. . . , . _ . . .•:L-'4..1?, ;. •,.• „.:..-. 4 . • t ". .......,) , • .•' - . r . til l * ~ - -`-- ~-., , •. . 1 :,. ~ . N,. . ,' 1 2. . , ,1 . , ;- , . . ~-... 4..;'.•.i: ' '•• rt H . . . • - •: , • . '. • :, , ... j r ilt' . . 87 nommiasi 1.77:T1TZ1 ICIZZLZITOII.] f e 0111111 011 SCIIOOI p - p - r WiNT Ora the St ate - to - ill:, aliTtrent liiSiV‘CAS of Aciams Comniy. Districts 1535 1R36 Berwick Paid Paid Paid Paid 207 16 207 16 Conowago Forfeited 47 83 129 48 452 45 129 48 759 24 Cumberland Forfeited Paid Paid Paid 167 68 167 68 Franklin Paid Paid Paid Paid 240 84- 210 84 Germany Forfeited Paid Pal Paid 246 66 240 GG Gettysburg Paid Paid Paid Paid 260 91 260 91 Hamilton Forfeited 64 33 174 15 608 .55 174 15 1021 18 Hamiltonban Paid Paid Paid Paid 233 07 233 07 Huntingdon Paid Paid Paid Paid 220 76 220 76 Latimoro Forfeited 55 '5 149 55 522 58 149 55 876 93 Liberty Forfeited Paid Paid Pall 145 02 145 02 Menallen Paid Paid Pa id Paid 312 05 312 05 Mount joy Forfeited Paid Paid Paid 145 02 145 02 Mountideasant Forfeited 84 18 227 89 796 22 227 89 1336 18 Reading Forfeited 57 87 156 67 547 47 156 67 918 68 Straban Paid Paid Paid Paid 208 46 208 46 Ty ro Ite Forfeited Paid Paid Paid 119 77 119 77 Trn: foregoing statement exhibits not only the dividends of State appropria [ar Lion for theffth Common School year (1839,) payable on or after the first Monday Of.lune, 16:18, when that veer commences, to all the districts in the county, but also those for the Ist, 2d, 3d and 4th school years,(viz: 1t35, 1830, 1-37 and 1839,) now due to such districts as have suitor not accepted or not yet applied in the proper man ner for their money. The whole amount of State appropriation yet due for each district since the first year of the system, is exhibited in the last column. The State spproprialion ler 18:35 or the first school year, wits : " 375,000; for 19:35, or the second, $65,000; for 1837, or die third, $200,000; for 183 8 , or the fourth and pre sent school year, $700,000, (including the Building Fund of$5(10,000;) and for 18:19, or the fifth, it will be 8200,0(10, if the law remains unaltered, hut if the Legislature add $lOO,OOO, it will be $300,001 1 ; malting an aggregate given by the State since the co rn . mencement 01 the system of $1,250,000 etthout, or $1,350,000 with the expected in- crease. Undrawn dividends of the two first years' appropriation are to be received from the Counts Tri'asul y. The dividends of subsequent years are payable by the State Treasurer, on applicatin to the Superintendent. The follow ing!is the i,rrn of the necessary ceritficate,whicli shout be forwarded to the Superintendent, in every case, as soon as the fact will justify it; Disnict Tax for 183 (Date.) "To the Superintendent of Common. Schools. uSin—T do hereby certify that a School Tax amounting to dollars 4.been regularly levied and assessed for the school year 183 , upon district coon othat a warrant for the collection thereof has been delivered to the district Collector according to law “and that the aforesaid sum is at least equal to this district's annual share of the State appropriation. .4 do further certify that of Post Office, county, is the lawfully appointed oTreasurer of this District. "Attest, Secretary. President. “---Post Office, county. Post Office, county." By the next mail after the receipt of the foregoing certificate at this department, a warrant on the State Treasurer for the appropriation of the current year, will be sent to the District Treasurer, together with similar warrants for all undrawn dividends of for. mer years, remaining in the State Treasury. TO obtain the latter no additional tax is necessary, so that one tax, for the current year, equal to the District's share of the ordi nary annual State appropriation ($200,000) will be sufficient to enable it to receive ad dividends of former undrawn approprinunnw. As soon us u District, previously non-accepting, neoopto tho gyatom sod receives its money from the State Treasury, it is thereby entitled to all money - remaining for its use in the County Treasury, provided it accepts before the Ist of November, 1838. In that case it is the duty of the County Treasurer to pay over such money forthwith to the Dis trtct Treasurer, on the order of the Board of Directors. The best proof of such accep tance and of the receipt, of the money from the State Treasurer, ,s the circular which ac ,companies the warrant of the Superintendent, on the production of which the County Treasurer will be perfectly safe in paying over the dividends in his hands. , Aficeptance of the Common School system, under the present laws, can only take place 'by the vote of a majority of such citizens of each non-accepting District, as assemble on the day of electing Directors, being in most cases the third Friday in March. The citi zens then assembled have two acts to perform, Ist. to elect Directors, which inwat be done whether the system in to be poem operation or not; and 2d. to decide the question wheth er the system shall he accepted or not. This last question is only to be submitted in such Districts As previously rejected the system, but not in accepting districts, and may be decided in the affirmative by a mere majority of the votes polled.