Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-02-01
Notes from Harrisburgh.

ship Company, which passed the LeSlsldtuiS
on Wednesday last, gives legal recognition
to the plan originated by the Pennsylvania
Central Railroad, for line of steamers be-
tween Philadelphia and some English port
The bill names j. Edgar Thompson, Thomas
A. Scott, John Ride. John Price Wether-
ell and others, a. incorporators, with the
power to open books, which are to be closed
when 1000 shares are subscribed for. The
capital is to be 900 shares OF 500 each,
which may be increased to $50, 600 shares,
and 1910, 900 may be borrowed on each
vessel, and bonds issued drawing SIX per
cent. interest. The vessels and property are
to be exempt from taxation.
1t is currently reported that another raid
capture of the nine and half million dol
lars worth of securities now in the possession
Of the State. A division of spoils is prom
ised, it is said, to the members of the border
counties, in the shape Of indemnity to the
people there for the losses suffered. We
are not careful either to know or state the
scope of this plan-we'are opposed to 1t, In
whatever shape or under whatever pretence
it NAV come. IF the securities are obtained,
it will be simply so much robbery, and who
ever may vote for such thing should be
published by name throughout the State as
abettors of thieves and rebbers. The State
owes at this time over thirty million dollars,
and if the securities of the sinking fund are
applied to this debt we will yet owe about
twenty ore million five hundred thousand
dollars. This Is enough of debt for the
people of the State to pay. And having 1t
to meet, they cannot afford to give away to
a class of railroad adventurers, an amount
of money equivalent to one third of this
heavy debt. I'VE shall closely watch this
thing says the Pittsburg Dispatch, land
give an uncomfortable publicity to such as
favor the consummation Of this thing. The
day has passed for granting State aid to
railroads We should have a general law,
opening the State freely up to railroad en-
terprise, and then leave the entire subject
to private enterprise and capital. But
whatever the policy that may be developed,
there is one thing about which there is only
one opinion among honest, disinterested
men--and that is, that the sinking fund Sc
curities should go toward liquidating the
State debt
The injudiciousness of hasty legislation is
especially seen in the act of the last Legis-
lature authorizing writs of error in criminal
cases. Hurried through at the time to save
a convicted murderer from the scaffold, whom
the Governor had repeatedly refused to par
don, its provisions may now be employed to
defeat or delay justice in the behalf of
every hardened felen, though his conviction
and sentence may rest on the plainest and
most irrefragable evidence. 1t is rumored
now that the friends of Hanlon will resort
man at the last moment. Such a melo,
dramatic proceeding would only involve a
| delay OF some weeks or months, with large
increase of expense to the Commonwealth,
while the prisoner himself would gain
nothing thereby except slight prolongation
of his miserable life. The Legislature
should lose no time in repeating this most
mischieyous law.
On the the Sd of March, 1870, an act
providing for the health and safety of per-
sons employed in anthracite coal mines was
passed by the Legislature A bill was pre-
sented last week, extending this act to the
bituminous coal districts of the State If
the bill becomes law, it viii apply to the
bituminous coal districts in Clearfeld county,
as well as elsewhere. The law is intended
TO make the business of the miner less haz-
ardous than it is at present, and if possible
to prevent all accidents that may arise, not
only from noxious gases, but also from the
improper workings of the mine Not
street can be abandoned nor pillar removed,
without notification to the Inspector. Ac-
curate drafts are required to be made every
six months of all the workings, and in a
word, the law surrounds the miners with
seemingly every protection. Those imme-
diately Interested should give the subject
some attention.