JIE DOLLAR PER ANNUM, INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.
TOWANDA :
fllornmn. Jtonnarg 'BS?
THE EVENING HEARTHSTONE.
Gladly now we gather rouinl it.
For the toiling day is done,
Ai d the gay and solemn twilight
Follows down the golden sun ;
Shadows lengthen on the payment.
Stalk like giant- through the _ r l >.> m.
Wander pa-t the du.-kv easement,
Creep around the lire'it room.
l>raw the curtains—clo-e the shutters
Place the slippers hy the tire.
Though the rude wind loudly mutters.
What care we for wind-spirit's ire ?
What care we for outward seeming!
Fickle fortune's love or smile?
I;' around us love is beaming—
have can human ills beguile !
Neath the cottage roof and palace,
From the peasant to the king—
All are quailing from life's chalice
Babble that em hautmeut bring.
Gratt - are g! living—music flowing.
From the lips we love the be--t ;
Oh. the joy. the bliss of knowing
There are hearts whereon to rest—
IKirt- that throb with eager gladness—
Heart.- that echo with our own—
V. Vile grim ( are and haunting Sadness
Mingle ne'er in 1 >ok or tone ;
( are nun tread the halls of Daylight—
s.ulne-s haunt the midnight hour—
It t the weird and witching Twilight
Britig- the glowing Hearthstone's dower.
Altar of our Iml est feelings !
i YldV l d's well remembered shrine!
Fplrit y. .rniiigs—Soul revealings—
Vie itlis hum utal round thee twine !
3£l ist c! I;iitc o us.
The Bottom of the Ocean—lnteresting
Revelations.
Lieut. Manrv lias just sent a report to the
S ni.irv of the Navy concerning the subma
rine explorations made by the North Pacific
INj icring Expedition under the command of
Cub mint ltodgcrs, and from this valuable
• HOC nt we take the following interesting
extract : -
Beep sea soundings, with specimens of the
e'ttoai. have also been returned to this office
f;mi that expedition. They were taken in the
N itli Pacific with Brooke's apparatus, and
been studied through the microscope of
1' Bailey at W.st Point.
Tiiey all tell the same story They teach
ii-; at the quiet of the grave reigns every-
Therein the profound depths of the ocean ; that
repose here> s beyond the reach of the
iiiitl ; it is so perfect that none of the pow
os of earth, save only the earthquake and
- aiio, can disturb it The specimens of
• sea soundings, for which we are indebted
"ithe ingenuity of Lieut. Brooke, are as pure
las free from the sand of the sen as tlie
•v il ik<* that fall.-- when it is calm upon the
■i i< from the dust of the earth .Indeed,
- soundings suggest the idea that the sea,
- -the >aow cloud with it< flakes HI a mini,
• uiway- letting fall upon its bed showers of
microscopic shells ; and we may roani'ly
marine that the " sunless wrecks" which -fr w
•'Din, are, in the process of ages, bid un
' tiii- fleecy covering, presenting the o md
c,i|n irance which is seen over the body of
traveler who has perished in the snow
• br.ii. The ocean, especially within and near
> tropics, swarms with life. The remains of
■ ::;yriads of moving things are conveyed by
' HI- and scattered and lodged iu thecourse
■ fine all over it.- bottom. This process, con
. <i for ages, has covered the depths of the
1 n: - with a mantle,consisting of organisms
as the marled frost, and as light as
iiMbfted snow flake on the mountain.—
n ' • or tii.< beautiful sounding-rod has rcaeh
■ U* Wtom of the de. p -I'II, whether in tin*
•• ;.tttii_* or Pacific, the bed of the ocean has
Mid of a downlike aoftueas. Tin* lead
"r<; to sink many feet deep into the oozy
rdu re which ha> been strained and iii-
I ' i- r fin* sea water. This matter eou
" "i the -ki letons ami easts of insects of the
microscopic minuteness.
T-ie ;act that the currents not reach
tiie bottom of the deep sea ; that
no abrading agents at work there,
1 •• i!i'' miawing tooth of time ; that a j
7 ' ml, it si F.'tduA IIJM.II the ttfd of the.
