LEWIS BUM H. 0. HICKOK, Editor. 0. N. WORSEN, Printer. LEWISBURG, UNION COUNTY, PENS., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 1851 Yolnme VIII, Pttabt 11. Whole Hnmber 37. " C AM I!SJlrI!lSST FAXILT J0CRX1L, luutd on Wednesday mornings at Lewisburg, Lmon county, fennsylcanta. JWfJfX $1.S0 por Tr. for rsli sHtlnllr in adranif: $1,73, if PiJ within Uinr months; f'i.uu if 'pud within yar; '5o if nut pil before tlir yrsrelliire: Srntfir stnid numbers. 2abAcriptkui for six soonth or less, to I- paid in advance. Diwontinuanm optional with tits JaMihr. esnrpt when the year is paid up. Advertisements hauiUHunrlr inwrrb-tl at 50 rent per auare, one week. $1 four week, $j a year: two squares, $t for six mouth., $7 for a year. Mercantile adrertise manta, n exeeedinK one fourth of a eolomn. S10-. JOB WOKK and casus advertisements to be paid for when handed in or delivered. Communications solicited on all subjects pf general tntret not within the ranee of party or wvtanan contest. Ail letters must come post-paid, accompanied by the real aJdrcas of the writer, to receive attention. irvThe relating exclusively to the Kditorial Department, to be directed to Iti.vRT llns.js. K.. Ulitur and those on taninas to WeRncN. llMiskrr. Ofllce on Market street, between Second and Thlr-L over the I'ost-Ofsce. i). S. WOK11E.N, Proprietor. Speech of Gen. Wm. F. Packer. Ihlivtred inlhc Senate of Pennsylvania, Friday, Feb. 21, 1S51, on the Bill to tax tlie York d; Cumberland Railroad Co. EXrOETKD SI W. X. PRALI.J The Bill authorized the assessment of a tax on the York & Cumberland Railroad of 25 cents per ton on all freight, and 15 cents per passenger on all passengers pay ing fare, passing over the said road, and was before the Senate on second reading. Mr. Carson, of Franklin, proposed to j and, if any, what amount of tax should be Amend the bill by striking out all after the I levied. It is left to the Legislature also enacting clause, and inserting four new I to say when the interests of the Common sections, the first of which was as follows : wealth would be promoted by imposing the preceding six months, and that they Baltimore pets but two boats in every T.oii .... mv into the twenty, lhis is the ruin the lide Yatcr Treasnrv of this Commonwealth a tax or j caaal has brought upon Philadelphia 1 Sir, duty on all tonnage,of whatsoever kind or description, except the ordinary baggage of passengers tliat may have passed over the entire extent of said road during the preceding six months at such rates as the Legislature may liereattcr direct, noi ex ceeding twenty-five cents on every ton thereof : and also, pay into the Treasury aforesaid, at the same time, a tax or duty on all passengers that may have passed over the entire distance of said road, be tween the aforesaid points, during the last preceding six monlhs, at such rates as the Legislature may hereafter direct, not ex ceeding fifty cents for each passenger.". Mr. Speaker, this then is the provision in the charter of the York & Cumberland railroad, which gives to the Legislature the right of taxation. Senators will ob serve, that it does not impose a tax of twenty-five cents on every ton of freight, and fifteen cents on each passenger, but merely gives to the Legislature tlie right of taxing, at its discretion, not exceeding those amounts. These sums are fixed as tho maximum rates beyond which the Legislature may not go, leaving to the ex ercise of a sound discretion whether any, 1. Be it enacted dc.. That it shall be I even the slightest amount of taxation. The the duty of the York & Cumberland Rail- railroad has but just been completed, and road Company, to pay iuto the State Trea- I before it has fairly gone into operation, it sury, semi-annually, for the use of the ; is proposed to tax it to the full extent. Is Commonwealth, under the provisions of, this the time, sir, when the Legislature the eighth section of the act to which this should exercise the power of taxing rcser is supplementary, tho sum of three mills jved to them by the act of incorporation, per mile upon every ton of freight or itier- j and, if so, is the maximum the proper sum chandisc. except the ordinary barr?ra?e ofitn hn Wind? Tliesr- nrn the nirstions passengers, and ten cents upon every pas- j left open by those who have gone before of any uth?r strua scngcr paying fare passing over the road I us, for trrave and candid deliberation, and F001.01 u'.13 "e 11 the truth is. no improvement Las cvcrl been constructed that has done more for that tity, and yet it was forced upon her, by the interior without her aid, and against her votes ! Sir, in view of the opposition which that improvement encountered at the hands of Philadelphians, and the jea lousy with which they are prone to look upon any line of canal or railroad designed to run in any other course than directly to their city a feeling that has doubtless given rise to the proposition contained in this bill to clog up this thoroughfare by an excessive tax, simply because it runs to wards Baltimore; and to deprive the broad extent of the state lying upon the beautiful banks of the