TKfiMS OF PUBLICATION.
g 2 00 per hnhurn, in advance—or
-g2: SO,'-if-not paid-within the year.
No subscription taken fora less term than six
months, and no discontinuance permitted until
all arrearages arc paid. A failure to notify a
discontinuance at the expiration of a term, will
be considered a new engagement.
Advertisements —SI 00 .per square for the
three first insertions, and twenty five cents for
eVery subsequent one-
VALUABLE PAHM
FOR SALE.
r (rsHE subscriber offers at private sale the fnl-
J. lowing described valuable real estate,'situate
in Allen- township, Cumberland county, contain
ing 114 acres, more or less, of patented land, a
boul 90 acres of which are cleared and in a high
state of cultivation, and the residue covered with
thriving timber.- -The improvements are a
• jp_n TWO 9TORV
ffimw STOHB HOUSE,
And Double Log Barn,
two Apple Orchards, one of which is of choice
fmit, a never failing spring of water,.and a foun
tain pump at the door—also,.a Tenant /douse.
The above mentioned tract is nearly all lime
stone land, of a good quality, and is in a.hcalthy
neighborhood—within two miles of Mechanics
burg and the CumbtO land Valley Rail Road, and
about one mile trom Shepherdstown.
indisputable title will be given. For terms
anolv to the subscriber near the premises.
11 y JAMES GRAHAM.
May 30, 1839, If
NOTICE.
At a stated Orphans* Court begun on Tues
day the 30ih day of April/ A. IJ. 1839, at
Carlisle in and foi*i the county of Cumberland,
the following proceedings Were had, viz-:
In the case of the partition and valuation of
the ReapE.statc.-of JOSEPH SHROM, late pf
* the borough.of Carlisle, deceased, on motion of.
“Mr, Lyo«, Rule on all the parties interested
they be and appear at the next sta
ted’Orphans* Court to he held at Carlisle op
Tuesday the 10th day ofSeptember next at 10
o’clock, A. M. to accept or refuse such shaie or.
portion of thfe said Real Estate as they may res
peciivrly be legally entitled to take at the valu
ation thereof.
AND
In the case o'f the sums or accounts returned in.
the Inventory of"the personal estate of the said
Joseph Shrom,deceased: On motion of Mr. Lyon,
Rule on all the parties interested to appear at the
said staled Orphans* Court to be held at Carlisle
as aforesaid,on Tuesday the said lOiii day of
September next at 10 o’clock, A. M. to shew
ciftise if any they have why the sum of six hun
dred and seventy (wo dollars 'and forty seven
'cents charged to his daughter Elizabeth ..M’Cord,
and the sum of six hundred and seventy six dol
lars charged to his daughter M iry M’Ciraoahan,
and the sum of .thirteen hundred and thirteen
dollars and seventy cents charged to Id's sr»n Ji»-
•sephSltrom,-jrv,-;mdtlursum o\ f seve)r hundred'
dml -twenty three dollars and eighty four cents
charged to his son David Shrom, and the sum of
fourteen hundred and eighty seven dollars and
ninety six cents charged to his son Jacob Shrom,
and the sum of three hundred .and -thirty five
dollars and fifty two cents charged to Ids daugh
ter Eleanor. Smith, and the sum of twenty three
-hundred and nine dollars and thirty seven cents
charged to his son William Shrom, and the sum
ol one thousand and twenty five dollars charged
to Ids son"Frederlclt Shrom, and the sum of one
and thirty one dollars and fifty cents
charged to his daughter Uarbuni W\ lie, should
not be brought into hotchpot, and settled for in
the distribution of the real aiid personal estate
of the said Joseph Shrom, deceased, as $o much
advanced to them by their said father in part or
in full of their respective shares in the veal and
personal estate of the said deceased’.
ANP
thecase of the petition of Joseph Shrnrp, jr.
r ’administrator of the estate of the said Joseph
'’ShVom, deceased, presented to the said Court,
setting An th that the said deceased in his life
lime, to wit, oh or about the 31st of August last,
had entered into a parol contract to sell and con-,
vey to George Spangler of Carlisle, the .undivi
ded half part of a Jot of ground containing about
five acres more or less, situate in South Middle
ton township, or partly in said township and*
partly in the borough of Carlisle, hounded on
the north by land of I. U. Parkci, Esq., on the
east by a road, on the south bv Steel’s lane and
on tb.e west by land of Daniel Dinklc, in consid
eration of one hundred & seventy five dollars to
hg paid to him by the said Spangler—that the said
Joseph Shrpm died seized of the said undivided
half part of ’said lot without having made suffi
. cie.it provision for the* performance of said con
tract, and 3 that the said contract had been so lar
executed that it would he against equity to res-.