/." a ruble sfr<ai<r tnouqh to hold
-hi'graph irire that art rail draw ;
IM'II other discoveries made in the course |
carried on in the hydro-,
!'■ I <ii-|Mrtiiieiit of this office concerning
s itf tlie sea, and already announced
puhlications and correspondence, j
* } to prove of great practical value and
"in submarine telegraphy—a line of j
" only in the lirst stage of its infancy, |
' ! interesting to the whole human j
• • -or in its bearings and results it touch- j
nearly the progress of man in the l
■ it is leading him upward aud onward. ;
._ . 1:1 tvi's that a telegraphic cable must i
-| it strength to resist and withstand 1
the sea. Whereupon the conduct- j
r being coated to insulation with i
•'■• i. was encased in a wire hawser or
■ '"it enough to hold tlie largest "seyen
. ! nlnr anchors. These cables were
' !i>;v e in their mannfactnre, bulky for
- un,i 1 y for handling and difficult to
Mich a wire-laid cable that the
,' ■' e ( oiupaiiy lost in the laying be-
V . ' midland and CH|>C Breton, in 1855;
'"'ha one—wire laid, stiff and larg
, ' 1 ;i| t „—that the French have
' '""'pted to lav in the Mediterraueau,
•ST
i N we have learned, in the course of
y ''ptiiriitious. that all the olwtaeles in
.. . 'he f,, j],,, laying of su'imarine
'■ctwccu the surface and tho
THE BRADFORD REPORTER.
depth of a few hundred fathoms below ; and
that these are not to be mastered by force nor
overcome by the tensile strength of wiredrawn
ropes, but that, with a little artifice, they will
yield to a mere thread. It. is the case of a
man-of-war and the little nautilus in the.hurri
cane : the one, weak in its strength, is dashed
to pieces ; the other, strong in its weakness,
resists the utmost violence of the storm, and
rides as safely through it as though there were
110 ragings in the sea. Therefore, it may now
be considered as a settled principle in subma
rine telegraphy that the true character of a
cable for the deep sea is not that of an iron
rope as large as a man's arm, but a single cop
per wire, or a fascicle of wires, coated with
gutta pereha, pliant and supple, and not larg
er than a lady's finger."
THE HEALTH OF CATTLE. —Mix, occasionally,
one part of suit with four, five or six parts of
wood ashes—give the mixture to different
kinds of stork, summer and winter. It promotes
appetite, and tends to keep thein in a healthy
condition. It is said to be sron.l -"dust hois
in horses, murrain in rattle, and rot in sheep.
llorse-radish is valuable for cattle. It cre
ates appetite, and is good for various diseases.
Some give it to any animal that is unwell. It
is good for oxen troubled with the heat. If
the animals will not eat it voluntarily, cut it
up fine, and mix it with potatoes or meal.
Feed all animals regularly. They not only
loik for the food at the usual time, but the
stomach indicates the want at the stated pe
riod. Therefore, feed morning, noon and even
ing, as near the same time as possible.
tiuard against the wide and injurious ex
treme of satiating with excess, and starving
with want. Food should be of suitable qualify,
and proportion to the growth and fattening of
animals, to their production in young, and
milk, and to their labor or exercise. Animals j
that labor need far more food, and that which
is far more nutritious, than those that are
idle.
In dry times see that the animals have a
goo supply of water. When the fountains are
low, they drink the draining* of fountains,
streams and passages of water, which are un
wholesome.
THE MAX who I.OVED FI X. —The story is fa
miliar of a man who took passage in a flat boat
from Cincinnati bound to New Orleans. He
passed many dreary, listless days on his way
down the Ohio and Mississippi, and seemed to
be desponding for the want of exercise. Su
perficially he was quiet and iiieffensive, practi
cally, he was perfectly good uaturcd and kind
ly disposed.
In the course of time the craft in on which
he was passenger put into Napoleon, in the
State of Arkansas, for groceries. At the mo
ment, there was a general fight extending along
the front of town, which at that time consisted
of a single house.
The unhappy passenger after figetting and
jerking iiis feet up and down, as if he were
walking on hot bricks, turned to a used up
spectator and observed :
" Stranger, is this a free fight ?"
Tiie reply was prompt and to the point.