noble Susquehanna, from its natural out-let to market I have I repeat, in view of all these facts, often thought Lthat Almighty God had committed a great mistake in not making that srreat river a tributary of the Schuylkill or IVlaware ; for in that case Philadelphia, the metropo lis of our state, would have been willing that its broad banks and rolling waters should be used for the benefit of Pennsyl vania throughout her wide borders. Un fortunately for us in the north, our noble stream flows into the Chesapeake bay,upon whose banks stands a rival city in a neigh boring state. Unfortunately, I say, Mr. Speaker, for where are the railroads run ning north and south through the centre of tweon Pittsburg and that city, during the last year, amounted to eight millions of dollars, winch, at an average rate or toll, paid into the State Treasury one hundred Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company sir the distance from Philadelphia to Grave have entered into an arrangement with the ! creek is several Philadeladhia Transportation Com- Philadelphia to Pittsbur, via panics; by which a discrimination is made renn a railroad. 3G7 miles. Pittsburg to Crave creek 10!) " Philadelphia to Grave creek throngh Pennsylvania, 47G miles, The distance from Philadelphia to Grave and forty thousand dollars in tolls. I repeat, in favor of seid Companies for the trans sir, tho Pittsburg trade that passed over ! portation of merchandise over their road, your main line of canal for the Baltimore i and against the Merchants and Traders of market, added to the Baltimore trade that the city of Baltimore, passed west, over our improvements to We are informed that certain descrip Pittsburg, amounted, during the nast vn.ir. tions of produce are transported ttrowh to 88.000,000, and paitl tolls upon the ! from Cumberland to Philadelphia at the ; creek by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad whole line of improvements from Pitts-1 rate of forty-five cents per 100 pounds, . is, burg to Columbia. When the navigation ! while tho Baltimore and Ohio Railroad . From Philadelphia to Baltimore, 98 miles, uiiitimore to urave creels, oi) " Philadelphia to Grave creek by Baltimore & Ohio railroad, 468 miles, Difference in favor of Baltimore and Ohio route eight miles. Thus the Baltimore and Ohio railroad can, as respects distance, compete with Philadelphia ; and being free of taxation of any kind, must tie successful in its compe tition not only for the trade of Baltimore, but also that of 1'Ailodcfphia herself. So you see, Mr. Speaker, from this fact, that it will require low tolls and corres ponding rates of transposing to enable the Pennsylvania railroad and the State improvements to retain their present trade. By the report of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad company for the year 1850, I observe that the receipts on that road from passengers, mails, and merchandize, of the Pennsylvania canals is closed, this j Compauy charge for similar produce fifty important trade seeks a market by way of cents to Baltimore the .Mouongahcla navigation and the Bal timore and Ohio railroad, and a portion of it goes by way of New Orleans. I ob serve Mr. Sneaker, that since the close of our canals in December last, tho increase in the receipts of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad for January, 1S51, as compared with those of the same months in 1850, derivable from this trade, amounted to the handsome sum of $24,000. By the sys tem of maxim km tolls, adopted by the Caniil Commissioners of this State, the tonnage of the main line of canal is deter- Vic are also informed that dry poods and other articles, for which the Baltimore it Ohio Railroad Company charge the Bultilmorc Merchants 35 cents per 100 pounds, are taken by said Company for the Philadelphia companies at the rate of 7-l'2ths of fifty cents per 100 pounds, be ing about 28 cents per 100 pounds. Yv e respectfully ask that you will in struct the Directors on the part of the city in the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Com pany to inquire in this matter, and if the above statements are correct, that you will mined to Columbia, so that the road from j further instruct said Directors to use all York to llarrisburg can not be regarded means in their power to havo such dis as a competitor for any portion of its legit- crimination discontinued for the future." imate business. But when the main line of Sir, is it not evident from the extract I canal is clo-ed this road will form an im- ihave just read, that the Baltimore and portant link in a line of railways between Ohio Railroad is now, at this moment, sir, JIaltimore and 1'ittsbunr : uiakiuf? Pitts-! carrying the trade ot the west past your nae amoumeu in xue aggregate, uurinz burg the commercial entrepot for both the public improvements not only to Baltimore, j the year to $1,313,805 27. Of this sum, Philadelphia and Baltimore trade In the 1 but to Philadelphia itself, and in return is ! $905,267 9 'J were received from freight, l'eunsvlvania. on the shores of this miiditr river? Al.is ! c. l.o !ins. r tili,.ro V v,,, : sumniiT. hv means nf tho lVnnsvlnni.t deliverin2 the Philadelphia Merchandise i 8395,820 80 from passengers and $42.' a mile. sir. has been constructed abnv tho 'canal: and in the winter, bv means of the i at Cumberland, a distance of 178 miles! 