0
II
NE PORTER.
E. 8. GOODRICHi
GEO. ;BANDEREON,
'Wednesd#, lauliarY 10,1844.
_for ?mildest is 1841,
COL. lICHARD M. JOHNSON
,OF KENTUCKY..
[Subject tcPdecisioa of a National Corpte
The Illes=we.
. The length of the Goiernor's mess . ge.
_woes' sarily makes ,our editorial brief.
We , shall have to omit some remarks in
relation% it until another oceasion,
contains a dear and concise exposition of
affairs of the commonwealth, deplorable
but true. Its suggestions are frank, ex
,
plieit andwith some exceptions whole.
some, without any false coloring, or con
eealment ofthe true condition ofour fis
cal affaimaud the duty of the Legislature
in its action.
The views of the Governor concerning
the tariftwe do not concur in neither do ,
we see any force or consistency- in the
reasons , assigned for witholding his ap
proval of the' State Printers bonds. We
will give our views more generally next
Week.
Correspondence from Harrisburg.
114111t181111111.0,, January 2. 1844.
This being the day foed by the Constitution
for convening the Legislature, both Houses have
met and • fully organized. The-House met at
11 o'clock, A. /fLand erected for their Speaker
R. Swownsir, of Venango County. by .
18 majmity;the Democrats all voting for him,
and the Whip voting for Oro. W., Toland, of
Philadelphia. '
Col Snowden was Speaker in 1842, sad
made an excellent officer. No doubt. but his ex
mince will enable him to discharge his duties
this winter with still greater credit
,to himself. j
He is a decided friend of the northern interests,
as will be remembered hy all who recollect the
courtesy extekled to the north by him while
Speakei befark ' •
His competitor. in Caucus, for the nomina
tion, wee Gen. Rotimfort of Philadelphia Co.
whit by the by is a first rate man, in able Rep
resentative4nd also friendly to northern inte
rests. Col. Snowden only lead hioi one vote
in the Caned& Both
,are ezeelleut men and
with either as Speaker the north would have
been well treated. •
At threil o'clock this after-noon the Senate
convened ; ind was organized by thi election of
Cot. Litz', of Clearfield,
.tgutirnousfy—
• thing, I believe, never before done in Penn-
sylvania.. is iint of finest men in the
====M32
manners and populir ass presiding officer.
Every thing at the organizition timed of qui
etly and' pleasantly,. Almost the first thing,
after the organizat!oa seas a chore inbothhoissat
•
on the vexed question of printing, Therfrieride
of the administration are determined to break
down the . state printers and, have the printing-
let to the loviest bidder, and the whigs,l think,
will go with them. Withuut stopping now en
quire ifter the manner of , having the prio r iing
done itis clear that- the position assumed by ihe
Govenor in relation to the Priiiters elect, is erro
neous.,
The Clerks, Bageant urns, acc .in the
House will be elected to morrow. In the Sen
ile, those- officers-will be chosen on Thursday,
•o that I wilLnot be able to give yon Menem
till
,the beginning of next week.
The City and County have elected delegates
fir ifuhlenherg. The contest' will be close be
tween hint and Mr. Shank; The reforib bill
of last session has thrown the members all on
their . beams endo—not a particle of stationary
can be furnished by the clerks; not even a
knife, or • goose quill. Ifs member wants to
write a latter away he must run and 'buy hie
own paper, quills, wifers, and tub up his own
old jack knife to make his pen. But the worst
of all is that the Stitt no -longer pays postage
on documents sent out by the members. If
they wish to communicate with their constitu
ents they mist
,either pay the postage ant of
their own pockets or leave it for their anwtitp
sib!. to piy. Of course they will not trouble
their constituents much with letters 'or dom.
mots.
• ananstrao, fan. 4, 1844 .