'* Ji is. and if you wish to go in, don't stand
on ceremony."
T..e wayfarer did go in, and in less time
than w can relat- circumstances, in* was liter
adv cLew' up <J roping his way down to the
ll i', L a r gone, his eyes closet* his lips
swollen, and Lis . . •*?. I ;il!y mapped out, he
sat iiiinseii down on i iiiekcn coop, and solilo
quized thus :
"So this is Na-po-le-on, is it ? Upon my
word it's a lively place, and the only one at
which I have had any fun since I left home."
NOT RECTFKOI ATKD. —A good joke is going
the rounds of the adventures of a young man,
" ardent in love," who met with a Lit of cold
comfort.
Joshua stood beside his fair one trembling;
his heart kept turning over, his eyes grew dim,
his tongue was paralyzed. A cold clammy
perspiration oozed through his skin, while ever
and anon he rolled his liquid eyes toward Ju
lietta. At length his knees gave way, and
down upon his marrow bones lie thus address
ed her : " My dearest Julietta, with all my
soul I love ; I love you !"
Here his voice failed and he would have sunk
upon the carpet, but a timely answer from her
eucaptured lips brought him 'spellbound' to
his feet. " Rise, sir," said she, "do not hum
ble yourself to me, I do not reciprocate your
love."
" Reciprocate ! reciprocate !" whispered
Josh. What on earth does that mean, thought
he. And then off he went, not even stopping
to kiss her hand, iu search of a dictionary, half
mad with hope, and half with fear.
" Dictionary 1" he cried, as lie entered the
nearest book store, " dictionary; I say !"
." Ves sir, iu a moment," answered the clerk
" A moment thunder J" vociferated Josh,
" I want a dictionary."
" A nicely bound one," said the clerk : sell
cm cheap ; cheap as dirt."
" Sell the d 1, I'm looking for a word."
Over and over he turned the leaves. At last
lie stopped ; he looked, he sighed, then laying
down the book he walked out saying as he
went, " kicked, by jiminy."
AX AXTI-VEGETARIAN VIRGIN. —One of our
north-country pitmen, who haa turned vegeta
rian, went a-courting to a plucky lass in the
colliery village, and popped the question."—
" Oh," said she, "go along with you ! I>o
you think Pui going to be flesh of your flesh,
and vou living on cabbage ? No, indeed, I
don't belong to the rabbit family."— English
paper.
USED TO IT. —An elderly gentleman travel
ing in a stage, was amused by a constant lire
of words between two ladies. One at last
kindly inquired if the conversation did not make
his head-aehe ?
He replied, " So, madam ; I have been mar
ried upwards of twenty eght years ''
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY AT TO WANDA. BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. O'MEARA GOODRICH.
RI LES OK HF.ATH FOR MARRIED LADIES.—
Get up at three o'clock in the morning, clean
out the stoves, take out the ashes, sweep the
front sidewalk, and scrub the front steps, nurse
the baby, put the mackerel to soak, build the
fires, grind the coffee, get your husband's things
to warm, see the shirt aired, boil the mackerel,
settle the coffee, set the table, rouse the house,
carry up some hot water to that brute of a
lazy husband, and dry the morning paper.—
By this time you will have an appetite for your
breakfast. Hold the baby during the meal,
as you like your breakfast cold.
After breakfast, wash the dishes, nurse the
baby, dgst everything, wash the windows, wash
and dress the baby—(that pantry wants clean
ing out and scrubbing) —nurse the baby, draw
the baby in his wagon five or six miles for the
benefit ot his health ; nurse him when you re
turn ; put on the potatoes and the cabbage
(nurse the baby) and the corn beef, (don't for
get to nurse the baby) and the turnips, and
(nurse the baby) sweep everything ; take up
the dinner, set the table, fill the castors, change
the table cloth, t!i.'r ; that bin- wants nurs
ing. Eat your dinner, call again, and—nurse
the baby.
After dinner, wash the dishes, gather up all
the dirty clothes and put taem to soak, nurse
the baby every half hour, receive a dozen calls,
interspersed with nursing the baby ; drag the
baby a mile or two, hurry home, make biscuit,
pick up some codfish, cut some dried beef.—
Catnip tea for baby's internal disarrangement ;
hold tlie baby an hour to quiet'him, put some
alcohol in the metre ; baby a specimen of per
petual motion ; tea ready, take yours cold, as
usual.