707 -8 from the transportation of the mouth of the Juniata, and not a mile ever! Pennsylvania railroad, and the railroads j from Baltimore--from thence the trade mails-. Xow, sir, I have before stated that anu travel laac uie national ioa:i m luia iuau ia viuj in use iu vutuucriana-, will be, if the same ungenerous and short-' from llarrisburg to Baltimore. sighted policy shall continue to prevail ! I Mr. Speaker, to show Senators the cs .Naturo designed that the valley of the' tent to which tho trade between Pittsburg Susquehanna should be as great a3 that I mid Baltimore, by way of the Pennsylva-! Pittsburg, thus avoiding, under the disad- . c .i. i. .i- I, ii- -. . i i i .i . . . c - l t iream in mis juepuuue. ln"ia improvements, uas arnveu, anu tne pautaco oi a luokcu cuuucctiou, requiting need but point to her rich arrangements now niaiie lor successfully , two transhipments, the I'ennsylvania lm Brownsville, and from that point take the; where it connects with the National road .Monoiigahcla Slack water navigation to her liiountaiiis of both an- carrying it on, I ask leave to refer them to j provements entirely I Sir, if these things alluvial soil thracite and bitumiuous coal ; her inex-i the cnterprizingPittsburgforwarding house I "he done in the green tree, what may haustiblo beds of iron ore and the bound- which have established extensive branches ; not expect m the dry wei of said company : Provided. That coal. 1 thnv are here for our action this dav. lumber, iron ore, iron, gypsum, agricultu- j Why, Mr. Speaker, was the provision wealth, and way trade and travel shall not 'charter? As was truthfully remarked by ! lus3 wilderncsss of tiuilxr that borders her ; at Baltimore. J find among the number, Mr. Speaker, Ihe point to which 1 be subject ti taxation. !tl, Kmtnr frnm IVnullm Mr 'rnn ! countless tributaries. Wise legislation and I the following well known aud highly re- ! especially call the attention of Senators is Mr. Packer said Mr. RrwT.-.r Th ' fw.,,. l.io ;f ,. ! capital properly uimlied. are all that ar spectablc firms: David Leech V Son's, this t The Baltimore & "Ohio Railroad question before the Senate is one of vast i then such a iealousv ou the part of some i required to make her what God and N'a- line ; O'Connors & Co.'s line ; the l'enn- j on the verge of completion to Wheeling. Mr. Packer, I will answer tha Senator from tile city. I am in furor of tho first section of the amendment of the Senator from Franklin that portion of the aaeik' ment which reduces the tax on all freight from 25 cents per ton, to three mills per ton per mile. I am also in tar or of that part of it which reduces the tax oa tacts passenger from fifteen to ten eenta. Therw may be parts of the amendment, which after examination and discussion, I will not approve of, but as at present advised, I prefer the amendment to the original bilL Sir, I am in favor of a tax for rare nue; but not "one cent for tribute" not one cent for the interdiction of trade be tween the public works of Pennsylvania, and those leading to the eity of ltimore. I hold it to be in every point of view against the interest of the State, as well ssj unwise, ungenerous and impolitic in the extreme. It is against the spirit of our institutions. Mr. Speaker, it may be said that the Pennsylvania Railroad will have a monop oly of the western trade by the extenaioa of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Rnjlroad from Pittsburg, west. An examination of the system of Railways in the State at Ohio, now in operation, and about to be put in operation, will show the fallacy of this argument. The Pennsylvania and Ohio Railroad runs from Pittsburg to Ik-aver, to Alliance through Massillon ant Wooster, and connect with the Cleave land and Cincinnati Railroad, seventy-two miles from Cleaveland, The distance by this route between Pittsbnrg and Cincin nati is 370 miles. The Central Ohio Railroad commences at Wheeling, passing through Zanesville, Newark, Columbus and Aenia, to Cincinnati ; the distance be tween Wheeling (the terminus of the Bal. tiniore and Ohio Railroad) and Cincinnati by this line is 25!) miles, making a differ importance to the people of Pennsylvania. It is not only important to the district re presented by the Senatoi from Philadel phia (Mr. -Crabb) who has discoursed so eloquently upon it and who has advoca ted the bill as reported by the Committee on t inance with an energy and a zeal de sylvania and Ohio line ; Bingham's line ; i Atkinson & Co.'s ; Taffo & O'Conner ; I Dutilh, Humphry & Co., as well as sun dry portable boat lines which tranship at tolumlna. lhese hrms arc known to the entire business community, and if they were not, I could refer to the Senator from . n i r s ... -v l.i Aiiegiieny iiur. aromers,! or to the By a recent act of the Legislature of Vir ginia, passed with great unanimity, a