...cind it, See. On motion of Mr. Lyon, Hide on
the said George S/umgter and the heirs of said
deceased to appear at the said Orphans* Court
to be held at Carlisle aforesaid on the said 10th.
day of September next at 10 o’clock, A.* M. to
answer the said petition and shew cause if any
there'bfc;* whv a specific performance of the said
contract~should not be' Court H
greeably to the prayer ot the petitioner.
*# Bv hie Court.
Pennsylvania* ■ 4
—Cuiitbeiiand County, aa.. ■ ■ " ■
• In testimony that the three rules
above slated were made by the Or
phans* Court of, said county in the,
cases above mentioned* at then* sea-
iirMay laKtrnnd 'are entcyed“bn
the record s of said cdurt, I‘have here
to set my hand and affixed my official sea) tins
15th July, 1839
ROBERT MOORE, For
W. FOULK, Cl’k O. C,
JList of Causes
FOR TRML at MUOUST TERM.IBSS.
First w?e]t~cjiW!ncncing-12th-AugU9t % -\&&r-
Geescex’ra vs Shannon adm’r See
. J Slough a- vs, R McElwaue
■HJI Church &c . , vs .G Cart
J Fond va . Titos'C Lane’s admr
. R McGregor, ’ vs ame .
J .J Morrison vs J Gh’£ri et •
J Fetter vs S Alexander"
‘ J.Clever vs J W Hatton ; ..... '
B R.-Chuvch See *vs G& W McClure '
D Lamb •• -; vs M Dunlap - *
' Scfond’iveek—commencing isth August,
Commohwealfli vs P Livinger r
J M Woodburn 1 vs F Noble
Turnpljre Company vs CV R R Company
j MeixeU ; , vs' M DiUer
Tiros Dobbs ex’rs _ vs, M Eby co-cognizer &c
C VHR Company vs Jolin.Moore
K McKibbcn ' ■ - vs /'J McKlßben exV
SLee ; vs FAnderson
M Love adm’r ■ vs M Eby co-cognlzer
.11 S McCone. vs ,D Mahon ; .
;G U keeper ys F Herron ct al
WECrptzer" .vs J Casey
"XStbiigh 1 ■ vs Moore ■’
.1 Meixell , vs- P DilKr -■
'P'Leidig 8c wife ~ vs '4 Miller et 'af'
:Cnmmnnw’lli for use vs -I Mr.Feeiy .
HK.Churcli.&c .va.JMEse - •
CiEO; SANDERSON,. Proth’y.
Carlisle,Jaly 1.1839. ,
;. Silk, Scotch G‘ t vigl lain 6} Cotton
Umbrellas and a large of plain and
fiKureld'Parasols for sale 1 by . • • • -
? c,
, . _ jo, :
_At thetr^toraimMechPnycsbury
blanks for sale
BY G. SANDERSON & E.CORNMAN.]
Whole XTo. 130 6.
HARDWARE & GROCERY
- STOft E.
Tnte subscriber respectfully informs his friends
and the public in general that he has just
received from the city of Baltimore, an extensive
assortment of merchandize suitable to the pres
ent and approaching season, such as
, .HARDWARE,.
consisting of Case Knives and Forks*-Spoons,
Locks. Bolts, Hinges and Screws, Pen and 1 edi
ct Knives, Razors, Tacks and Sprigs, Spades £sf
Shovels, Hay and Dung Forks, scythe stones,
rakes. See; See, &c. Also, superior American
and English Scythes?
lie has also on hand an excellent assortment
of Patent Family Medicines, such as pills, oils
and ointments. Also, all kinds of Essences. He
has also on hand Horse Medicines, such as the
Oil of Spike, Oil of Stone and Horae Powders,
&c. &c. &c. ’
He lias also on hand an extensive assortment
of American Forest and Hindustan Oil Stout,
suitable for Carpenters'had Wood Choppers.
He also has Powder by the keg, amniiK which
is the finest RiHt Powder. .Shot;' Lead, Percus
sinn Caps, and-Flints. "
He also has an extensive and superior assort,
ment of
China, Glass & Qnecnsivare,
twenty per cent cheaper than can be bad .else
where.
GROCERIES.