After tea, wash up the dishes, put some fish
to soak, chop some hash, send for some more
sugar, (gracious ! how the sugar does go—
and thirteen cents a pound,) get down the
stockings and darn them—keep on nursing the
baby—wait up till twelve o'clock nursing the
baby, till husband comes with a double .shuffle
on the front steps, a decided difficulty in find
ing the stairway, and a dogged determination
to sleep in tlie back yard. Drag him upstairs
to bed, then nurse the baby and go to sleep.
Women in delicate health will find that the
above practice will either kill or cure them.
THE LAWYER WHO LOST HIS ORATION-. —ln
the political struggle of IK4H, two delegates
from I) , New Hampshire—a lawyer and
tailor—started on their mission to the capitol
of that State, together, in a wagon. The tai
lor was as ardent a politician as his companion,
albeit he was not so profound : what he lack
ed in hook learning and logic, he made up in
an abundant flow of words, set speeches, snatch
es of political orations, A *., which he had heard
at different caueiises, and which his retentive
memory hoarded up, ready to be delivered on
fitting occasions. They had not proceeded far
on their journey, when the man of broadcloth
asked his companion if he intended to make a
speech, and, on receiving an affirmative an
swer, told him he should like to hear it, as it
was all " cut and dried."
Accordingly, our limb of the law delivered
himself of his speech—the lahor of more than
one long night—to our " snapper up of trifles,"
who, after applauding it much, and criticising
it a little, desired tin* lawyer to go through
with it again, which was complied with. Af
ter discussing freely its merits and its chances
for improvement, in the delivery more especial
ly, tlie man ®f " measures" actually prevailed
upon the speeehifier to go through with it again;
and then complimented the victim by telling
him " 'twas now perfect and it couldn't be bet
tered."
Immediately upon their arrival at Concord,
tliev repaired to the chamber of the Conven
tion, which had just been organized. Our
man of cloth watched the chance, and before
his companion could say " Mr Speaker," he
anticipated him, got the floor, and, to the sur
prise and astonishment of his friends in gene
ral and his companion especially, recited the
whole speech as he caught it on the journey
from the unsuspecting lawyer's lips, verbatim
ft literal nm, and coolly to#k his scat, amidst
thunders of applause.
MRS. PARTINGTON ox MOIRE ANTIQUE. —" Do
you think Moire Antique becomes on a wi
dow ?" said a young widow to Mrs. Parting
ton, as she exhibited a mourning dress elabo
rately trimmed and a bonnet of tiie latest
mode.
The old lady scanned her attentively through
her glasses, before she answered.
" Mote antic !" said she at length, and her
finger was raised up like a note of exclamation.
" I should think less antic would be more be
coming in a widow. Widows more antic must
lie them spoken of by Paul to Timothy, who
wax wanton and will marry. Well, well, let
'em, though where a woman has once married
with a congealing and warm heart " —looking
straight at the rigid profile of the Corporal on
the wall—" and one that beats responsible to
her own, she will never want to enter the mari
time state again." There was a tremulous tone
in her voice and a glistening in her eye, like a
dew-drop on a morning glory ; the finger fell
to her side, and she turn id to look out of the
window after Ike, who was sailing a shingle
boat in a rain-water tub, with a garden toad
for a passenger.
The young widow withdrew to read what
Paul had said, evideutly disgusted with the
daine's misapprehension of her question, though
there was a lesson to her in the bluuder.
POLITENESS IN RAGS.—A little ragged child
was heard to call from the window of a mean
looking house to an opposite neighbor, 'Please,
Mrs. Miller, mother's compliments, and if it is
a fine day, will you go a-begging with her to
morrow ?
BROKKX HONRS. —Ladies who wear hoops
are kindly advised by the Bellows Falls Argus
"to look to their rigging." A few days ago
the editor observed a lady sweeping along with
the air of a queen with about two feet of
whalebone sticking out behind !
" REffIARDLESS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANV QUARTER."