com pany has been incorporated for the con tinuation of a Railroad from the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad near Clarksburg. Vir ginia, to Parkcrsburg, at the mouth of the Kcnhawa. Now, Sir, if Pennsylvania would preserve the advantages of her geo- ' mnmhiTO of the Legislator... of :inv urni,- ture intended she should he. ted improvement designed to lead towards . -Af r- Speaker ; the tax proposed by the the city of Baltimore, many of whom were 1 introduced by the Senator from Dela unwilling to permit any avenue to be ware (r- Brooke,) and now under con opened tending in that direction, withmrt!'u!t;ratioB s twenty-five cents per ton on reserving the right to tax even to prohibi-i a11 tonnage passing over tho road, from a tion. Unfair, ungenerous, aye, Mr. Spea- I P0'" oppose llarrisburg to York; a dis serving of a better cause : but it imincdi- ,'ker. and unwise as was tho motive which t1"100 ot twenty-six miles; making the tax atcly and vitally affects the whole valley (governed the enemies of this road, in desi- nearly one cent per ton per mile. The of the -Susquehanna the valley of the j ring to defeat the project, by the rescrva- j average established rate of toll and trans- j Juniata Cumberland Valley the main tion of the right to inflict onerous taxation, j rotation on tho York & Cumberland line of nr nublic improvements frmn mrk wis iW ronfiili-nep -f its snrinortrs 1 railroad is seventy-eight cents per ton for! llarrisburg to Pittsburg tkecitvof Pitts- I in the propriety of the measure, in cverv tlic whole length of the road, or three doubtless others, run regularly between I York & Cumberland Road, she Would with burg itself and indeed the entire Com-'point of view, and such was their conti- cents per ton per wile. If the proposed tax! Pittsburg aud Baltimore; paying tolls up- out-stretched arms invite the trade of the nionwcalth. I have given this subject ', dencc in some attention, and I think I am able to . logislatic Krinsr rtw fttMa nr1 fifmroa tli.it. tliA IitII nn uitinn in ,1 owr.ntorl nf thi. rWtpr nn tprm 1 be an addition ot one cent per ton per mile ; mills per ton per your table, imposing unusual and ruinous! which their enemies hoped were ruinous. I or 33 j percent, on the present average wealth, and the usual freight to the Penu- j vantages our improvements possess or how burthens on the lork & Cumberland Rail-j Sir, they not only accepted their charter! 1011 aml iranspoi union, ami oiuu iorce, jn " "") picier inaum- r"r" . . " -- vm Si-niitiir frnm Hnflor Mi ll.wlit' tn ' pranliicil nnsition. instead of af temntiiof tn ! me witness that they are among the most ! drive the Baltimore trade off of her canals extensive forwarding houses in the eity of ; and railroads by closing up tho outlet to ! Pittsburg. Sir, all these various lines and I that city, by prohibitory taxes, on the doubtless others, run regularly between lork & Cumberland Koad, she Would with I Pittsburg aud Baltimore : paying tolls up- I out-stretched arms invite tho trade of the the wisdom and justice of future 1 f twenty-live cents per ton, for the fame on more than two hundred and fifty miles west to Pittsburg, by offering at the eas n that they anecd to the propo-! distance, be levied by the State, it would j of our State improvements ; or paying three j tern terminus of our improvements a choice nl'iff-rntprl nf tlip chirtpr nn temm ' he an addition of one cent per ton per mile! mills per ton per mile to the Common- i"f markets. You must offer all the ad- past Cincinnati, past Park ersburg, and past heeling to 1'ittsburgf four, er, that it is the manifest interest of both I ot plainly to be seen that by lsy- the Commonwealth and the Central Rail- g this tax, you are offering just so much Let ask If that be Central railroad, at Harrisbur". with the ' ton per mile, it would in fact be to increase mm, as PC introduced this bill, to inform the subject Baltimore & Susquehanna railroad at the length of the York and Cumberland the Senate by what route has the Phila- roau to ciguiy-iurec ana cne-inira miles . , ucipuia traue ur me iar-wesi ucen carneu r.v.,1 ;n Jnflmt ntwMt th nnnnlrt of I Vnn.lh.it tl.ov l. rnir.l,t..,l their mail ask- i the company to add that amount to their! provcmenut sylvania an irreparable injury and so far I ing no advantages of this Commonwealth, present charges ; thereby increasing the j Is it not palpable therefore Mr. Speak ... i F' . . .,11 . i i - i . . r . ... .1.... . . , 1. : i .... : i . . i- u . l from promoting the prosperity of l'hiladel- and fearing no improper taxation; believing j iraiisooi i.mou inarms to tout Tililo w-l.nco lifri l"t. in osntvi.ll'w inton- t'.on no nntr tli.