- The legidature is now "duly organized and
ready to proceed to "bMiness," and. any. 'com
munication which you or your readers may
lbave.tomake—any memorials ornmonstrances
which you may have to present—say • public
giriandoes which you may wish to have ea;
deeded—eun'unAtus' ied buaineas which you
may dainty hastcompleted—will now receive
Joe Attention in due time. •
Amman wai bead two evening, for the pur.
pose wfoominating dm Clerk acid other armors
of the tYousits. The ptiacipal competitors for
the office of Choke/owe labrt J McCain, of
Philaddillis. and EiS.Goorhichqif Bradford,
the former of whom wao* . by a mai . o. ,
*Of Afagf- to the for trimonleng
111. Coodrich stall Jacob Ziegler ware
dwiared to be 'the eindidates.' EphriOm Corn.
sthui ; of Cumberland; owsmonioned foit3m.
gaint4t.Anns,wod R. M. '-fis,uce4hr Door
• ever. Throe' maninizinos mers'erecifirmed
this zooming in Senate. - r Pon.
Interest due Ist August, 1842,
for whichcertifieates of stock -
were issued redeemable 'l6-'43, 866,625 53
Interest due let February,lB43, %.
redeemable in -1846, - 873,988 00
Interest due let August, 1843,
• redeemable in 1846,
Upon this loan the annual interest to be paid
amounts to $1,941,827 23, to wit.
Permanent loan tir 6 per cent, $ 1,946,944 34
", loan, at " 200, 000 00
Relief notes at 1 per cent,. . 1,461,628 68
do 6 : " . • 171,646 00
Arrears. of interest Bus to our
loan holders in August,lB42.
and February and August,
1843, at 6 percent,
There is also due to the Domestic
Creditors, on certificates issued by
the Auditor General, the sum of 8506,-
4131 00.
For the interest annually accruing,
and for thetemporary debts and liability
of 'the State, provision should be imme
diately made. The resources of the
State are abundant, and all that is re
quired is the right 4isposition, and a
judicious and proper selection of the
mode in which these resources are to
be rendered available,.
The amount of taxes levied andpaid
into the. State Treasury,.under existing
tax laws, iwas as follows In the year
1841, the amount levied, was 8416,794
85—there was paid into the Treasury
during, .that year.) $33,292'77..1n
1842, the tax levied was 8859.512 47
—the amount. paid in the same year.
Was 8485.635 85. In 1843, the
amount levied cannot be ascertained
with accuracy, in consequence of fail
ures on the part of the County Com
missioners in several counties to make
returns to the proper office ; but, mak
ing, an estimate from the best data that
can be:obtained, it will not fall short of
$945,000 00.. The tax paid into the
Treasury' the past year, 'was $552,911
38. The assessment for the ensuing
year, may be fairly estimated What
it amounted to the past year, provi
ded' the Legislature repeal the pro
viso to the 16th section- of the Act
of 27th July. 1242, 'entitled An Act
to , provide for the ordinary expenses' of
the 4overnment—payment of the inter
est iipon the State debt," Ste.;
.which
limits the as ssment of the increased
tar to one year. Unless provision be
immediately made fin' continuing the
assessment and .lollectton of that" tax,
our financial difficulties must be in
creased, and the consequences be most
disastrous to our State . credit. ••
It will be seen from . the foregoing
statement, that nearly a million of dol
lars, arising from taAation, 'remains
unpaid ; and there is no authority vest.
ed in the Executive, by lay, to enforce ,
its collection. I- have repeatedly rec
ommended to the Legislature. the adop
tion of some legal method of compell
ing County Commissioner, Collectors
and - Treasurers. to perform their duties
—but, thus far, no legislation - has been
had upon the subject. In the present
defective state of the law, every imp
tation is held out to delinquents to
preserve in setting at naught its injunc
tions. Permit me again to call the
attention o f the,Legisia r ture - to this sub
ject, and to express the hope that ibis
evil will be remedied. '
. The whole receipt!, from our public 1
improvements, beyond the payment for
repairs, and the expenses , of their charge
and ntanagemont, during- the past fis
cal 'year, amount to $483.65? 34.
The vitrrent expenses of government:
including the permanent ,appropriation
to Common Schools and other purpo
ses. may be estimated at about 8750.-
000 00. The resqurces of the 'State.
independent of taxation, and the
reeetpte front the public improvements,
at about $400,000 00. Frinn an ex
amination of all these receipts' and ha
'bilities-of the State. supposing the tai
levied, under existing laws.'to be punc
tually, eolleeteid and paid over. there
would be 'an annual deficit of about
$850A90 00f-independent of the bal
ance due to DOmestic - Creditots; for
the punctual payment of all which, th
I=
GOVERNOR'S MESSA E.
