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The Visiting Committees are required to attend at the School House, in Walnut, above Sixth street, on the afternoons of the second Thursday, and the Thurs- day preceding the last Friday in every month, when children can be admitted to the Schools.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF WAYS AND MEANS.
Relative to the Financial Concerns of the State. Read in the House of Representatives, March 14, 1829.
Mr. Cunningham, from the committee of ways and means, to whom was referred so much of the Governor's message as relates to the financial concerns of the state, and other subjects connected with said finances, made
REPORT:
'. That an examination of the financial concerns of the commonwealth enables them to present the following results:
By the report of the Auditor General, it appears that the receipts into the treasury, in the last fiscal year, in- cluding a balance of $167,897 remaining on the first day of December, 1827, amounted to $3,297,367. 973, and that the expenditures within the same period were $3,107,552 51, leaving a balance in the treasury on the first day of December, 1828, of $189,815 463. It is estimated by the same officer, that the state of the trea- sury on the first day of December next, will exhibit a balance of $145,615 46, after meeting all the demands of the current fiscal year.
From these simple statements, it is obvious that the resources of the commonwealth, so far as they relate to the ordinary operations of government, are in a flourish- ing condition; and that with a view to those objects, nothing is required of the committee or the legislature.
The extensive system of internal improvements in which the commonwealth has embarked has created new wants, and given to a portion of the revenue a new direction. To ascertain the probable extent of those wantsand the means by which they are to be supplied, has been an important part of the business of the committee, and to the result of their inquiries they invite the most serious attention.
From the cstimate made by the committee on inland navigation and internal improvement, it appears that provision should be made for the expenditure of $3,200,- 000 upon the Pennsylvania canal and railway, within the ensuing year, in addition to the sums already appro- priated by law. They name that as the largest sum which can probably be required, though the actual ex- penditure may fall short of that sum by some hundred thousand dollars. But as a just economy demands the completion of the works already under contract at the earliest possible period, in order that they may become productive of revenue, it has seemed advisable to the committee to adopt as their basis of calculation, a sum certainly sufficient, in any contingency which can arise. In order to meet the interest of this sum, and of the for- mer loans for similar purposes, certain revenues are spc- cifically pledged by act of assembly.
It is estimated, that should a loan of $3,200,000 be negotiated the ensuing year, the amount of interest pay- able before the first day of February next, will be $289,500; and that the means for the payment of that interest, arising from the revenue already pledged, will amount to 200,620 dollars, leaving a balance to be provided for of 88,880 dollars.
It has already been stated, that there will be a balance in the treasury, after meeting the ordinary expenses of the government, at the end of the fiscal year of $145,615 46; so that taking all the receipts and expenditures of the commonwealth together, up to the first day of Feb- ruary next, the former will exceed the latter by $66,735 46. Believing this balance amply sufficient to meet any unexpected demand, or to provide against unforeseen diminutions of the revenne in any quarter, the commit- tee, therefore, propose that the deficiency in the sums pledged for the interest of the canal loans, shall be sup- plied from the balance in the treasury on the first day of November next, and they have inserted in the bill which accompanies this report, a provision authorising
Standing Committees-On Supplies. James Cresson and Samuel Sellers. On Property. J. G. Simmons, P. Garrett, S. Sellers and S. J. Robbins. On Manuals and Lessons. P. Garrett and R. Oakford. On Straw Plait- ing. J. Claxton, P. Garrett, J. Mott, and C. Stevenson. On the Kensington Lot. S. J. Robbins, J. Fcll, and T. | the State Treasurer, out of such balance, to pay to the - Abbott,
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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF WAYS AND MEANS.
[MARCH .
commissioners of the internal improvement fund such sums as may, from time to time, be necessary for the payment of interest beyond the means already devoted to that object.
The foregoing statements are founded on a view of the financial situation of the commonwealth, under the most unfavourable aspect they can possibly assume. The committee take it for granted. that the receipts from the various sources of revenue, within the present year, will in no wise decrease below those of the last year.
A comparison of the receipts from the several. sub- jects of revenue for the last four years, exhibits the most gratifying results, and encourages the committee to believe that a corresponding increase within the pre- ", sent year may be confidently relied upon. The receipts from public lands in the year 1827 exceeded those of the year 1895 by $52,018 94; showing, thus, an annual aver- age increase of $17,339 64. In the year 1828 the: in- crease was $21,741-74; and it is thence inferred that at least 20,000 dollars more will be received from the pub- lic lands within the present year than were derived from that source in the year 1828.
The amount received from auction duties and com- ., missions, in the year 1827 exceeded that of the year 1825 by 33,389 dolls. 53 cents; so that the average an- : nual increase . has been 11,129 dolls. 84 cents. The. quarter ending the 28th of February, 1829, exceeds the corresponding quarter of last year, by $5449 17, without taking into the calculation the amount due for that quar- ter by some auctioneers from whom no statement has been received of the sum due by them for the last quarter. It is therefore safe to estimate the excess of auction duties for the present year, above those of last year, at 12,000 dollars.
The annual income derived from turnpike and bridge stock owned by the state has increased within the last .year about 4000 dollars. As the debts due by the seve- ral companies are gradually paying off, and as a great amount of travelling and transportation has been and will continue to be caused by the wants of the works constructing by the state, 'it is deemed fair to estimate the increase of revenue from this source, within the pre- sent year at 4,000 dollars.