* Uio, St. Domingo, 'and Java Coffees. New
Orleans and Porto Rico A’ugftr. Orleans and *Su
g\r 7/ousc Molasses. Ynjmg //yson, Imperial
and Hlack Teas, Chofcolate, Rice, Harley, -Soda
and Water Crackers. Spices of all kinds. Nuts,
and Confectionaries. Prunes, Raisins. Ground
Alium and Fine iSalt. Tar, Soap and Candles
wholesale and.retail, at:city prices.
LSOtJOHS.
Wine, Brandy, New .England Rum, //arvest
Whiskey, Wine and Cider Vinegar, &-C.
TOBACCO.
Cavendish, Roll and Plug. Spanish and //.df
.S'panish Cigars. Mucubivu, Rappee and Acotch.
Snuff*.
SHOES <& BOOTS.
•Riding, Gig and Jockey Whips awl Lashes.
Brushes. Brooms. Painted Buckets, See.
Carpet Chain of all colors-
The above articles being selected,
are offered to customers ami others at city prices.
JOHN GRAY, Agent,
... Carlisle, July. 4,-1839. - -
«OLDEN BALL
® ilffo • ,
HOTEL,
WHS'S HIGH.STREETOABX.XSX.E.
The subscriber respectfully informs his
friends and the public generally that he has
taken that well known- tavern stand at the
West end of High street, in Carlisle, for
merly kept by Mr. Henry Rhoads, and that
he is now prepared to accommodate Drovers,.
TVaggoners, Travellers, and all others who
may favor him with a call, in the very b'dkt
manner. ' ,
His Table will be constantly furnished
with the best the country can produce. His
liar is supplied with the choicest liquors,
and his Stable which js large and convenient,
will be in charge of a careful and attentive
ostler.
. He flatters himself that, froin his experi
ence as an Innkeeper, he will be able to
render general satisfaction.
' GEORGE SHAFFER,
Carlisle, May 3, 1839. ■ tf .
NOTICE.
At an Orphans’ .Court held bn Tuesday
the 30th day of April at Carlisle, in
and .fur Cumberland County, before the'
Honorable Samuel Hepburn, President; and
John Sleuart and John Lefeocr, Esquires,
Associate Judges of the same Court, &c. the
following proceedings were had, to wk:
30th April_ 1839,. upon the petition of
George McGinnis, Esq', executor of. the last
will and testament of Hr. John Ealv.la.td.of
t]ie of Shippensburg, deceased, re
spectfully representing that, he settled his
final account of the estate of the said decea
sed, and the same was passed by this Court,
on the Sd.of September A. D. 1833, and that
the balance found at said settlement in the
hands of said petitioner, has been fully-paid
according to law, and that since the.passage
of .said final account, no goods or chatties,-
rights or credits' of the said estate have came
to the hands nr possession, of petitioner, and
praying the Court to discharge him from the
further administration of the said estate, and
from his office of executor,, under the will
aforesaid, and he will pray &c.
30th April 1839, rule granted on the heirs
and. legatees of said testator to shew cause
at the Orphans’ Court-to berheld-on Mon
day the 12th day of August next, why the
said executor shall riot be discharged &c.
Cumberland County, sa.
• Certified copy from the.records
of tlie Orphans’ Court of said coun
ty‘ WILLIS FOULK.,
Glk.-O. G. -
Carlisle, July 16, 1839.
BOLTING CLOTIIS.
. The subscribers have just received a fresh
supply (from the importers,-);Sbf GERMAN
ANCHOR STAMPED B O L T I N G
C L OTHS, which they will sell at lower
prices than they have ever been sold at in
Carlisle or elsewhere.'
SAM’L MYERS & CO.
.Carlisle, July 18, 18S9. 4t ' '
ARNOLD & CO. .
AT their-New Store in Mechanicsburg, have
just received a,large assortment of summer
goods, consisting of Cassijnercs. Drillings, Linen
and Hempan Curds, £Jc.
PORSALE,
t.l first-fate Piano Forte.
Enquire of.tlmEditorsofithtYulunfeeiv —
: July 18,1839. ’ -
. GORN BROOMS.
Just received and for sale a lot: of ORN
OROQM3;bf the best quality. ' 1 i.
-v J.uneUT*;; ; Griet.. -■
r “oun COUNTRY —RIGHT or wrong.”
Carlisle , Pa. Thursday 8, 1839.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,
Juuo IS.