T the Senate am - I:House of
Penn
Ferzow-Crrizsrui:—The and
most important duty that devolvea upon
the Legislature. will be to' exaMine tn.
to the financial embarrassments of the
State. and to Make suitable provisions
fort the discharge of her liabilities.--
The entire amount of the funded debt
Of the State is $39,084,000 40. - This
debt is reimbursable is follows :
In: the year 1841,
" 1844,
/846.
" 1847,
) • 1850,
" . 1853,
" 1854,
gi
_1856.
1858,
" 1859,
" 1860,
1861,
" 1962.
1863,
"j. - 1864, .
1865,
" . • 1868,
"' • 1870.
payable at the eipilaiion
=I
of certain bank clurtera,
.$39,084,000 40
loans at 5
• •
- '
State is boiind-by every obligation; of
faith and honor- - Aftera most careful
Consideration of the Whole; subject; 1
have been unable.O`devife ; any other
amide of meeting this responsibilityl
_than that of augmented taiation.• 1
I took occasion ,in` my amine!, mcs4
sage transmitted to - the Legislature iod
the Bth of January, 1848,40 speak up.,
On this subject in the TtilloWing pointed
and unequivocal siordi. I begleave
quote thgtn, because 1 have
~reiterated
in every :annual message to "die Legis
lature since, substantially , the same
sentiments; and I desire thejpeople of
Pennsylvania, and the wholel world; tU
know, if there he grotind.change
remissness of duty', to whom Lthe fault
is to , be justly attributed : -' .1 !I
" In expressing
,my .own opinion ) . in
favor of a resort to taxation, I do it w ith
no inconsiderable degree of reluetatce'
$ 55,922 60
' 62,500.00
3,886,342 08
72,335 06
1,000,000 00
2,000,000 00
3,000,000 00
2,783,161 88
7,070,661 44
1,250,000 00
2,948,680 -00
120,000 00
2,265,400 eo
200,000 00
3,485,076 66
2424,000 00
2,524,000 00
1,946,215 65
,
but it must be obiimis to every, citizen
of the . Commonwealth, that his honsel.
his farm, and hie property, are I. tiff
pledged, beyond phssibility of releepe.
to the ultimate payinen't ofethe. Stat
debt, and the interest thereon accruint
agreeably to the stipulation , with ith
loan holders. Nor is this- the wart
view of our situation. ,The State has
been acutually compounding. for years
past, from a million tq a million and
half of interest,, annually; and the.
question is DOW submitted, whether we
are thus to cohtinue adding,,talf
ly, this enormous amount 'of interest
to the principal of our State debt; an d
continue in this pusillanimous course
of policy, from year to. year. of-shut.
fling off the evil day, and etitailing this
frightful legacy on posterity: It is Ia
reproach on the people of Pennsylvania
to suppose they can be longer kepi
the dark, in regard' to the situation in
which we find them. - All they want
to know, to ensure a ready complianee
with this indispensable call upon their
patriotism. is to know, the necesei.
ty of the measure. The experience bf
more than half a centiiry, fortifies me in
the belief, that tke good sense of ,the
people of this great Commonwealth, is
rarely appealed to in vain. In assum
ing the responsibility of recommending
this measure, I itm fully sensible Of
what is to be ehcountered. and aware
of the consequences that are to folloir;
and if, in this expression of the honest
convictions.of my own mind, and the
fearful discharge of the ditties Vicuna.