-it. tho t:ltfl wolllll at, all ' CClltS Per toil ptT lllilc. If three CCntS PCT ded to protect, the prohibitory tax propos- j times find it her interest to protect and not I ton only were charged the Commonwealth road to encourage this trade, and that the cd, by driving the Baltimore trade from ; to destroy this important link in the chain i would be entitled to one-thir l of the whole , only cBect of tho imposition of the propo your State, and compelling it to seek its 'of her improvements; that they were j receipts for freight ; or, if the tax were; sed tax will be to drive it from them and destined market by other channels, will ! right in ibis conclusion is what 1 now pro- added to the charges for freight and trans-! force it to find another avenue to market ? cripple the resources of Pennsylvania, pose to show. j portation, the would receive the one-fourth!: Sir, in this connection let me call the at- paralvte the energies of the Central Rail- j The York & Cumberland railroad con-! Compared with the tax on freight on the ; tention ot the icnator from ielaware Mr. .n1 tl.ii. disastrous! v affect the inter- liwta tr.o stato improvements and the I Pennsylvania railroad, of three mills per! lrooke, to this subject. csts of Philadelphia herself, true, I ask you, sir, is not worthy of the serious, careful and candid ; York, thus opening a direct communica- consideration of Senators? If it be true tion between the vailey of the Susquchan thatby thus preventing the trade and travel Jna and the city of Baltimore, and conse arriving at the Capitol of your own State quently between Baltimore and Pittsburg, from diverging at this point toward Balti- ' It will also form a part of the great line cf more, after having passed over the Central ; railroad improvement0, extending north Railroad or your main line cf public im-: and south, by the same valley, from the provements between two and three huu-! great lakes on our northern frontier, to the dred miles, you drive the Baltimore trade city of Washington, and thence to .New off of your own canals and railroads, force ' Orleans, of which the Williamsport and it out of your State deprive Pittsburg of Klniira road forms a part. In this latter her natural advantages and ruin her for- 'improvement my own immediate constitu warding merchants, and at the same time ' cnts arc deeply interested. Hence, Mr. confer no benefit upon the citizens of Phil- Speaker, you see the question before us adelphia, nor on any other human being involves interests in the north, as well as in the broad limits ot the state, what rca- Thus : York and Cumberland railroad 2ti miles, Pennsjlvaniarai'iOadSol miles at 3 mills per mile, during the last sixty days, since the close of navigation on the Pennsylvania Canal? 23 cts. i Does it go by the Central Rail Road ? j Docs it go by tty improvement leading 23 cts. ' through Pennsylvania '( No, sir, not a ton: That is, Mr. Speaker, whilst the tax on , it all goes by the Wilmington and Balti- the Pennsylvania road is but three mills' more Railroad, and by the Baltimore and per ton per mile, the York and Cumber- j Ohio Railroad to Cumberland, and from land railroad,but twenty-six milesin length, thence by the National Road and Monon is taxed with twenty-five cents per ton, I gahela navigation to Pittsburg. which, as before remarked, is equal to S3i j Mr. Brooks, I do not represent I'hila milcsof the Pennsylvania railroad. Thcidelphia. Mr. Packer. o, sir, the Senator aocs of a bonus to the Baltimore & Ohio rail road, and tfit it will as certainly as there is a sun in the heaveiis,as soon as that road shall have been completed, drive all Balti more trade from the I'ennsylvania canal and the Pennsylvania and York aud Cum-' & Cumberland road, you can divert the bcrland railroads, to tho JJaltimorc and Ohio railroad ? That road will be finished to Wheeling in the spring of 1852 and leading to Urownsville, the head of slack- water navigation on the Monongahela, and that all trade passing or to it from the Ohio river went by that Slackwater navi- ence of 95 miles in favor of the Baltimore gallon, ana National road to Cumberland, and Uhio route, which is equal to the dia requiring two transhipments, after leaving tance between Baltimore and Phiiadelnhia. I'ittsburg. And yet, you see that the re or, in other words, makes Phiiadelnhia aa ..:., f..:..i.. ,t il r.- - .- ...... r" Luiio u"i uwigut, uu Luc uuiuuiore anu near to iiocinnail, oy tne jialtimore Ohio road during the past year, noth with, j Ohio route, as by the Pennsylvania sunn u uii tut-su uisauvauiages amounieu to the large sum of over $1)00,000. The expenses of working the road and keeping it in repair, during the same period, were SGO0,W8 85 less than fortysix percent, of the gross receipt.. Showing an aggregate ofnett revenue of 734,216 4 equivalent to 9-C7 per cent, upon their capital of $7,583,70"). I refer to these facts, sir, to show the present prosperous condition of our Southern rival ; and that notwithstan ding the advantages we possess, she is able now to a considerable extent to divide our trade at Pittsburg. Yet by the bill under consideration you propose to Lay additional and unnecessary burthens on the Pennsylvania lines of public improvements between Pittsburg and Baltimore and thus as soon as the Baltimore and Ohio road reaches the Ohio river at Wheeling or Parkersburg, prevent the Baltimore trade from ever reaching I'ittsburg at all. Sir, you completely counteract the advantages of a free navi gation on the Ohio river, which Pittsburg, the