Col. T. D. M’Elwee, from' the Committee
appointed under a resolution of the House,
bearing date- the 10th day of December
last, imposing certain 'duties on said Com;
mittee as expressed in said resolution as
follows: -■
. Resolved, That a committee of five be ap
pointed whose duty it shall be, strictly to
examine the Gettysburg rail load, from thd
town of Gettysburg to its extreme southern
location. And said Committee are hereby
enjoined to cause an accurate- draught or
chart of ssjdjxiad to be made, together with
the profiles thereof, exhibiting thedieight of
the*embankments, the depth of the excava
tions, each and several the number & length
of the tunnels; and exhibiting also the nature
of the soil, and the description of the im
provements through or near which said road
is located. ■ 1
• In obedience to this resolution the Com
mittee
REPORT,
That in pursuance of their duty they pro
ceeded to Gettysburg,in Adams county, and
organized on the-5tU of April. Subpoenas
were issued to fhe p rosent supcrintendenLof
the road, and others who bad been employ
ed in various capacities upon the ifbrk..
Tbe Committee made a personal examina
tion of the road from its commencement at
Gettysburg, across the South mountain to
Wayricsburg, Franklin county, and thence
to .the termination of the route on the Poto
mac river near Clcarspring in Maryland,
where the proposed junction with the Balti
more and Ohio rail road is to be made. The
object of the Baltimore and Ohio rail road,
as its name indicates, is to connect the trade
of the Ohio .and Baltimore, and thus divert
the transportation from the Pennsylvania
improvements. The design.of those who
projected our state-improvements, was to
obtain access to the lakes and the western
waters, in order to introduce the surplus
crops, not-only of,the western States, butof
our middle and western counties, including
their iron, lumber and coal,-to the city of
Philadelphia. In return for these products,
Philadelphia as the commercial emporium of
the State, oitr only city having direct com
munication with the ocean, distributes-thro
every vein and artery, of the Commonwealth
the manufactures of her own industrious ci
tizens, and, those of every section of the
Globe, including merchandize, cither of ne
cessity or luxury of every description and
value.
The interests of the city are inseparably
connected with those, of the Slate, and both
should be guarded by judicious acta of legis
lation and a liberal but economical system of
interna! improvement. The first great ob
ject,, in the projection of our improvement
system should have been the construction of
a main line from cast to west, with such la
teral brandies as were indispensable to the
support of the main line and the interests of
dur citizens.
Tliis course would have insured immediate
success and economy, and in due season
would have insured the construction of
branch canals and rail roads over every por
tion of the Slate.. .
By prematurely constructing works of
doubtful utility, the whole -system of im
provements has not attained that degree of
usefulness whicluts friends anticipated, and
which the public good required. This re
sult is attributed to causes which can readi
ly be corrected by sound legislative enact
ment, and a faithful and fearless discharge
of duty by those agents who are entrusted
with the public property.- If public agents
were selected for their capacity and integri
ty alone, the public treasure would be more
effectually guarded,”and our public.'works.
speedily reducedltu-succcssfu 1-operation-.
The dissipation of bur resources in the con
struction of unproductive canals and rail
roads in order, to obtain legislative action
favorable to works of acknowledged useful
ness, has been seriously injurious to Penn
sylvania.
Of all the works of doubtful expediency
constructed by the State, in the opinion of
your committee there.is hope so useless; so
expensive, or of as little value as the Gettys
burg rail road. It was commenced by fraud
and intrigue and will end in disgrace and
loss to the Commonwealth,'..--The means of
the Commonwealth are inadequate 'to its
completion, and if completed it could never
be productive of general benefit.
'• In conformity witli the instructions of the
house, an engineer ~wns employed by the
committee, and ‘a survey made of the road;
His report with an accurate map and profile
of the road is herewith presented, to which
the house is referred for information relative
to the work and the country over which it is'
located., .
The Gettysburg rail road commences at a
small tQAvn of tlmt nanie in couhty,
which is separated by a distance of 43 miles
from .any other work belonging to the State,
and extends thence hear to and nearly par
allel with the Maryland line, over the'South
mountain.. It crosses at a
distance of 50 miles from Gettysburg, and
extends 13 miles, into that State, where the 1
funds of Pennsylvania wguld be squandered
beyond the control of her legislative or ju
dicial authorities.,' J ,
It is presumed the intention of construct
ing'this-road- connect, Philadelphia
with' the'Baltimore and Ohio rail road,in the
Potomac valley by a junction of the Gettysf
burg line with -a proposed Tail', road from
Gettysburg to, the btate.rpad ,ht Columbia.