— See the 1:3111 Section of the Common School Law of ISM. Having thus explained the condition of the State appropriations, the manner of obtain ing them; and the mode of accepting the system, the Superintendent would respectfully address a word of information and advice to the citizens of such townships, wards and boroughs as have not yet received it. In doing this he has no wish officially to become the advocate of the system, but solely promote the interests of those District 4. by explain ing their present situation in relation to it. By the first Common School Lnw (that of Ist April, 18:340 if nri, number of Districts in a county—even one—accepted the system, they thereby became entitled to the receipt of the whole State appropriation intended for all the districts in the county for that year. This hafah prosisimi Was repealed by the supplement of April 15, 11135, which enacted that non•accetifirig: Districts should have two years, (which of course counted from the date of the supplernent,) within which time they might accept and save the forfeiture of undrawn dividends. Before the passage of the supplement, however, the forfeiture contilinplated by the act of 1A34, had taken place in several counties, so far as related to the appropriation of the first school year (1-35.) Thos the law remained till the passage of the Common School law of June 12, and the declaratory resolution of r27th March, 1837, "relative to undrawn balances in tl Sefton!, Fund." By the joint operation of these acts the period of forfeiture was further ..' . liogtfioned till the Ist of November, 1838. (next November,) with this ditihrence, that the !TTorreited dividends are not to be distributed among the accepting Districts of the same ''`county, but are to be added to the principal of the general Common School Fund in the State Treasury, the interest of which only is annually distributable. But though the law reads thus, the legal act ofacceptance must be performed a consi derable time before the Ist of November, 1 4 :3'4. Under the existing law, non accepting districts can only adopt the system by the vote or the citizens assembled to elect Direc tors, which in most cases takes place on the third Friday in March. Hence it follows that though the completion of the forfeiture does not take place till November, yet that the. act of aeceptarce which can alone prevent it from attaching, must be performed for Townships in March, and for wards and horoughs,rit the time next spring when they elect their proper officers. Nor is the operation of this tbrfeitore confined to the appropriation of the current year, but embraces those of all the years since the commencement of the system.—See the Ist and•l3th sections. This being the manner and effect of . the forfeiture caused by continued rejection, it be co'll° Proper to stala the.consequences of present adoption. Acceptance of the System next Spring will not fasten it on the District 17)i-ever, but only till the Spring of 1840, or for Iwo years, at the end of which.time it may be discon Mitred by the vote of a majority of all the qualified voters of the District, if the experi ment should not prove satis!aelory.—See Sec. 13. f'rrsent neeephincai will prevent the forfeiture, not of one, but of four or foe years' State appropriation. including that of next school year, amounting in the n aggKegate to about 84 to each taxable inhabitant, or to 52,000 in a District containing 500 taxables, without counting any thing on a probable increase of appropriation by the present Le gislalure. - Acceptance next Sprinz,and the consequent receipt of the above accumulated dividends, will only burthen each District, next year, with a school tax equal to 641 cents on each taxable. This tax, however, is not to be paid in that proportion by each taxable, in the manner of a poll tax, but will be assessed on the property, professions and persons that pay County rates, and en such personal property as paid State tax The school tax on a township ham.