Iron City ot the west now enjoys, by imposing exorbitant taxes rn trade after it passes that point on its way to an cistern market. Do yon think, sir, by the selfish policy proposed in the bill to tax the York 787 621 632 mile trade from Baltimore entirely ? Surely the Senator from Philadelphia does not suppose that Baltimore will not be able to most probably to I'arkersburg as soon asi command a fair share of the trade of the the work can be accomplished. Will Sen ators rise in their place and gravely tell me that such a rivalry is not to be feared ? and that it is better to contend with Balti more for the trade of the West at Parkers burg, or at Wheeling, than at llarrisburg, the capital of onr State, after it shall have west-, when she has an uninterrupted line of railroad from the Uhio river to her own ports, without touching the territory of I'ennsylvania free from taxation and in dependent of our legislation. It is true we have advantages business is establish. ed at Pittsburg western merchants Lave so suicidal? Sir, in the discussion of this : by the most direct route that can opened. I bill before us, being evidently for the pur intercstine ouestion. I ask the candid and ' Let that fact be conceded with all thclpose of interdicting trade, and to in- lattcr paving no tax on its pxssengcrs while it is proposed to tax each passenger! not represent Philadelphia, bnt he repre- in the cast and in the west. This improve- fifteen cents, that passes over the road from scnts Delaware couuty, and tho Railroad son, I pray you, can be assigned for adopt- ment, I repeat, connects the public works llarrisburg to 1 ork I from Philadelphia to Baltimore, passes ing a policy so unwise, so ungenerous and 'of Pennsylvania with the city of Baltimore Sir, I hold that tho tax proposed in tho through that county, and I want to know wny inal ivoaa remains uniaxcu. it icaus to Baltimore it carries the trade and ton nage of Philadelphia from the State im-provcrucnts-1-wby then does not Phila delphia seek to tax the trade on it, at the rate of 25 cents per ton per 2G miles ? It is as much a Baltimore improvement as the York and Cumberland, and is calculated to do our State improvements far greater injury, by its connecction with the Balti more, and Ohio Raitroad. But the City of Baltimore, the great "ntonstrnm horren dunt" in the eyes of Philadelphia; becomes it soenis as harmless as a lamb when Phil adelphians profit by her trade, and in such case tho interests of the Commonwealth arc entirely overlooked I Am I not fully sustained in the assertion ! Sir, I hold in my hand the "Baltimore American" of yesterday let me read an article I find in its columns. It speaks volumes, and I call the attention of Senators to it. Mrs P. here rend from the Baltimore American as follows: TRANSPORTATION TO THE WEST. Messrs. Editors You are requested to state that the following petition is in circu lation for signatures ; and you are authori zed to say that one of our Baltimore For warding Lines has made application to the President of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company to be placed upon the same terms as the Philadelphia lines, and has not obtained permission. To tit Honorable the Mayor and City Coun ci'l of Baltimore. : Gentlemen. The undersigned Mer chant and traders of the eity of Balti more respectfully represent: That we are informed the President and directors of the serious attention of the Senate. Now, sir, ; force the Scnatorfrom the city (Mr. Crabb) how does the question stand I j could desire ; for 1 have no wish to con- Mr. Speaker, an act was passed on the jccal it. Sir, it is not the first improve 21st day of April. 1846, to incorporate a 'ment leading toward the city of Baltimore company to construct a railroad from the lthat has met with the special opposition of Cumberland V alley railroad at the west members representing the city of Philadcl end of the llarrisburg Bridge to York. 1 phia. . They were equally vehement in call the attention of Senators to localities, their opposition to the incorporation o( the The road was to extend from llarrisburg , Tide Water canal company. Look at to York thus connecting the Pennsylva i their course year after year, when that nia canal and Central railroad at Harris-'question was before the Legislature, and burg, with the Baltimore & Susquehanna 'you will find them, sir, with up-lifted at York, and consequently opening a direct ! hands, protesting against the passage of communication by railroad between liar- j that bUl Whenever and wherever the risburg and Baltimore. The eighth sec- ' question was presented Philadelphia un tion of the act of incorporation provides interruptedly aud pertinaciously voted No! "that it shall be the duty of the President ' No ! ! Ruin to the prospects of Philadcl and managers of said company, as soon as ; phia was to be the inevitable result of the said railroad shall be completed for the construction of that canal ! Well, sir,the transportation of passengers and freight, j bill was finally passed ; tho canal was to prepare a full and accurate account of j made ; has