The,distance, by-tliis, route yet-to be ■raajjpt
independently pf,'the section from .York’ to
Columbia, is, miles., _
The saute extrenie'points. are connected
byThe:State road, the Lancaster land-’Har-
Hsburg' road.’iHe
.aniliheSrinkli^-railTbadlall.of^KichTre
finished,‘,;a‘nX.i«V
frbm Gfeen Castle.to. Clear Spiing.
distance' betwccnTbe fstr’cintspohese
by the respective'routes is equal, and the
line through Harrisburg combines many ad
vantages over that by Gettysburg, in refer
ence to cost, grade and curvature, besides
passing through the seat of Government, and
through a country affording, a respectable
support to the road by triyel and transpor
tation, independently of’any prospective
trade to be derived from a connection with
the ’Maryland works in the valley of the Po
tomao river. No advantage is gained in dis
tance by the”route through Gettysburg, as
has been heretofore alleged, and that line is
represented by the engineer employed by
the committee, as being depreciated by its
heavy grade and curvature, 70 per cent.
Besides these advantages, the route of the
Gettysburg line"is located fora considerable'
distance oyer-a mountainous, barren and al
most-uninhabited country, which offers nei
ther now or prospectively, no transportation
from its products, either agricultural, min : '
craPor manufacturing, to render the work
profitable or even to sustain its ordinary re
pairs. A proper idea of the travel upon this
line may be inferred from the fact that a tri
weekly two horse stage coach, which is but,
poorly sustained, accommodates the public
travel- from Hagerstown through Gettysburg
to York, and is very frequently without a
passenger. ■ -
No work has been done by the company
incorporated to construct the rail road from
Gettysburg to York; and it is not- probable
that they have ever seriously entertained the
idea of its prosecution without obtainingfrom
the Commonwealth the necessary funds for
its completion. . ’ '
By the estimates of the engineer in his re
port herewith presented, it wdlbc perceived
that .the cost of the road from Gettysburg to
Clear Spring, a distance of."6S miles, would
be 54,872,348 78, and the cost of the line
from Gettysburg to York would, be $1,104,-
000. 1n.a1b55,976,348 78, a sum equal to
one fifth of the cost of all other public works
belonging to the Stale.
The average'cost of sixty three miles, .as
above estimated, would be 577,340 per mile,
a sum nearly double the average.cost of any
other line or rail road in the United States,
of considerable extent, as exhibited in the
following statement of cost per mile, of
thirteen rail roads constructed in various
States of-the Union:
Cost of Boston and Wooster fail
road'per mile, , $37,000
Do. B'flston-and-Providence road, .'42,000
Do. Norwich and Wooster road, 22,000
Do. Western rail road, ' 34,000
Do. New Jersey rail road, 45,000
Do. Camden and Amboy road, 40,000
Do. Columbia and Philadelphia, 44,000
Do. Allegheny Portage, 45,000
’ Do. Albany and Schenectady, 61,000
Do. Utica and Schenectady, 19,000
Do. Stonington rail road, 52,000
Do. Hartford and New Haven, , 20,000
Do. Housctonic, ,15,000
It is evident/from reports annually made
to the Legislature, that the Columbia rind
Philadelphia road, forming a principal link
in the main lUfe.of State improvements, does
not pay the expenses of repairs, superintend
ence and the interest on its first cost at five
per cent. "With this fact before us, in ref
erence to a portion of the'inain line of pub
lic works, of acknowledged utility, would it
be wise to expend the sum of sis millions of
dollars upon a work which would yearly
bring the State in debt tb sustain its repairs
and ordinary expenses, and which at most
would accomplish no useful end, or form a
communication or means of transportation
between points not- already connected by
cither canals or rail roads constructed thro’
private enterprise, in winch the State has an
interest? The committee are of a different
opinion, and express their belief that a total
abandonment of this woik inVolves fhe least
sacrifice of public funds the State can make
upon it; " ~
In conformity with instructions, the com 1
mittee.made the necessary inquiries, as to
the condition and prospects of completion of
the Baltimore and Ohio rail road, and also
in reference to the practicability of forming
a junction of the Gettysburg line with that,
under 'existing acts and agreements between
thb several 1 States f and parties interested.-—-
The committee leathed-Trom the president
of the Baltimore and Ohio rail road, that in
consequence, as well of the provisions of the