- 50(1 taxables, and receiving $2,0110 of State appropriation, would be sun►ething less thaN SVS, But in reality, acceptance will not add much, if env thing, to the burthen of taxation in the populous counties. It is known that in many Districts the Irix collected by ti, Commissiohors lbr the education of poor clishlren, is equal . to the sum which would he neces-iry to entitle those Dioriets to the receipt of the Con►m,n School Funds, if they should adopt the S‘'stein. Nor would it he t►ecesrary, in most cases, to levy a tax beyond the lowest amount necessary to secure the State aid, because their ac cumulated State appropriation of four or five years, will !Insufficient to build or otharwise «I WISH NO OTHER HERALD, NO OTHER SPEAKER OF lit LIVING ACTIONS, TO HER L P '4 4IINE HONOR FROM CORRUPTION. -SHAHS 1838 1839 3,345 14 Signed, szewiezrairtwiecum - . a)Qa. tiqP2aDdiTo wararavaanr aava. provide good school-houses, thus leaving the current year's tax end appropriation wholly applicable to instruction, far which purpose it would he nearly sufficient. If the Sl.stem be adopted next Spring, only one other tax, after that of next year, must necessarily be paid by the Districts, before they will have an opportunity of discontinuing the Svstein at the tri-enuial election on the first Tuesday of 11lay, 1840. The payment of this tax, equal to 64 cents for each taxable, will probably entitle them. besides reltev ing them from the poor school tax, to a State appropriation equal to $1 for each taxable for the second year. So that the payment of $1 :30 for each taxable, in two years, will enable those Districts to receive e.. 5 for each taxable, from the State, in the same time. Hence it seems to be far the interest oldie non•accepting Districts, to take the matter seriously into deliberation, independent of all considerations arising from the merits or demerits of the Common School System. Thote•li the Sv , lem is yet in its infancy, it has produce,' some decided and salutary e l mrw e s in the Districts whieli have adopted it. Total Due Ti.e School lionsrs are ~ c nerally much improved, being either new, or well repaired, and more equally and conveniently located than formerly. The compensation of Teachers is increased fully oiie.third, and the profession is rapidly and protwutiona•elt: rising in usefulness and independence. The number of Children taught in the Common Schools, is at least double that of the schools which preceded them in the same Districts. The duration of tractility" in each year is about the same. The kind of instruction is in ail cases as good, and in most better than in the old schools. The me of lead:it:7,e, notwithstanding the increased compensation of the teacher—the improved eftudetor t of the hou-x., and the better order and kind of Instruction, is only one h a ir of wh q t it was lawfore the system went into operation. Formerly it was 25 un an avernee over the State, now it 81 124 fur each poptl per quarter. . In the old schools some paid for their own education, and some were educated at the expense of the county. This unpleasant divind ion is not found in the tiommon Schools. All receive the scone kind of instruction. paid fi,r out of he same common stock. There is no room, therefore, for partiality on the part of the teacher towards particular pupils, or of distinctions affiloll. , the scholars. But it is not on account of these, its undeniable fruits. that the non•accepting Districts are now :addressed. These facts are alluded to merely to show that there is no danger iu the oxoeriment. The object of the Superintendent is to lay the whole matter before those Districts, that they army act understandingly on the subject, when they make their final decision next Sprittiz. As a friend, he •v old advise all to accept the System for the next two veers, because at the end of that time it can be discontinued if thund insuflicieut. In the mean time the accumulated fonds of five years will be secured, awl can be applied to the permanent improvement of the ichatil houses of the Dist riet, mid to a fair trial of the Com MOH School male of teaching- At the end of that time, if the System be discontinued, each District yr!!l be in pci.sessi , m of !rood school houses. arid of increased experience on the subject of instruction, which will beam* worth the small tax paid for them. If the vs'etn be accepted by any of the I/oriels in question, the Superintendent would advise that such citizens as have been heretofore opposed to it, but who are candid and intelligens men, shall be elected Directors. They will have it in their power to keep down the amount of taxation, and to test the experiment in such manner as to prevent any imputation of partiality for the System. Such men, also, representing the feelings of the majority oldie I) strict. will carry public confidence along with them, and the re suit whether fi.r or against Common Schools, will be satisfictory to the Disifict, 'T~FfIr : 34i H. ES lat OWES , Sup'! Coninton Schools SECRETARY'S OFFICE, Harrisburg. Jowl:try Sit, cents, ha Gettystormr; Rail Road--Reports of the s4estale Committee Of the 31jority of the Committee appointed by the Senate to "view the line of the Gettusbmw Extension of the Pennsylvania, Hail Road. and the contemplated routes to its termination; conformably