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
To the Honorable the Semite unit l\lembers of the House
of Hejtrcsentatices of the General Assembly :
FEI.T.OW CITI7KN*3 : In obedience to the Con
stitution and laws of this Commonwealth, yon
have assembled to discharge the important and
responsible duties that devolve upon you. To
protect the rights and privileges of the people,
advance their interests, and promote the welfare
and prosperity of the State, should be the aim
and end of all your legislation. In the dis
charge of my duties, it will be a pleasure to
co operate with you in the accomplishment of
these objects.
The past year has been one of unusual pros
perity. The bounties of a kind Providence
have not been withheld from our Common
wealth. A plenteous harvest has rewarded
the labor of the husbandman. Honorable in
dustry, in all its departments, has been encour
aged. No financial embarrassments—no com
mercial distress—no political or social evils,
have interrupted the progress, or checked the
energies of the people. The great interests of
education, morality and religion, have been
cherished and sustained. Health and peace,
with their attendant blessings, have been ours.
To Him " who rules tlie Nations by His pow
er, and from whom cometh down every good
and perfect gift," are we indebted for these
mercies, and to Him should lie given the hom
age of our devout gratitude and praise.
The financial condition of the Common
wealth is highly satisfactory. Every demand
upon the Treasury has been promptly met and
i paid, without the aid of loans. The operations
: of this department will lie exhibited in detail
i in the report of the State Treasurer,
j For the fiscal year ending November 30,
1850, the receipts of the Treasury (including
I the balance in the Treasury on the Ist day of
December, 1855, of $1,243,097 33) have been
$0,021,937 04. The total expenditures for
the same period, were $5,377,142 22. Ral
ance in the Treasury, December 1, 1820, sl,-
244.795 42.
Kxeluding the balance in the Treasury on '
the first of December, 1853, the receipts from \
all sources, were $5,378,240 33. The ordi
nary expenditures for the same period, were
$4,113,144 77, showing an excess of receipts
over ordinary expenditures of $1,265,095 56.
The extraordinary payments for the same
vcar, were $1,203,997 45, as follows, viz : To
the completion of ttie Port aire Railroad, and ■
for th* payment of debts previously contracted '
on that work. slßl 494 11 ; to" the North j
Hianrh FxteiiMon, $122,723 52; to re-lav the I
south track of the Columbia Railroad, $267,-
000 00 ; for motive power in 1855, 8118,049- '
42 ; to enlarge the Delaware division of the •
Pennsylvania Canal, $13,960 : for general ro
pairs in 1852 -1)4—55, $63,965 11 ; to domes
tic creditors, slsl 63 ; to old claims on the
main line, examined by the commissioners, and
paid under the act of May 22, 1856, $130,512-
09 ; to the redemption of loans. $327,821 47; j
and relief notes cancelled, $38,217 00.
The interest on the funded debt which fell
due in February and August, last, was then j
paid, and that which becomes due in February !
next, will be paid with equal promptness, out
of available means now in the Treasury. The
punctuality with which the interest on the pub
lic debt has been paid, and the ability of the
Treasury to meet all legitimate demands upon
it, have inspired public confidence in our secu
rities, and contributed largely to establish and
sustain the credit of the commonwealth.
The Commissioners of the Sinking Fund re- i
port the sum of $722,432 93 as due by the
Treasury to that fund. This amount will be
applied to the redemption of relief notes now
in circulation, and to the payment of the fund
ed debt. Heretofore the available means in
the Treasury have been applied to some extent |
in payment of outstanding temporary loans, '
which bear an annual interest of six per cent.; i
it being deemed advisable as a matter of econ- j
oiny to pay these loans, rather than the fund- 1
ed debt, which bears a much less rate of inter
est. It is expected that the balance of the
temporary loan will be paid before the close of
the current year, and the operation of the sink
ing fund resumed and continued as directed by
law.
The funded and unfunded debt of the State,
including temporary loans, on the Ist day of
December, 1855, as per reports of the Auditor
General and State Treasurer, was as follows,
viz :
Fr.VPKO I>KBT.
(5 per cent, loan, $516,154 93
5 do. do 38,903.445 04
44 do. do 388.200 00
4" do. do 100.000 00
Total funded del>t, $30,907,799 97
CNFI'XDEtt lIKBT.