bent on me, I shall not be borne out by
my fellow citizens, I shall at least
have the consolation to know, that
have done that which conseientious
ly believe to be right; and oivliich I
think will bear the reflection of after
years. The time for evasion is gone.;
the public - Inind has been too long fed
with miserable expedients. The tiine
for action is ay. hand. O r ur country
expects every man to do his duty, alid
he that has not nerve enough for the
.crisis, should give place' tm those better
fitted for the emergency. Neither the
preseni Legislature, nor myself, had
anything to do with contracting this
debt—it is fixed on us by those who
have gone before- us; and the same
rule of prudence and sound policy, that
would govern the conduct >qf private
individual, holds equally, good in the
case of the Commonwealth, under
this state of things. The private indi
vidual would tax his industry and his
;property, to the utmost, to pay off a
debt, and the interest upon it; - .that vras
consuming the avail: of his , industry
and his substance—so, also, it seems to
me. should the representatives, of a
wise and judicious people. _ Taxation
would pay the interest—it would
eventually constitute a sinking flinch to
pay off the (principal of the State debt,
and should be continued till the income
of the public improvements would . ren.
der longer taxation unnecessary. The
crisis demands the exercise : of the mpst
far-reaching sagacity-'-the c almest judg
ment and the most Parless' puriotisni.
I am sure the Legislature till meeti .it
in the right spirit, to .disarm it of fits
perils. Coming, as you do, from all
quarters of the State, and possessing a
more intimate 'knowledge. of the sir.
cumstances and wants of the peoide
than I can. I most cheerfully surrender
this important subject to you, satisf i ed
that prudence and justice ' will direct
your action upon it."
I used strong terms in speaking: to
the. Legislature on 'this subject at that
time, becanse it was an hdur of,derk
ness, uncertainty and alalrm. - "pie
explosion of the Banks, "the paralysis
of the business' energiesoflthe country,
and the murmurings of those whose
ambition see - ks no higher aim. than
that of finding faultovere ell calculated
to deter even honest , men from faithfol
ly performing their duty 4 'So far as
I was concerned, I was resolved that
bot h my opttinins,and'niy e l ourse.eheuld
be o oenly avowed and clearly under-
Pour years have new elapeed ;
-tithe has been given to' the excited to .
becoine calm. to the 'timid. to heehaw
self-possessed, and for factional parti
zans. i t i see the erroitof their- way. -I
look back with pleasure on my course,
beea"use, as i ;had . drip doebt "freinjthe
beginning, -I have been itriumPhintlY
sustained by the honest yeomanark. of
'Pennsylvania.' They have fbnrne,
without repi.nutg. every 1 burthen khat
was neemarvi to maintain the honor of
the State, and they are ready to endure
'yet 'greater ttatiriOcee, if they be Daces
.nary, (or the same canoe.
• it hal. of Jate' been famhionablu,_ in
:.\ certaie quarters, to dpitoupce,rentfayl
-
565,503 50
$36,469,398 87
873,988 00
32,683,189 88
2,61,601 5,3
$39.094,000 "40
tania,, l
and cite her, as an example; in
point,tta "auction the reproach *bleb
his, been:attempted to be cut pla the
Aiustican' people, of seeking , o carry
into poetical operation.the SC MOO , of
repudiatingtheitpublic debts. I - Those
who have circulated and believed' , this
ca!tnny, betrayed'a degree bf ignor
ance, both' of'the character Of,pur pea.
pie, and of the , confect of her legislation.
.which iktruli surprising.' On every
occasion, thelliability !of the State has
been frankly etiowed,'both by her' Ex
ecutive and -Legislative Departments;
and although! the recOmmendations of
the Executive, to make proviiion for
the payment of,her • interest, have not
adopted to the fullestf extent, let the
Legislature his paised laws imposing
a tax; amounting the last year to a lit
tie lees than a million of dollars, and
this has been acceded to by the people,
without a murmuring from any source
entitled to a moment's consideration.
The failove to. pay the jntetest has not
resulted from' a Want of disposition to
do so; on the part of t* citizens of
Penneylvania. but from the general
disasters which haveoverwhelmed and
crippled her, in common wtih almost .
every other government in the commer
cial-world. We are regaining our en
ergies, and recovering from the embar
rassnients by which we have unfortun
aMly been surrounded. A 'very few
years' will enable us to retrieve all
that we have lost, and to Wipe from
our escutcheon every blot with which
unexpected misfortune has tarnished it.
Whatever the interested or evil disposed
may have asserted to the contrary, there
is not an honest,citizen of Pennsylva
nia who does not feel the proud con
sciousness that her faith and integrity
can tie . field up to he world unsullied.