with the instructions Mr. STROILM. from the Committee appointed to "proceed to the town of Gettysburg, in the coun ty of Adams, and from thence to travel along the line of the Gettysburg Railroad, the twenty-two and an half - macs of such, is put under contract, which ends on the summit of the South Mountain; and from thence to travel along the two contemplat?d routes, to where the railroad is expected to terminate, at or west of Hagerstown, in 'Washington county, Maryland; and having done so, to report to the Senate, which of the two routes (if any) should be made, viz:—the ono which runs south, along the South Mountain, until it gets near the town of Smithtown, in Washington county, Maryland, or the one which is expected to run by, or near the town of Waynesboro', in the county of Franklin, Pennsyl vania; or whether any of them should he put under contract; and also, whether it would not, in their opinion, be the interest of the State, that the prosecution of this road should now cease, or at least fur the present:" REPORT, That Tour committee have passed along, and viewed the different, routes and lines desig nated in the resolution; and have carefully examined the various considerations, which, to your com mittee, seem to have an important bearing upon the subject submitted to their decision. The most important part of the duty impo.cd upon the committee, is that which is last mentioned in the resolu tion. viz: *whether it would not, in their opinion, be the interest of the State, that the prosecution of this work should now oraae, or at least, fur the present." In hazarding an opinion,ns to the expediency or inexpediency of continuing or suspending a work of such magnitude as that of the Gettysburg rail road, your committee are deetely sensible of the responsibility under which they arc acting; and fully aware of the neceitc of proceeding with due deliberation, and prudent caution. They entered upon the discharge of the duty imposed upon then] by the Senate, with a determination to exercise their own judgment, with candor and impartiality, and express the honor convictions of their minds, uninfluen ced by any considerations excepttliose comected with the pros' erity and interest of the State. In commencing, and carrying out our great system of Internal Improvement, your committee con ceives, that the Legislature bad in view three great leading object , : Fira/.—An intercommunication between the city of Philadelphia, the great commercial emporium of the State, and that cast extent of country which is situated south of the Lakes and west of the river Ohio, comprising a consideralde portion of the rich and fertile valley of the Mississippi, by which the immense trade of the west aLould be attrac•ed to the former; and by increasing her commerce, encou rage IllarlateingleS, enrich her citizvas, and promote the prosperity of the whole community. Seconay.—AtTortling facilities ti the inhabitants of the interior coun ties of the State, for the trans portation of their agricultural, manufacturing and mineral productions. Thus enhancing the value of real estate, to an almost. incalculable amount, and developing the resources of the Commonwealth, by stimulating industry, festering enterprze, and diffusing the blessings, which a combination of ul: those advantages, under a free and well regulated government, never fail to insure. Thirdly.—A judicious and economical application of the money necessarily expended in the con struction of those. improvements, so that the nett proceeds derived therefrom, should be sufficient to pay the interest, annually, on the amount expended; leaving a balance, which in time, would extinguish he debt incurred, or replenish the coffers exhausted, in the execution of the work. Assuming these as the fundamental principles of our Internal Improvement system, your committee were naturally led to inquire, whether, the application of those principles, in reference to the improve ment which they were directed to examine, and report on, was manifested in a degree sufficient to jus. tify the expenditure. which necessarily must be incurred to complete the same. In regard to the tires, the opening, of an additional avenue of communication between the city of Philadelphia and the valley of the Mississippi, the Gettysburg railroad, (extending from the town of Gettysburg, in the county of Adams, to a point at or west of Hagerstown, in the county of Washing ton, and State of Maryland, a riistance of forty-one miles and three-fourths by the Smithtown route, and forty-seven milts and one-fourth by the Waynesboro' route,) is but an isolated link, which never can become either useful or proffiaf.le, until certain other improvements, with which it is coi, temple ted to be connected, are completed. There are, the Baltimore and Ohio railroad,to be extended to Pitts burg, or