recent act of the'State of Virginia, extend
ing .tljp "charter .of this company, as,of the
impracticability; with any probable resources
of the cbinpany. of constructing their work
througK'tlie State of Maryl an d, th e road f ro_tn_
Harper’s Ferry," to a point about six miles
below Cumberland Jias from necessityvbeen
located bn the southern side of the Rptomac
river, through the State of- Virginia, and
that, in consequence of: this location, it
would.npt be practicable to connect the Get
tysburg rail road-with that of the Baltimore
and Ohio company, without occupying with
tlie former a longer distance in the Stale of
Maryland tlfanoas lieretofore befen author
ized, and without crossing the'Potomac riv
er in the State of Virginia,tor which purpose
the authority of the States of Maryland and
Virginia, and the cbTVsenf.bf the Baltimore,
and Ohio rail road cbmpariy, would be ne
cessary pre-requisites., It is evident, there
fore, from the location of the Baltimore and
Ohio'railvroad 1 cbjnpahy; between Harper’s
Ferry'4t)d Cumberland, (hat »o junction.can
be':mlx'Se;jih4er existing la\y4, with tljat work
by tlie line of.the Gettysburg rail road; aiid
Hat such junction cannot in any,way* be
Made,,without fij-st obtaining the cpnseht of,
IherSlntpB,Q£.M,®tj’l®hd ‘and.Virginia,' abil
the, TJal tuhotb and ...Ohio, rail road company,
whose-intccciits
pectipnl apd yvjibse,' cp.osbilt,;,i!n ';.tliat-'-ac-i
ebunf,' cbtild' not. probably j)e obtained.', It
would be folly,, therpfore,. and sacrifice of ,
the,public interest, to make further appro
priations of public-funds to this useless and
wprihlesa.voad,. ,
Thn'onmmitteeareofbpinion.tnat gross
have been
practiced the agents of llie Sfate, in tin;
[AT TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
Ncju- Series—Vol. 4, No. 8.
management of the" work. Sections have
been re-let at largely advanced prices, with
out having been lawfully declared abandon;
cd, and without having been advertised ac
cording to the express injunction of the law.
The following advertisement is copied
from the Adams Sentinel, relative to there
letting of a portion of the work. “Sealed
proposals will be received at the. office of the
superintendent in Gettysburg, until sunset
on Tuesday the 6th November next, for
finishing section No. 3 of the Gettysburg
extension, Pennsylvania rail-road, and any
other work that may be abandoned on said
road. '
(Signed)
id. C. CLARKSON.
Superintendent .”
October 22,*1838.
It appears from the books and testimony,
that sections No. 2 and 3 were re-let, under
the above notice and it further appears from
the' testimony of the, superintendent, Mr.
Clarkson and the contractor for section No:
7, Mr. Clay, that these two sections were
not abandoned, but that the work progressed
without interruption up to the hour ofre-let
ting and afterwards,'and that the-same con
tractors .received—said—sections, at prices'
eohsiderably—advanced—beyond —their first
contract. The law requires that abandoned
sections shall be advertised two weeks be
fore rc-letting, but in these cases they were
to re-let, orithe prices advanced, without a
shadow of compliance with a single provision
of the law.' ■
The committee adduce further documen
tary testimony to show the existence of fraud
and connivance .oh -the part of, the agents of
the state bpon this work.
In the engineer’s estimate dated Nov. Ist,
18&8, he credits the contractor, with 11,819
cubic yards cpmmofi excavation, and 16,769
cubic yards of detached rock excavation as
having been done ion section No, 3. In his
estimate of thissccticn, dated the tenth of
the same month, he returns 7,039 cubic yds
common excavation, Xft, o33 cubic yards de
tached rock excavation, and the balance, is I
.credited,to, the item of solid r.ock excavation ]
which commands a price of 60 cents , per
yard, and this increases the aggregate esti-1
mate $2,838 34 in favor of the contractor.
Also on section No. 7ythe engineer esti
mated, on the Ist of January, 1839, 16,775
cubic vards of common excavation.' On tho.l
first of February, 1839, he reduces this item
in his estimate to 9,450 cubic yards, and
credits the difference in cubic yards, to solid
and detached rock excavation which com-1
mands a higher price, aniLmakes a difference
in favor of the contractor of $8,386 SO.—
Your committee find several charges in the
estimates of ai> similar character,- but not so
large an amount. They also find that in
1 two cases, in direct violation of law, the
! late board of canal commissioners made large
(allowances to contractors beyond the prices
stipulated in their contract. On section No.