The valuation Of the real and per
sonal property owned by the citizens
of the State.: ascertained by reference
to the valuation as taxed for County
purposes i amounts to about four hun
dred and sixty millions of dollars.--
The average of the rate of this value,
;ion is, no doubt, considerably below -
the actual value of the property of the
I State.
Among the receipts at the Treasury during the
last year, there were from tolls exclusive of
Motive Power, $755,155 39
Auction duties, 59,661 79
Tax on collateral inheritances, 22,337 05
Dividends on bridge, turnpike
and navigation stocks,
Escheats,
.$1357,325 51
To iallich add the State Tax re
, calved, 553,911 33
This income, derived from the above
sources, was specially appropriated
the payment of the interest on our
public debt; and on -the faith of the = j
State's adherence to its solemn engage
ments, those from whom the money
was obtained, were doubtless induced
to make the. loan. ' But, by the resolu
tion passed 7th April. 1842, and the
acts passed 27th July, 1842. and -Bth
April, 1843, those funds were applied
to other and different purpose's, from
what was deemed, by the Legislature,
an imperative necessity induced by the
monetary embarrassments to which I
have alre,ady averted.
It is thus shown that about three and
.a half per.cent. of the interest could
have been paid the past year, but for
this subsequent legislation ; -and that
[ the above sum of $857,325 511 ' to
gether with a tax of less than three
mills on the assessed value of the real
and personal estate of the citizens of
the Commmonwealth, would pay the
interest On the public debt, beyond all
dimbt, and place Pepnsylvania on that
,proud eminence which the truescharae
ter Of her people, and 'the resources
she possesses, designed her to occupy.
But to satisfy the people of her propri
ety of this increase of the tax, assur
ance should be given that it would be
applied -IQ the payment of the interest
on 'the Stite_deht„ 'to the exclusion of
every-other subject.
There has been one objection made
egain.st taxation under the present state
of things, Which appears to be founded
in justice, anti that is, the manifest
unfairness and inequality Of the rates of
asiessmeot in, the different counties. 1
annex' to this messake a table showing
the assessments in the various counties
of the Commonwealth, an etamination
of which, will at once disclose the evils
that ought to. be remedied.
44lostof our laws on the subject of
taxes and revenue, 'require. revision and
amendment. Those relating to colla
terial inheritances, retailers and deal
ers in merchindiie, auctions and auc
tioneers, arid brokers, requirejevision
arid Modideatiou to prevent evasions.-4;—
'lndeed titiie is good reason to believe
the revenue from these sources might
he doubled. -The - county rites ' and
levies are' not riunlnented by them ;
'nor does the State tar. derived there
frifm. bear arty fair. proportion -to that
e.Xarted from the land holder.. - The
inequality and injustice of the ./ matter
heroine manifest when - the proceeds
derived from each are considered.
The tax, necessary for the payment
of the interest on our State debt, it has
long been apparent to me.- shOuld be
aiiportirined among the several counties
of the State, and, a liberal dis Count or
drawback allowed for pronspt collec
tions and payment into the Treasury. Th e -members of the I4egislituVe, cons ? '
ing, as,hey do, from the severs) men
ties, and each Watchful of •the rights
_and• interests of his immediate constitu
eats, would certainfr compose' a Ward
every way competent to make
,thit
ariportionment. Atmore unequal pas
then 'that Which . now exists, cannot be
readily devised. lam aware that eich,
Mid every object and mode of taxation
is more or Jess objectionable—but that
should not abiolve us from our duty.
I have submitted to the Legislature, my
views 'again end - again, on this subject;
and that it has at times differed with
me, is no cause of complaint—that'
difference of opinion having proceed
ed from a conscientions discharge of
duty. But, if the suggestions here
made: do not seem right and
,proper.
permit me to express the earnest.hope
that the Legislature will devise some
other mode, less objectionable, and
that it will not seperate until full and
ample provision be made for the punc
tual payment of the interest* on our
public debt, semi-annually. as 'it be
comes due, and thus smooth the way
for those who may come after us in the
administration of the. Government.