Relief note* in circulation. $'258,773 00
Interest certiorates outstand
• ins 29,157 '25
Domestic c editors 1,204 00
Balance temporary loan, April
19, 1853 525,000 00
Balance temporary loan, May
9. 1854 346,000 oO
Total unfunded detit, $1,160,194 00
Total del it. Dec. 1.K55 $41,067,994 22
Tht- funded and unfunded debt at the close
of the lust fiscal year, December 1, 1856, was
as follows, viz:—
6 per cent, loan $511,781 00
5 do. do. 35.566.994 50
4£ do. do 368,200 00
4 do. do 100,000 00
Total funded debt, • $39,86ff,975 50
CSFCNDKIt OEBT. VIZ*.
Relief notes in circulation,. . $220,556 00
Interest on certificates out
ing, 24.691 36
Inserest certificates unclaimed 4.4 IS 38
Domestic creditors 1,104 00
Balance temporary loan,
April 19, 1853 400,000 00
Balance temporary loan,
May 9, 15.74 : 184,000 00
Total unfunded debt, 834,859 75
Total debt Dec. 1, 1850 $40,701,835 25
Total debt, Dec. 1, 15.55, $41,006,994 22
Do. do. 1850, 40,701,835 25
Decrease,. 366,158 97
It thus appears that during the past fiscal
year the sum of three hundred and sixty-six
thousand one hundred and fifty-eight dollars
and ninety-seven cents has been paid in liqui
dation of the public debt This, taken in con
nection with the fact, that during the year end
jog November 30, ISoo, six hundred and one
dollars and ttvo cents were paid on the same
account, exhibits the gratifying fact, that the
process of reducing the public debt has com
menced ; and, unless.checked by reckless mis
management and extravagant expenditure,
must continue until the people aud the Com
monwealth are relieved from the debt and tax
ation with which they arc burdened In ad
dition to this reduction of the public debt, large
appropriations and payments were mule for
the completion of the Portage railroad aud
for debts previously contracted on that work ;
for old and unsettled claims recently adjusted
bv the commissioners appointed under the act
of last session ; for re-laying the south track
of the Columbia railroad ; for enlarging the
Delaware division of the canal, and for other
purposes. These extraordinary demands up
on the Treasury have ceased, or will soon cease,
with the necessity that created them ; and
thus leave a still larger portion of the revenues
to be applied in payment of the public debt.
A careful cxaminatiou of the financial con
dition of the Commonwealth —her sources of
revenue and tlie probable future expenditures,
has inspired the hope that the time is not far
distant when the public debt will be fully paid,
and this without increasing the subjects or ra
tio of taxation. It has already been shown
that the revenues of the past year exceeded
the ordinary expenditures one million two hun
dred and s xfy-five thousand ninety-five dol- j
lars and fifty-six cents. Tue estimated receipts
and expenditures for the current year, which
will be presented to you in the report of the
State Treasurer, show that tlie excess of re
ceipts, over ordinary expenditures, miy reach
the stun of one and a half million of dollars.—
These estimates, although approximations, will
not be far from the true result. Allowing,
then, four hundred thousand dollars for annual
extraordinary expenditures—and under a wise
system of economy in no probnl.lv contingency
can t!:y exceed that sum—we will have at
least one million of dollars to be appropriated
annually for the payment of the public debt.
With the rapid development of the wealth and
resources of the Commonwealth—the increase
; of population—of the value of real estate, and
of the amount and value of property of every
description, the revenues must and will con
tinue to increase. This natural and necessary
increase of lew ue will supply every deficien
cy and every demand upon the Treasury thai
falls within the range of probability. If, then,
] the sum of one million dollars be appropriated
j annually in liquidation of this d< fit, and the ac
! cruing iutorc-t on tho Minis paid be applied in
! the manner of a sinking fund, the entire iu
j debtcdness of the Commonwealth will be ex
tinguished in less than twenty-three years.