Wheeling. and the Gettysburg and Wrightsville railroad, commencing at one, and terminat ing at the othcrof those points. A portion of the latter is under progress. Between Wrightsville and York, a distance of about twelve miles. the road has been located and put under contract; and the grad ing, (the committee has been informed) is nearly completed, Sonic of the iron, it is understood, has been procured, and there is reason to believe., that that portion of the road will be finished within the next two years—prrhai during the next summer. Betweili York and Gettysburg, an experimental survey has been made, but no permanent location fixed upon, nor, so far as the committee could learn, any contract entered into for the execution of any part of the work. The ecndition and circumstan ces of the company could not be ascertained by the committee; but it is the opinion of runny, that's vigorous prosAacution, and =say completion of the said road, by the company, need not be expected. The Baltimore and Ohio railroad is completed from the city of Baltimore to Harper's Ferry, on the Potomac river, a distance of eighty-two miles. Between that point and Cumhorland, in Allegheny county, Stab- of Maryland, several surveys have been made during the preceding summer; but the company have not yetdecided upon which route the road shall be located. In regard to the location of this road, your committee were much disappointed, and unable to procure correctinformation. Some allege, that.. in compliance with the Laws of the State of Maryland on this subject, the company will be compelled locate their road through Boonsborouzh, Hagerstown and Cumberland. Others sup pose that the road will pass near Williamsport, amt leave Hagerstown about five miles to the cast.— Others, again, assert that the road will be carried across the Potomac, at or near Horper's Ferry, and passing up on the Virg* lir side, SUMO twenty to twerity-fivo miles, will re-cross the Potomac, into the State of Maryland, at or near a place called Clear Spring; whilst others, ditfcring from all these, entertain the opinion, that. after crowing the Potomac at Harper's Ferry, the road will be continued on the Virginia side, until it reaches Cu ill:MO.111d; or, perhaps, take the route of the Potomac and Winchuter railroad, and strike the Ohio river at a cousiderable distance below Whet.lin , . rltiould Mr.. Strohm's Report FLE.tio as THE snsaTr. o Tan 29 . rn of JANII.A.RY, 1 Sii.C. uf the StAtate." either of the two latter routes he adopted, it would preclude the State of Pennsylvania from foruung connexion with the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, without first obtaining permission from the Legialar,. ture of Virginia; and, besides increasing the length of our road, would subject us to:the expense of erect ing a bridge over the Potomac river. Your committee is aware that much reliance cannot be placer& on these speculative opinions, and only rehearse them here, to show the uncermiiity which waste ier relation to this matter. So great were the doubts upon the minds of the citizens of Washington ceu►t ty, who feel u deep interest in the location and construction of this road, that, on the day on which your committee arrived at Hagerstown, a public meeting was held, which was atterded by a largo num ber of the citizens of that place, and of the county of Washington, "for the purpose of taking into con sideration some of the movements of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad company, in relation to the lots tion of a route for said road." At this meeting, a preamble and resolutions were •adopted, in which they state that they "have learned, with surprise, that said company have made locations of said road, in several directions, through Washington county and the State of Virginia, without regard to the above-mentioned points. (alluding to Boonsborough, Hagerstown and Cumberland,) and have issued circulars, by which they have requested land-holders to relinquish to said company the right of soil over which the different locations pass; all of which proceedings, on the part of said company, • would seem to indicate a design to construct said road either beyond the limits of the State of Marylund,frout Harper's Ferry, westward, or on other grounds than those designated by the charter." In addition to this, the president of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad company, in reply to a letter ad dressed to him by one attic committee, says: "It is not possible for me, before the completion of the calculations and estimates, and the final arrangement in regard to the State loan of three millions of dollars, to form any satisfactory opinion as to the time within which the road will be completed to the Ohio." • It is evident, therefore, that no certainty can yet be attained, either in regard to