Before quitting the subjectof taxation,
it may be well to take a relative. view of
the taxes 'received at the Treasury, for
the kat, three years, and the`motint an
nually paid out to the several counties,
for purposes of education. The taxes re
ceived in '
1841, amounted to $33,202 77
1842, " / 486,635 85
1843, " 553,911 98
. $1,073,840 OR
"The moneys paid out for the purpose's
of educationi during the same yeari,
amounted, in 1841, to. $365.766 04,
1842, 315,372 43
1843, , 408.604 36
51,089,732 83
So that l it a ppears more money has ac
tually been paid 'out_ by the . Common
wealth, for educating her, people, than
the amount of State tax paid into the
Treasury.
It will be entirely ericticable to make
provision for the
_payment of the semi
annual interest, on and after the first of
August next. And, to *provide for every
possible contingency, the State Treasu
rer might beiauthorized to borrow, if ne
cessary, a sufficient sum to make up any
deficiency, and taxesnd other receipts
of th'e Stati, applicabl to the discharge
of interest, be pledge specifically - for 1
the re-payment of such loan, and'applied
as soon as received. _,-
19,161 29
1,010 00
The arrears of interest due in 1842,
and February and; / August, 1843, have
been fundeckin - Conformity with the acts
or AssemblY upok that subject. This
was,th - Oatost that could be done for our
creditors, under the circumstances, and,
if hereafter, provision be, made for the
punctual discharge ,of the interest, it will,
I believe, be as much as could reason;
ably be expected by the holders of our
loans.
There is now due from the State to
certain Banks the sum of $1.467,620 68,
on account of the issue of, notes under
the act of 4th 'of May, 3841, which
bears an interest of one per cell!. By
virtue of the act of Assembly passed
the Bth day of April last, entitled" An ,
act to provide for the payment of Do
mestic Creditors." &a., these notes are
to be cancelled at the rate of one hun-
$1,411,236 89
dred. thousand dollars
,per month, The
funded debt of the State bears an ", inter
est of five afid six per cent. payable
semi-annually. If this cancellation be
continued at the same' rate, it is very
certain this interest cannot be paid, as
a very large proportion of taxes. 'and
tolls will be paid in funds of this de- -
scription. It is therefore, for the Le
gislature to determine which of these
measures h is the pOliey of the State to
pursue.
The revenues derived from the pub-
lic works during the past fiscal year,
although not realizing the estimates
which were formed at •the commence
ment of the year, have yielded a very
handsome profit to the Cominonwealth
over the expenditures required for their
maintenance. The report of the Canal
Commissioners, which will be laid be
fore you, and to which your particular
attention is invited; exhibits in detail
-the receipts and expenditures upon the
several lines of canal and railroad. By
that document, it appears, that, • from
the early closing 'of the canal by ice in
the latter part Of 1842. and its late open
ing from the same cause in the follow
ing spring, the, navigable season of
1843 was rendered about - eight weeks
shorter than that of the previous year.
A combination, likewise, - ° took place
among the boatmen on the Delaware
Div,ision,- which existed for several
weeks, putting setop to traniportation,
and causing a loss of . revenue, tit' die
Commonwealth of not less titan $30,-
080: Notwithstanding' these itnpedi
ments, added ;to that experienced frotn
the high . floods, on the Juniata in Sep.
tember last, the tolls amount to 81,017,-
841 12, beingen increase over the 're
ceipts of 1842 of $77.627 43. • An ab.;
street of the receipts and expenditures
on the several lines exhibits thefollow
ing result 4,
Expenditures. Receipts.
Main Line, • i s 1.425,03 G 82'..595y,212 94
Delaware division. 22,553 92 92,28541
Buvq6ehanna. north • .
& west . Branches, 59 22e 110 62,206 'O6
Beaver, Bhenango & •
nem& Cseelt i - 1.5,41082 0,150 71
' $522,226 86 1t017,2414 /2
1/eiluefexpetiditunl; 52242E1,36
Excesi of receipts, - $405;6/.`96
E
Deduct dumbrekos44.4
Ada irises of
ba • •
, • •
Clear Proitif illsbewittitz,i
The inerealeandArtreat
the The
heel, is coy
1842, were ne follows:
Deer
Ain Line,
Aware Thereon, §2,1t13 r.