If these premises arc correct—ami their cor
rectness can only be impaired by unwise legis
lation, or the imprudent management of our
finances—the truth of the proposition is sus
ceptible of the clearest demonstration. As
suming the public debt on the first day of i)e
--| eember, 1856, to be, in round numbers, forty
j millions five hundred thousand dollars, and that
at the end of each fiscal year one million dol
lars, with the accruing interests on former pay
ments, will be paid, unerring calculation will
determine the result to be as before indicated.
Thus, before the expiration of the year 1879,
Pennsylvania may stand redeemed from the op
pression of her public debt, and her people be
released from a taxation imposed to meet its
accruing interest, and to maintain the faith and
credit of the Commonwealth. These views are
not Utopian. Iy practicing strict economy in
all departments of the government—avoiding
extravagant expenditure—refusing to under
take any new schemes of internal improvement,
and holding to a rigid accountability the re
ceiving and disbursing agents of the State, their
realization may be anticipated with confidence.
1 must again call the attention of the Leg-!
Mature to a subject referred to in my last an
nual message, in the following terms :
" llv the thirty-eighth section of the act of
the 16th of April, 1845, entitled ' An act to
provide for the ordinary expenses of Govern
ment, the repair of the canals and railroads of
the State, and other claims upon the Common
wealth,' the Governor was authorized to cause
certificates of State stock to he issued to all
persons or bodies corporate holding certificates
for the payment of interest on the funded debt
of the State, which fell due on the first day of
August, 1842, the first days of February and
August, 1843, and the first days of February
and August, 1844, in an amount equal to the
amount of certificates so held, upou their de
livering up said certificates to the Auditor
General. In pursuance of the authority thus
given, certificates of State stock to the amount
of four millions one hundred and five thousand,
one hundred and fifty dollars and twenty ecnts,
bearing interest at the rate of five per cent,
per annum, payable semi-annually, on the first
days of February and August in each year,
and redeemable on or after the first day of
August, 1855, were issued. The minimum pe
riod fixed by law for the redemption of these
certificates, expired on the first day of August,
1855. No provision has been made for their
renewal or redemption.
" Although by the terms of the act author
izing those certificates of State stock, as also !
by the conditions of the certificates issued in !
pursuance thereof, the time of payment, after
the expiration of the minimum period, is op- j
tional with the debtor, the Commonwealth, yet |
a due regard for the credit of the State requires '
that provision should be made for their renew
al or redemption. To redeem these certificates
a loan would become necessary, and as a loan
cannot lie effected, in the present financial con
dition of the country, on terms more favorable
to the State than those on which those cerli-
Rentes were issue.!, I would recommend that
authority be given to issue the bonds of the
Commonwealth in renewal of said certificates,
bearing interest at the rate of five per cent,
per annum, payable semi-annually, and redeem
able on or alter the expiration of twenty years;
and that the bonds be issued with coupons or
certificates of interest attached, in sums equal
in amount fo the semi annual interest thereon,
payable on the first days of February and Au
gust in each ami every war, at SIHi place a
VOL. XVn. XO. 3<2.
may be designated. This change in the form
and .character of the certificates, it is believed,
will be so advantageous to the holders, with
out increasing the liabilities of the Common
wealth, as to induce a willing and prompt ex
change, at a premium fur the bonds proposed
to he issued."
I he report of the Canal Commissioners will
be laid before you, and will exhibit in detail
the condition of the public works—their gene
ral operation, and the receipts and expendi
tures for the past fiscal year.
The total receipts at the Treasury, from the
public works, for the year ending .November
30, 185G, were $>2,000,01d, 00, being an in
crease over the revenues of the previous year,
of $03,038 Oh. (Jf this sum $1,013,589 10
were canal and bridge tolls, und $002,420 50,
tolls of the Columbia and Portage railroads.
The aggregate expenditures for the same
year were $1,013,800 82, being au increase
over those of the previous year, of $105,105
04, the revenues exceeding the expenditures
only $02,118 81.
The increase of the revenues from these
works would be encouraging, were it not for
the fact that the expenditures have increased
in a still greater proportion—tlio expenditures,
ordinary and extraordinary, exhausting almost
the entire revenue from this source. The sys
tem must lie defective, or more care and econo
my should be exercised in its management.