the location, or time of completing the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. Would it, then, be consistent with cautious prudence and sound policy, to persevere in expending millions in constructing a work, the utility of which is de pendent on such precarious and doubtful circumstances? Your committee humbly conceive that it. would not. But, waiving these considerations, and admitting .the probability of the completion of the Baltimore and Ohio ruitroad, through Hagerstown, and of the Wrightsville, York and. Gettysburg rail road, by the time the Gettysburg railroad may be completed, thus effecting the contemplated connexion with the Columbia and Philadelphia railroad, forming a continuous line of railroad from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, the next inquiry is—what is the prospect as to the amount of business likely to be done on this road? In estimating this, various considerations must be kept in view. Where a single iniL provement, whether canal, railroad, or turnpike, opens a communication between two given points, the amount of business on that improvement can only be limited by the whole amount of transportation offered between these points, or the capacity of the improvement itself, in affording facilities for trans portation. But where different improvements converge to the same,or similar pointa,that which affords the easiest, safest, quickest and cheapest conveyance, will cortainlyengrosa the greatest amount of busi ness; and such, your committee conceives, is the relation which the connexion about to be formed be tween the Baltimotc and Ohio railroad, and the Columbia and Philadelphia railroad, by means of the Harrisburg and Mouutjoy railroad, the Cumberland Valley railroad, and the Franklin railroad, bears to the Gettysburg railroad. The difference in the distance, between these routes, may readily be seen, by comparing the following statements, which, from the best information the committee could obtain, will, it is believed, nut vary much from the actual survey, viz: Front Hagerstown to Gettysburg, by the Waynesboro' route, 47# miles, From Gettysburg to Wrightsville, 41 Front Wrightsville to Philadelphia, R 2& From Hagerstown to point of intersection with Franklin road(supposed near Williamsp't) 4i From the point of intersection about 2 miles from 'Williamsport to Chambershum, 23 miles From Chattibersburg to Harrisburg; -51 - From Harrisburg to Lancaster, - 37 From Lancaster to Philadelphia, 70 181 From this statement,it will be pereeived,the distance from the point where,itiestipposeff,that the Frank lin railroad will intersect the Baltimore and Ohio rail to Philadelphia, the distance b. the Chamhersburgh route is but six miles longer than the other. But, in computing the advantages of railroads, distance is riot the only consideration. The number and radii of the curves, enclitic degree of grade, frequently present greater obstacles than even a considerable difference of distance and - in this respect, the Chatnhersburgh route has a decided advautage over that which rues through Gettysburg. The former exteads, In an almost direct line,througli the fertile and highly cultivated valley of Cumberland, over ground nearly level, with a^arcely any deep excavations,and with few heavy embankments. The traveller finds himself always near the surface of the ground,and is,at all thues,gratified with the view of neat and thriving •illageo,or of com fortable and elegant dwellings,and well improved laudations, indicative, at once, of the industry and enter prize. as well 'as of the ind ependence and prosperity of the envied proprietors of the soil. He feels secure that if accident should arrest the progress of thelrain with which ha is Moving, he could immediately fad shelter in a neighboring farm-house, or be furnished with the means of eonv..yance to the next baron But, on the latter,(or about 25 miles,he is either ascending or descending,at a grade of fifty feet to tho,ipile,a rug ged,solitary and barren mountain,uninhabited and almost uuinhabimble; on the other hand, he sees perpen dicular cliffs rise like towering steeples above his head,covered with projecting rocks,which seem threaten ing him with instant death for his temerity; on the other,he perceives a frightful precipice,over which he is in imminent danger of being hurled into the abyss below,with the certain prospect of being dashed to pieces by the fall. Now he is whirled over a ravine, on an embankment of some fifty or sixty feet in hotghth, and now engulphed in an excav lion from whence he scarce can see the sun; or immured in a tunnel, where day light may enter, but cannot penetrate. The slightest accident must fxpose him to danger of life, limb and property.from which nothing short era miracle could save him. This is no fancied sketch,or over-wrought picture. He who will