' 19 an allowance was made of 81,410 over
i the contract prices; and on.section No. SO
where the work was nearly finished, an al
lowance was made of 11,752 64. These al
lowances were ordered by special resolution
lof the late board of canal commissioners,
instructing engineer. to cstimate as-solid
[ rock that which had been estimated
I as common excavation, and as detached rock
excavation. It is evident that no resolution
of the board of canal commissioners could
change the geological formation upon any
section or contract, and that the law and the
contracts make the engineer the agent to de
cide upon the. nature, quantity and items of
work done under said contracts, without
conferring any authority on the canal com
missioners to change them—each contract
for work upon this road contains the follow
ing extract from the 6th section of the act of
the 85th February. 1826. relative .to-public.
"works. “No extra allowance shall in any
case be made for" the perforhiaHce of any
contract beyond the sum stipulated therein.”
The act therefore of the board of canal
commissioners authorising the payment of
money beyond the prices stipulated, or of
changing the items properly estimated, as to
price;'so as' greatly to increase, the cost, of
.the work, is a . direct fraud upon the
monwealth and should not pass unpunished.
•The accounts of the superintendent relative
to the above allowances- are suspended in
the Auditor General’s' office and should not
be settled. . • .. . |
The above cases exhibit strong circum
stantial evidence'of a combination to defraud
the state on the, part of public officers intriis
fed willi the managenient of this road and'
the disbursements of the’public funds, and
is sustained by the glaring increase of cost
of the work upon this road oyer and above
the original estimates. The 'six sections
which are finished were originally estimated
to cost $37*660 61;the actual cost* bf these
sections has been $99,181 -11, making nn in
crease of $61,620 71.
■ The masonry on' tho Ist diyision in the
original- report, ofi.October. 1836, waB .esti
mated to coat $23,425 75, and in the late
report of the engineer, it is estimated at ■
$80,513 40,. being an increase of $57,-
5.87" 65. .
The entire cost of grading, the Ist divis
ion of 22j miles, as estimated by the engi
neer in his report of October 30th, 1836, is
$478,079 99;, The esfSmate bf the late en
gineer -in- his report of 1838, for grading this
division including .work done'; is $947,084
86, or about double th'e orjginal estimate;;
committee are convincedftom an in
spection of the work anil the country.'.oyer
.which it is, located* that-the estimates con
tained in the engineers report herewith ap
pended . are hot more than sufficient to finish
the:work;-; J.njthat estimate-the-cost ofrrthc:
first .diyiaion of :22i mi|cs ia put down; at
$1*178,000, exclusive of the rail-wiy super
structure. ■ 1 •'
.Thetestimo.nytakenbytlieconimitlee,
establishes the fact that the persons -who
conducted the wbrks on. the Gcttysburg rail
road during the' past summer, in" the. most
unjustifiable manner, i ntcrferediq the then
AGENTS.-
John Moore, Esq. Newville; -
Joseph M. Means, Esq.- Hope well township. -
John Wunderlich, Esti. Sliippensburg.
William M. Matbeb, Esq. Lee’s X Hoads.
John Meuaffv, Dickinson township.
Abraham Hamilton,. Hogestown.
George F. Cain, Esq. Meclianicabuig,-
Freuerick Wonderlicb, do.
James Et.liott, Esq. Springfield.
-Daniel Krvsuer, Esq. Churchtown.
Jacob Longnecker, E.Pennsboro’ township.'
George Ernest, Cedar,’Spring, Allen tp.
pending election for governor;’that the su
perintendant raised the contractors prices,
by a connivance ht the provisions and in
junctions of,the law, and that the contractors
in turn taxed the men engaged upon' the
work as laborers, large proportionate a
mounts of their bard earnings, to bet upon
Mr.RUncr’s election, and to bear the elec
tioneering expenses. In some cases, this
system of oppression and robbery was resis
ted and the money collected by an, appeal to
the law. One person employed upon this
work, a foreigner, who lias never ben natu
ralized, testifies toj,the fact, that he was
clerk of the electionm Millcrstowri district
—that he was also a clerk for two of the
principal contractors, and that said contrac
tors retained a portion of the men’s wages
for electioneering purposes, and belting on
Mr. Ritner’s election. Others stated, that
many workmen who were foreigners and not
naturalized, were compelled - to attend the
election polls and vote for Mr, Ritner on
pain of being discharged. *
, Your committee found much difficulty in
arriving at the whole truth, relative to offi
cial transactions of officers upon the" road,
as many witnesses refused to answer ques
tions nskcd„and others positively refused to
obey the summons of the- committee; while
others left the state, and were not on that
account, withip jurisdiction of the committee.