The receipts at the Treasury from the seve
ral divisions, were as follows, viz :
Muiti Line 31,229,272 SO
Su.K|iU'lia:ii!a, North Branch and U'ut
Branch 426,820 .31
Delaware .349 922 29
Total receipts 2,006.015 66
The extraordinary payments during the year,
amounted to $808,892 10 ; ordinary expendi
tures, $1,135,001 00; net revenue, (excluding
extraordinary payments and for motive power)
$871,011 00
On the main line the tolls received at the
Treasury from the Columbia road, were $991,-
070 50 ; expenditures $528,081 80 ; tolls on
the Eastern division of canal, from Columbia
to the Junction, $1 1'd.718 30 : expenditures,
$53,04$ 50 ; receipts front the Junction to
Pittsburg, including the Portage railroad,
sll 7,778 OO ; ordinary expenditures, $304,-
702 22. The total receipts on the main line
were $1,229,272 80 ; aggregate expenditures
(excluding $207,000 00 paid fur re-laying the
south track of the Columbia railroad, and
$153,019 42 for motive power in 1355, and
after December l>t 1856,) were $885,835 65,
being an excess of revenue over ordinary ex
penditures of $343,437 21.
Although tliu receipts from the Delaware
division ore less than those of the previous
year, vet the general result of its operations is
satisfactory. The tut revenue at tha Treasu
ry was $2(>4,00 j 40. Its management has been
characterized by a degree of economy too sel
dom practiced on some of the lines of our im
provements.
However important this division mav be to
the trade and business of that portion of tho
State, its proposed enlargement should not be
undertaken, unless demanded by reasons of
over ruling necessity. The experience of the
past, as connected with the Allegheny Portage
railroad, and the North Branch extension,
should warn us against undertaking, without
great caution, any new measure of improve
ment, which may drain the Treasury, without
aiding materially, if at all. the public interests.
It kept iu good order by ellicient and timely
repairs, its capacity will be fully equal to ail
the demands of its trade and business.
The Portage railroad is not fully completed.
A small additional appropriation may yet be
required to complete, for the fourth time, this
road. It is anxiously hoped that this unpro
ductive improvement may soon cease its cor
morant demands upon the Treasury. Every
year's experience more clearly reveals the im
policy of the State in undertaking this work.
It gives me no ordinary pleasure to- inform
you tliht the North Branch extension of tho
Pennsylvania canal has been so far completed
that boats freighted with coal and other pro
ducts were successfully passed through its en
tire length front Pittstou to the Junction canal.
This work was commenced in 18-30'—suspended
in 1841 —resumed iu 1840, and fiuished in !85ti;
although its completion was officially announc
ed in 1853. It extends from Pittston to the
New-York State line, a distance of about 04
miles, following the valley of the Susquehanna
to Athens, and thence along the Chemuug ri
ver to the State line, where it joins the 'Junc
tion canal,' and is thus connected with the New-
York improvements. .
The importance and value of this improve
ment cannot easily he overestimated. Pass
ing through one of the richest mineral and ag
ri ultural portions of the State, it offers to the
immense and valuable products of that region
a safe and cheap transit to the markets of New-
York, Baltimore and Philadelphia. In tho
completion of this canal the difficulties to bo
overcome, and the labor to be performed, wero
great. Both these, to a great extent, havo
been accomplished under tho superinten leney
of Wm. 11. M.iff.'t, Pop, to whom this was as
signed.
This canal, although completed, and beforo
the close of navigation, used for the purpose
|of transportation, is not perfect. Sinks in the
; bottom, trom the nature of the formation and
' soils through which it passes, slides from tho
j hills, and breaches may occur, but these, after
a few years of well applied labor, will be di
minished, and by vigilance and care entirely
prevented.
This improvement, althon rh subject to tho
rivalry of competing railroads, if kept in good
condition, nnd r proper m nageinent, will re
ceive its full share of coal and other tonnage.
It is anticipated that the revenue, for the cur
rent jear. wiil cipu!. if not exceed the expen
ditures ; and increasing with the facilities af
forded, and the rapid development of trade,
wit!, instead of its heretofore unceasing de
mands upon the Treasury, take precedence
in revenue over any canal in the Common
wealth.
1 In relation to the proj riety and policy of
n
li