traverse those routes and examine them oarefully,in a spirit of candor,and with an eye of impartiality—without buffering himself to be misled by the delusive mists of prejudice,or the dazzling rays of interest, will have no hesitation in subscribing to the truth of what is here asserted. Auothereircuinstaece In favor of the Cumberland Valley railroad,arises from the cheapness of its construc tion: owing to the favorableness of the ground on which it is located. This, connected with the fact that a locomotive will take a greater number of cars on that road than on the other, will enable that company to transport passengers and pro :ucc at a cheaper rate than can be done on the Gettysburg road.miless the inte rest of the State is sacrificed to the detriment of an cnterprizing company. From these views of the two contemplated routes, your committee have no hesitation in declaring their belief, that the Chambersburg or Cumberland Valley route will be the casiest.cheapest,safest,pleasantest and shortest route to Philadelphia; and in consequence of those pre-eminent advantages,this road, which is being constructed,and is now nearly completed, without any expense to the Commonwealth, will engross by far the greater portion of the trade which can be diverted from the Baltimore and Ohio railroad in the directithi of Philadelphia. In calling it the shot teat, your committee would beg leave to observe that they refer to time, and not to distance. For, although the Chambersburg route is a few miles the longest, they arc fully persuaded that, in consequence of the numerous advantages whichtt t is route possesses, it can, and will be travelled over in less time than the other; and that either passenger or produce will reach Lancaster or Philadelphie sooner by this route than the other. Fur the reasons above stated, your committee believe that but a small portion of the trade des'ined for Philadelphia call be expected to take the Gettysburg route. Yet there are others.whiclethough less cogent, are nut undeserving of nwice, nor unworthy of consideration in the decision of this question. The di•tance from Hagerstown to Harpers• Ferry is about 20 miles; by the railroad it may perhaps be 25; from Harpers-Fray - to Baltimore is 82 miles ; and from Baltimore, by the Baltimore and Port Deposit, the Wilmington and Susquehatina, and the Philad elphia and Wilmington railroads, to Philadelphia, is 93 miles: making the whole distance from Hagerstown to Philadelehia,by this route,2oo miles,or about 30 miles farth er than by way of Gettysburg. Hence, it is apparent, that the western merchant will have strong induce ment, to prefer the former route. The difference in time will hardly be two hours, whilst it gives him the advantage of ascertaining the state of the market both at Baltimore and Wilmington ere he rea -hes }Phila delphia. He inay,plobably,promote his hiterest,by purckasing, hie dry-goods at the latter, and his groceries at the former place. The advantages exhib , ted ill this arrangement are too manifest to be overlooked by a class of citizens alto are characterized by a keen perceptiou of the means of acquiring wealth, and a ready disposition to turn,even trivial circuinstances,to good account. Even the man of pleasure, who travels for a museruent,or the statesman necking information,will give the preference to this route,becnuae it affords them au opportunity of passing through the principal seaports of three States in a single day. Another recom mendation in favor of the Baltimore route, is founded in the circumstance of its location being considerably farther south than either of the otherteconsequeutly, in the winter season,less liable to obstructions from snow aturensevhich sometimes prove very annoying to travellers,and entirely impede the pregrens of locomotive,. The next timothy will be— what amount of intermediate trade, to be derived from the country through which this road passes, et9breasonably be expected on said road. Even in this point of view,your commit tee are constrained to obierve,that the prospect is by no means flattering .Twenty-five miles,as has already been stated,passes over a barren nuountain,al nest 'insusceptible of improvement ; except that on one side of the mountain there is a furnace near the roail,and on the other (if the Waynesburg route be adopted)there is a forge and a rolling-mill. These works,no doubt,would bring some tonnage out the road. That portion of the country laying between Gettysburg and the mountain', and along the foot of the muuntain,embracing the village oh Alillerstown and its vicinity although inhabited by an industrious,euterpriziug and intelligent pop ulation, is far inferior. in point of tertility of soil and agricultural productions, to many other portions of the State; nor is it blessed With those stores of mineral wealth, which disting