The books belonging to the engineers and
superintendents office contained piany era
sures, and in.onc instance, a book, in which
estimates had been recorded, wa§ mutilated
so as to leave no traces of entries which had
been made in it. The book containing cop
ies of original bids was not to be found, and
was neVer surrendered to th,e present super
. intendent. A book containing only a por
tion of the monthly estiniatcs was produced.
The other books of this description, were
either carried away from the office or muti
lated, so as to be of no use ns a book of rec
ords.
The statement appemled_.markcd (A,) fex
hibits the coat of work done, the amounts
doe and the amounts paid to each contractor
upon the Gust division upon each section for
grading. The:at|temcnt marked (B,) ex
hibits the amotinfa due, the amounts paid,
and the prices for masonry divis
ion. 'Tlic statement markcu (C,) exhibits
the names of contractors for each section
under the original and last" lettings. ' The
paper marked (D,) exhibits the list of state
officers, engineers, superintendents,, &c.—
employed upon the road, and the salary of
each.
The whole amount of work done as exhib
ited by the estimates of the engineer employ
ed by the present board of canal commiss
ioners is $“18,862,98, and the amount re
quired to Girish the road from Gettysburg to
Clear Spring, over and above the amount of
work done, as shown in life engineer’s report
herewith appended is $4,272,348 78, and if
the cost of the line from York to Gettysburg
be added the amount required will be 85,-
376,549 78,
After mature consideration of the subject,
and a deliberate investigation of the merits
of the road, the majority of your committee
‘arc of opinion that it is inexpedient further
to prosecute the work., and’that.its suspeir
sion is absolutely necessary to preserve the
solvency of-the commonwealth.
They therefore offer the following resolu
tion: . '
Resolved, That the committee he dischar
ged from the further consideration of [the
subject
THOMAS' B. M’ELWKE ’
\VM. B. ANDERSON.
MARtIN SHEARER,
THOMAS J. HESTON,
M M. WIELD.
_ Cunioii»-GocßTsmp-AKD'Cii
“ .^.Resignation..
Deacon Marvin was a worthy deacon in
Lyme, Connecticut, and fell in love. Dea
cons as well as ministers arc “made of such
frail stuff as all the lighter sons of vanity,?’
and are just as liable to stub their toes, bark
their shins and fall in love as any othec nien.
Deacon Marvin fell in love with Betty Lee,
as pretty a lass as ever stepped into Lyme
meeting house of a Sabbath day, was
as. constant there ns the deacon himself, to
say nothing of the : minister* "When the
Deacon’s love had waxed so,warm and up
rorious that he could no longer restrain him
self, he mounted bis. plough liorse and direc
ted his course to Captain Lee’s. • Reflecting
on the way, that it would ill become the
dignity of a deacon to make love as do, tire
world’s people, he determined to" conduct
operations with a serious gravity befitting the
occasion., lie had studied his bible to good
purpose, add resolved to ’hake the patriarch
Jacob his pattern.' Accordingly oh finding
himself by the sideof Miss Betsey, lie lifted'
up his voice and'kissed her, yea, he .kissed
again arid again, and he said, “Betsey, verily,
Betsey, the Lord hassent me to marry thee f”
Betsey had hitherto been little better than
■one oftlfe" wicke'dpbiif the" deacon’s "kisses""
had wrought wonders, and although-there
was a little misfhief in her eye, she answer
ed with all the resignation and ,submission
of a deacon’s intended, to the great joy of
Deacon Marvin, “the will of tne Lord be
done.” They were man and wife in a fort
night. ' ..
Pote’b Wiiiow.—The first weeping wil
low in England wasplantedbyAlexandcr ,
;Pope, the'poet. He received: arpresent .of
figs from Turkey, and observing a lwig in
fhebasketv-ready to bud, heplanted At inhia.
garden, and it soon-became ‘a fine tree.—
■Front this stSckgall the .wceping'wiUows in ■ :
£nglond and America;ptiginated; a n
r; If the' above- be true, the mid- Weejiing
-1 Willow; Which; 9toodat'the corner of -tlie
Ffrel' : Presbyterian 'CliurcK'in jijda borotfgh)
for the ' last Hal f century, and' whichTell'j a
victim to the hurricane of June,. .was,-a
lineal descendant- r
Willow.— Eds. Voi. , ' ' . ;
lISTUN