Soviehanna, North 9 ,
dr. West Branches, 18,908 og
Beaver, Shenango dc
French CEelk, 536 21
Dee na .
"LL
I"eakiin 1245:7—"--
And. on Abe mime item, the es c
over expenditstres and idlliabir u k a
Main Line, ,
Delaware -
Susquehanna, N. & w . tenches, 6,
Beaver, akenango and grew, Ip
Creek, excess of eipeodkorin
over receipts, ,
Total excess of receipts oyes r z .
pentlitutes,
From these statements it app,
with the exception of the small
- on the Susquehanna and II(
West Branch Divisions, th e p t
on the year's business, ha ve
rived from the Main line ant'
ware -Division. The last oat
ion has yielded a profit of be im
upon the cost of its construction,
but for the loss of revenues_ sr
,from. the combination among
men before referred to, and in
from breaches, would have.e
es_ to ever - nevi - en per cent.
The Columbia,and Ph'iladelpt
road exhibits a very' gratifYir
The clear profile of the moat
penditures and liabilities the
amount to $202.966 65—tequal
6ve per ceht..' on the 'original
the railway and the.atotive,Pmet
partmen —.
In pursuance of the provision,
act of 7th March; 1843, a chart
issued, on the lath day of June I
" The .Elie Canal Company."
company is vigorously prm:ectitn
iork, and gives fair promise of
ly - completion. That portion of
ion from the Ohio River to the
New Castle, according to the
the charter, remains in the pt
of the Commonwealth, until tl
pletion of the whole line. A laq
tion of the expenditures on itduri
year, was caused by repairs to the
since transferred.
It is evideni from the foregc
streets, and from a review of
tails contained in the Canal
sioners' report, that the Main h
Delaware- Division, can. Stall
made sources of profitable revel
the Commonwealth, by the ran
a proper vigilance over the
_ _
nents. Mitch has been (Joni!
introducing a 83 stem of strict cc(
and dispensing with officers. nen
laborers, whose services tend onl,
swell the amount' of expenditure,.
the system, thus began. be carrie
and perfected, all doubt must Tani
to-the value of these two portic
the public works when conside
means of revenue.
section
boats,othemore general introdui
in consequent .
State having purchased trucks fo
conveyance over the two railroads
be traced the principal cause el ti
crease of tolls and tonnage at tift
line. The experiment,bas beet
tested to the satisfaction of the
sanguine friends of the system r
vidual competition in the carryit
These boks,, during the past yea.
prevented combinations, redoes/
price of freights, increased theist
of tolls and ,tonnage, and given to k
Main line a character for cheapnsi
tronsportatiod, which must make .
principal avenue to a market bet
'the waters of the West andikeTi
Atlantic cities. A system of , trat
tation ,which, in its incipient sot
been productive of such great'
and which is'so closely identifil
the prosperity- of the improvems
the Commonwealth, is _entitled
fostering care of the Legislature.
1843,'the amount of tolls paid'
tion bOats was $114,27 47; (
$15,651 65 was for the use oil
trucks. To give efficiency •14) 1 -
tetn ;
,to meet the demands cooo
upon the continued increase
ber of ;section boats; and to , e"
vexatious delays at the railroadis i T
an increase in the number dul l "'
trucks has become absolutely nets'
ry. Its these additional WO w ill l
required at the opening of the o . o '
business, the expectation is enteral
that an. early appropriation will ben
to 'that object. Such an Vigor,
will give an impetus to the springtri.l
by giving assurance 'of promptness
,the delivery of produce, goodP,
merchandise ; hold out induremena,
•
further increase of section boats , 0 •
,the system apon a permanent bat
'and insure to the, Commor ove 3/14
the advantages which must note'
rest& from this improved mode ',fr t . .
portation'' over our disjointed -IP '
canal and railroad. I wouid further
d c
r ir e l e rn ti e a n n d d t h n a o t' t t h in e
a ti d p:r p o a p y r a i ii ) ( le 'o
t b i
t. e .o f
MIN 'for' dm use of trucks, 5 09 1°
Ihe Commissioners to tlakt`.l".