uishes some other sections of the State,and promisee; so fair to augment the revenue of our improvements The whole amount, then, of agei- Le Rural, mineral and manufacturing productions which can be afforded by the county of Adarna,forins but au inconsiderable item in the amount necessary to be done, in order to make such an expensive improvement productive and profitable West of the mountain,in the viciuity. of Waynesboro', and between Wavuesbo. bo' and Hagerstown,vour committee found an exceedingly fertile and productive tract of countre,which will perhaps Odd as great a Burping of agrieultural productions as any other of the same extent in the State. Yet even this section, bounded on the one side by the South Mountain, (from Beyond which nothing will russets this road,) and, on the other side, by the Frataltlin railroad, Which affords a more convenient outlet fOr the trade t f thus valleyecannot be expected to furnish a great amount of tonnage to the Gettysburg road. Itwill be recollected,tuo,that from Waynesboro' to Baltimore will only be about 120 mi'es; whilst from the setae point tp Philadelphia will be Hitt; and every mile you proceed west or south- west from Wavie.i.borce makes .a Jae ence of two miles in favor of Baltimore,in point of distance. and thus increases the probability of the trade taking Out direction A deliberate ievestigation, mid a calm consideration of all these circumstances. has brought your committee to the conclusion,that the prospects of the business likely to be done on the Grt tysburg railroad,will not justify the expense which must inevitably be i-curred in the construction thereof, and therefore the sooner it is suspended, the better it will be for the State. It was folly to commence it; to persevere in it, at this time, will be ma , !siess The next point _to which :he attention of your committee was directed,waa to report to the Senate whicb•of the two reeks west of the mouutaiu "(rally) should he marle,viz: the one which runs south,along the South Sloutitain, until it gets near the tower called Smitlitown,in 'Washington countveNlaryland; or the one which is expect( dto run by or near the toe-not Way nesbore',iu the county of Franklin,Pennsylvania; or whether I any of them thould be put under contract.," rite opinion already given in regard to this roadJurnishes the direct answer of the cemmittee tothis gees lion. flut,as it within the range of possibility that the Senate may overrule this opinion, and determine to continue the work; or, if this improveineut should be suspended at this time, it may be resumed at acerityhis ture dayamiler more auspicious circumstances,the committee have thought it their duty, rerpectfully to sub unit their views in relation to these routes. The committee, then, aro of (pinion that if the Gettysburg rdif road should extended beyond the summit of the South llluentain,in the direction of liagerstown,or with the view of connecting with the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, the Waynesboro' route ought to be adonted• la arrivingat this conclusion,the oommittee have nut been governed entirely by a calculation of the probable a mount of expeuee that mute be encountered in the construetiou of the road,by either route ,Ihtexperienced as they are in the science ut engineering-they have not th e presumption to think that by merely passing a long the route,they could form anything like an accurate estimate of the actual cost. Yet they feel them selves constrained to say,that in passing along down the mountain on the Waynesboro' route,they met with. none of those deep indentations or ray ines,or !Move bold annul abrupt cliffs which characterize the mountain ors . the other route,and cannot fail to strike the eye or arrest the attention even of a casual observer,or an uncoil- • earned traveller. The mountnin ou the Waynesboro' ronte,after the two that miles from the summit, - sents a uniform and regular espect,very favorable for the construction of a railroad. A great portion, ,eppa rentlyevould be plain sidescutting,wheie the excavation on the one side would be required for the etultaalo, ment on the othereivoid i lig the necessity of cartineeexcept for very short 4istauees. liAren on that portion Or the road which leads through the valley,the Waynesboro' route scorns preferable. The limestone ehdg'4. which present serious obstacles to the grading of the•road, run were parallel with the course on this route. and those which necessarily must be crossed,are neither so numerous nor so high as those on the Stnithiceo k route. These reasons induce your committee to believe that the Waytiesboio' ronte,although several *lle the longest.oare ne,graileel fur less money thee the other. In this,howitrae,tbey raj be mist e kire;' thee aro {VOL. 8-. NO. 46, 175 miles
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