now been many years in opc thecost of said railroad authenticated by I ration, and what has been tho conse the oath or affirmation of the President and j quencc ? Why, Mr. Speaker, there is a Secretary of said Company, and comma- continuous stream of boats passing from nicate the same to the Auditor General, the public improvements of Pennsylvania who shall filo the statement in his office, I down that canal to tide water at Havre de and within six months after the comple- Grace. And, notwithstanding the ex tion of said railroad and semi-annually !cessive tolls charged by the Chesapeake & thereafter, the proper officer orAf the said : Delaware canal, eighteen-twentieths of the til i Cumberimd: railroad company entire nnrabcr of those boats find their !i tr, Ut UDder OT &rmitlou' aJ t0 Philadelphia. Yes, sir, although and transmit to the Treasurer of this State 1 the improvement was made by Baliimore a statement exhibiting the amount of ton jans, and with Baltimore capital ; and al nage, of whatsoever kind or . description, ! though a free navigation is afforded by and the number of paesengers that may j the bay from Havre de Grace to Baltimore; lave passed over the entire length of said j the distance much shorter than to Phila road. between York and the the Cumberland Valley railroad, during j one-half j etill, wUh all these advantage-, j Wrightsville and York to Baltimore.be crease the revenue of the State, is unjust, dictated by a false economy, aud behind the spirit of the ago. I go further, sir, I believe that such a tax, so far from promot ing the interests of this State, or of Phila delphia,would inevitably strike a fatal blow at both. It is my firm belief that it is against the interest of Pcnusj-lvania against the interest of the Central railroad and against the interest of the city of Phil adelphia, herself. Now, Mr. Speaker, if I am able to sus tain these positions, by unquestionable facts andfigures ; if I shall have demon strated their truth before the hands of that clock move round to one looking at it in so clear a light that no intelligent jury of twelve men could entertain a rational doubt then sir I shall ask the Senator from Phil adelphia to vote with me for the amend ment of the Senator from Franklin ; and if it fail, then agaiust the original bill. I will pledge myself to that Senator that if I fail in sustaining the positions I have as sumed ; if I do not make them so plain that "the way -faring man, though a fool, could not err therein," that I will vote with him in favor of blocking up and barring the gates of this highway, and every other improvement leading towards Baltimore. ( Mr. Crabb (in his scat) agreed ; I'll do it Then, Mr. Speaker, let us see what I can prove. To the law and the testimony. The aggregato value of articles carried over the main line of the Pennsylvania improve ments, and the railroads from Columbia by paid toll and freight charges on more than j their agencies there forwarding men their warehouses and depots the lines of com munication are stocked in every direction steamboat lines on the Ohio river connect with the canal and railroad lines though Pennsylvania we have also the advantage of geographical position-. But, Mr. Speak !50 miles of our canals and railroads ? Sir, such an idea is preposterous. Suppose it to leave the canal at Pittsburg, and take the Pennsylvania railroad ; in that case the btate would receive three mills per ton per mile from Pittsburg to llarrisburg ; which is the most unfavorable view of the sub ject for if the trade passes over the Stale improvements then sho receives a much larger sum. But if the tonnage be turned towards Baltimore, at Wheeling or Parkers burg, how is it to benefit any human being in this Commonwealth ? by such legis lation, we affect the revenue of the State certainly to tho amount of three mills per ton per mile over the whole line on all trade diverted from our channel, and to a much greater extent if we drive the trade off of our main line of canal. We affect disastrously the interests of the Pennsyl vania railroad and consequently the inter ests of Philadelphia as the largest stock holder in that company and we deprive the city of Pittsburg of the advantages she now enjoys, as the great depot of the Up per Ohio for produce and trade destined for Baltimore. Sir, we do more; we not only unwisely inflict an irreparable injury upon our own State upon our own com panics upon our own cities and upon our own forwarding merchants, but we en rich our rivals; We build up tho Balti more Uhio railroad, by pouring into their coffers tho profits derived from the transportation of the trade that we have foolishly rejected ; enabling that company to compete more successfully with the Pennsylvania railroad and the line of im provements belonging to the State. Ihe average rate ot toll and transporta tion on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad is three cents per ton per mile ; end the dis tance between Baltimore and Grave creek, nine miles below Wheeling, the terminus of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, by the route adopted, is