subject. Let
us at single decade and see what
railways have done for us and deter
mine whether it is not our duty to
continue TO do what the past decade
shows we have SO well begun.
Your taxes on gross receipts Of rail
ways in 1860 were nothing; in 1869
they were s373,4 APO; Tax on tonnage
in 1860, s3l ,425 in 1869, s293,90l.-
Tax on coal, direct result of rail
ways, in 1860 was nothing; in 1869
it was s159,577. Communication OF
tonnage in 1860, nothing; 10 1863,
s360,000 Right OF way 10 1860, sl0.-
900; in 1869, $4,000. Tax on rail
way loans in 1860, nothing in 1863,
Sl60,474. Tax on railway corpora
ton stocks in 1860 was s77 1860, whilst
in 1869 it was s527 PSI, showing an
aggregate from these sources in 1860
of SllS,7s5, whilst in 1869 it was ST.
S74 1928, or more than sixteen fold.
VIII you say that the past ten years
do not teach us any thingg In 1860
you received from these sources OF
revenue sllS,7S5, whilst in 1869 you
received 1884 ,623-more money than
is necessary this year TO pay the inter-
est upon your State debt, and yet
your argument refuses TO make fur
thcr progress in this magnificent ca
reer, and narrow and illiberal policy
is to be substituted in its stead, be-
cause technical construction OF the
Constitution shuts you off. Look, il
you will, at the great States, Of tho
West see an immense population set
tlingin every section and bringing
riches and power in its train, whilst
our hills and valleys, our mines and
cxhaustlcss resources which will make
the State populous and rich, lie unde-
veloped, because you have not the
breadth of mind to grasp the passing
hour, and cause this tide of wealth TO
settle upon every valley and noun
tain side, to burrow beneath the earth,
and drag therefrom the wealth that
lies in matchless profusion there
Your State lies undeveloped, and year
by year there passes through your
borders that which would make her
populous and grand. Is this policy
to be pursuedl By tho census of 1860
our increase of population in Pennsyl
vania was but twenty-five per cent.
while the population of Illinois in
creased one hundred and one per cont
Mark the contrast between two
great Statcs-the one with n liberal
and far-seeing railroad policy and an
undeveloped country, the other with
single artery. See the New Eng.
land States, and their policy. They
stop at nothing The West and Cana
da are tributary to Boston and Port
land, because they did not hesitate to
develop the resources of which they
are owners. They are intersected
with great lines which bring wealth
to swell their Golfers See the great
State that lies north Of you and heI
policy; contrast the development oi
her southern tier with that of your
own northern tier, richer in agricul
tural facilities and minerals, and then
tell me that this policy is correct
Sirs, this policy has been pursued toe
long. The State Of New York gave
TO the New York and Erie railway
as a loan, three millions, and after she
had lent il she gave 1t. Commercin
centres nre always enriched when yor
develop the rural districts. Thes'
lines Of railway reverse the system o
your bodies aud are great arteries
that bring in the lile-giving fluid they
bring TO your great commercial cen
tres the wealth that there exists anC
enlarge the area Of commercial enter
prise, and your Treasury rs madc ricl
by the process.
The people Of the section | hav,
honor TO represent, and the people 0
the sections represented by the Sena
tors from Potter and Greene hav
claims upon you. From generation
10 generation these people have pal,
their taxes and come up TO aid you i
defending the Commonwealth and i
making your public improvements
and they have received nothing fror
the State.
The country in which l live ha
never received dollar from the Com
monwealth. We have but singl
struggling line Of railway, enterinI
cur county on its eastern side, yet o
that line are found colleries in ever
direction, and rapid progress is bein
made. In the county of Jefierso
there is an untold capacity for dove
opmcnt there, too, you will have va:
quantities of material for transports
ton. Why not aid themY Give th
means of transportation, and wealt
= comes TO you in untold quantities.
, Let me turn briefly to tho objcc
, ions of the Senator from Columbi
J Mr.. Buckalewl He affirms that th
takes six millions from the sinkin
fund contrary to the Constitutions
You cannot take anything out If
was never put in. The power
9 transmuto these securities has bee
4 recognized by the Supreme Court
+ We cannot divert tho assets when r
n allied from .he payment of the det
}, hut our discretion as TO The evidenc
c of debt is ample. Whilst it is tr'
J. that the Pennsylvania Central is
}. wealthy corporation, the Commo
II wealth has not dollar of lien up'
Q any portion Of that road except fro
u Columbia TO Philadelphia, The {
+ curity is unquestionably good, b
r that which this bill will give US
Z equally good for it's amount.
If 1t is argued that these roads arc u
IT finished and that there is no certain
:. that the ultimate security will be GOO
d and that IL is an exchange Of good
carities for doubtful one. The |
'e ensures their completion. We ha
&C in all the past had people who dou
= cd that there was anything good
n telcgrnphs, canals and railroads
IT that healthfnl progress could be ma,
n huf | have shown hv frnree that q,