three hundred and seven ty miles. Philadelphia, therefore, to come into fair competition with that road must deliver her goods at Grave creek. .Now, the Pennsylvania and Ohio lUilroada. As Cincinnati is the great foetu of trade on the Ohio river, I have carefully coa pared to the distances that city freea Phila delphia by the various route leading thro Pennsylvania, and Ohio, and also by the routes through Maryland, Virginia, and. Ohio, to which I ask the attention of Sea tors: The distance from PhihvdeK ' phia to Cincinnati by way of Baltimore, Parkenburg terminus, and the Ohio river is The distance from Phihdei phia to Cincinnati by way of Baltimore, Grave Creek terminus) and the Ohio river is The distance frnm Philadel phia to Cincinnati hy I'ennsylvania Railroad to I'ittsburg and the Ohio river is Showing a difference of fortr-five milee C J , w m . in iavor oi me irarftersburg route of tho Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from Phila delphia to Cincinnati, and 142 miles in favor of the fame route from Baltimore-. And also a difference of eleven miles in favor of the Grave Creek route of the same road from Philadelphia, to Cincinnati and one hundred and eight from Baltimore to the same point The distance from PhiladeH phia to Cincinnati by , I'ennsylvania Railroad to Pittsburg, and Pennsylva nia if- Ohio Railroad to Cincinnati, exclusively by Railroad, is ?3 n;U The distance from Philadet pnia to Cincinnati by Bal timore. Wheeling, and Central Ohio Railroads through Columbus, exclu sively by Railroad, is f39 miles. & Showing a difference of only two miles in favor of the Pittsburg route from Phila delphia to Cincinnati by Railroad, and ot ' ninety-five miles in favor of Baltimore bj the Wheeling route. But, sir, the route most to be feared by Pennsylvania is that by way of the Balti more and Ohio Railroad to l'arkersbnrv t and from Bclprc, (a point on the Ohio riv er, all these win not save us unless we continue to offer by our owu route, as cheap transportation, as quick time and as good a market as can be furnished by other states-. We must cultivate our ad vantages, or suffer the consequence.. If the trade between Pittsburg and Balti more be left as it new is, unembarrassed ; er opposite to Parkersburg,') bT waT ot l... ...: .k . i..i m.:ii: .u. r e.V. vj 1'ivmuii.i.c ui&uiiuu, iuc wuiwj:c vuiu iuiuicuLue iu itiucmnaiii cnarters nave ways may be safely estimated at 100,000 j been granted by Virginia and Ohio for" tons annually. The distance from York both these roads and a late Cincinnati to Pittsburg being 287 miles at 3 mills per ' paper before me states that ton per mile, woutd make the annual pay. I " Cincinnati has at last gained what she ment into the State Treasury from this has contended for the chartered right to source alone 680,000 ; which would be i the real and absolute Straight Line rail equui io iuk auuuai j'.ij mem ot wie interest i rnau, irom tne tide water to ot Louie, at the rate of 5 per cent, on $1,722,000 of j The Virginia charter to Parkersburr. will the state debt. This estimate of 100,000 tons can not be regarded as extravagant. The tonage on the Baltimore & Ohio rail road amounted in ISoO, to 4 1 7,000 tons. As a revenue measure, therefore, add from twenty-five to fifty per cent to the value of the Belpre charter: " From the Three Porks of Tygart' river to Cincinnati is at least fifty mi lee 1 l. .t. MTI 1- . . it is i less than by the Wheeling rout ni m manifestly the interest of the State that ! thing, therefore, can prevent the straighh the rate of tax to be fixed should be one : line route from becoming th mm, tkrm that would produee the largest amount. oughfarc of passengers across the conti The amendment of the Senator from Frank- nent. We may add that, for the same lin, proposes to tax the freight at the rate i reasons, tho northwestern railroad will add of three mills per ton per mile. It is be- largely to the value of stock in the Ohio lieved the company can pay that tax, be-' and Mississippi railroad, and all these line ing the same imposed on the Pennsylvania ! being links of one great route." railroad, and compete at least tor a fair j The distance from Philadelphia share ot the business, which would inevi tably be diverted to the Baltimore and Ohio road, if the maximum proposed in to Cincinnati by the Balti more, Parkersburg, Belpre and Chillicothe route is 663 mile. the original bill, of one cent per ton, per 1 The distance from Philadelphia mile should be imposed. I by Pittsburg and Penns-bra . . rt ., ,. . - . . ..... t 1 M . . . in ana unio railroads to Cm eiunati, before stated, is 737 mites.' Mating a diSerence m favor of the Bal Mr. Crabb. (in his seat,) I should like know from the Senator from Lycoming (Mr. Faeker) whether he is in favor of the amendment of the Senator from Franklin? Mr. Packer, does the Senator expect a categorical answer ? Mr. Crabb, (in his seat,) yci sir. timore and Ohio route by way ef Parkers burg, Belpre, and Chillicothe for Plilti delphia trado and travel of forty-mins r-' T , r : . 1 a- n
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