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The increase of the tax on retailers of Foreign Mer- chandise last year was 12,614 As the tax on collateral inheritances has not yet gone into full operation, several years being frequently re- quired for the settlement of estates, it may be expected to increase in a very large ratio. The committee be- Jieve it safe to estimate the increased receipts from these three sources at 20,000 dollars. It appears, then, that should the receipts of the com- monwealth, for the present year, be equal only to those of the last year, they will furnish means for defraying all the ordinary expenses of the government-of paying the interest of all loans for canal and rail road purposes al- ready contracted, and of a loan of 3,200,000 dolls. pro- posed now by the committee on inland navigation and internal improvement, and yet leave a balance of 56,735 dolls, 46 cents. But should the revenues of the commonwealth continue to increase in a ratio, which by the experience of the last four years, they are warrant- ed to calculate on, there will remain a surplus. of 112,735 dolls. 46 cents. The Committee are led to believe, from all the in- quiries they have made on the subject, that much of this increase to which they have alluded, may fairly be at- tributed to the great public works in which the com . monwealth is engaged; and that thus, those improve- ments, even before they had been used for the purpo- ses of transportation, are made, in part, to meet the ex- pense of their construction. and bridge stock, must be immediately dependant up- on the activity of our interior trade, the abundance of a circulating medium, and the demand for labor and for agricultural produce. Upon all these canses, the exe- cution of the canals and rail roads, by giving employ- ment, at a fair rate of compensation, to great numbers of our own citizens, and by introducing many others from a distance, who must purchase here all the necessaries of life, has produced, and will continue to exert a pow- erfnl and favorable influence. The committee, in examining the resources of the commonwealth, for the coming year, and the means of meeting the interest of loans, have taken it for granted that a portion of the revenue, not regularly applicable to that purpose, must be transferred from the treasury of the commonwealth to that of the internal improvement fund. Upon this supposition, they have shown that no inconvenience will be created, but that on the contrary,. a large balance will still remain for other purposes of the government. It is, however, by no means certain that any such demand upon the ordinary revenues will be necessary .- It is more than probable that two sources of income, not yet referred to, and which belong exclu- sively to the fund for the payment of interest, will meet the deficiency heretofore stated as likely to occur, and- thus leave untouched the large balance which the trea- sury accounts are expected to exhibit on the 30th of November next. It. is confidently believed that 24 miles of the Penn- "sylvania canal, from the-mouth of the Juniata to Middle- town, and 80 miles of the western division from Blairs- ville to Pittsburg, will be in active operation for the whole of the present scason. It is also expected, that. by the month of August the navigation will have exten- ded up the Juniata to Lewistown, 45 miles; and up the Susquehanna to Northumberland, .41 miles. The amount of revenue which these works will yield within the present year is, of course, a subject of mere conjec- ture. The committee, however, are decidedly of opin- ion that in estimating the nett receipts frow this quarter. : at $35,000, they not only keep within the limits of safe calculation, but that they fall greatly below it. A further resource for the payment of interest is found in the premium which may be expected tipon the contemplated loan of $3,200,000. The committee are aware that no such premium was obtained on the loan recently effected, but they are clearly of opinion, after careful inquiry, that this failure may be traced to an, .er- ror in the mode of negotiating loans and effecting trans- fers of stock, rather than a want of credit in the com- monwealth. This error they have endeavored to cor- rect in the bill accompanying this report, and they can- not but hope that the change will prove salutary .- Should a premium amounting to one and an half per cent. only be obtained, that sum with the estimated re- ceipts from the finished canals, will make up the whole deficiency in the means of the, internal, improvement ' fund, for the payment of interest; and in that case, should the ordinary revenues of the commonwealth for the present year exhibit an increase corresponding to that of the year preceding, there will remain in the treasury of the commonwealth on the 30th November, 1829, a balance of above $193,000, instead of $145,615, as estimated in the report of the' Auditor General; and such balance will be at the disposal of the legislature, for meeting the interest of future loans. The committee have endeavored to show, that the pre- sent resources of the commonwealth,in themost unfavora- blecircumstances which can posiblyarise, are equal to the payment of interest on the proposed loan of $3,200,000, without any additional taxation at this session of the le- gislature; and should those calculations, which are jus- tified by all former experience, prove to be correct, a . large balance must remain after meeting the necessities of the present year, The retailers and tavern tax-the auction duties-the In this simple exhibition, the friends of internal im- payments for public lands, and the income of turnpike | provement will find a warrant for pressing the works to 191 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF WAYS AND MEANS. 1829.] completion, with the utmost vigor-and those who have been alarmed by the prospect of taxation, or have ap- prehended that the state was embarking in the system of internal improvement beyond her means, will find a sure ground of consolation. The committee are of opinion, that the experience of another year will suggest important changes in the rev- enue system of the commonwealth. Itis now the fact, that the funds devoted to the ordinary expenses of gov- ernment greatly exceed the regular demands upon the treasury, while those applicable to the payment of ca- nal loans fall considerably short, thus rendering a transfer necessary from the excess of the one to meet the deficiencies of the other. , All these sour- ces of income are in, a train of regular and. rapid. increase -- an increase which this year's experience may enable us to calculate with additional certain- ty. It may then be advisable, as it is ascertained that a certain tax or any fixed portion of it, is not ne- cessary for the ordinary purposes of government, to vest the excess permanently in the fund for the payment of interest. By these means, and by the aid of the tolls, which, after the present year, must inevitably arise from the finished canals, it is confidently believed, that ample provision may be made for the proposed exten- sion of the several lines of canals and railways, without a resort to taxation of any kind; and certainly without the necessity of imposing any tax of a burdensome na- ture. : In the view which the committee have taken of the finances of the commonwealth, as connected with the system of internal improvement, they have confined their investigation to the ability of the revenues of the state to furnish the means of paying the interest on the loans to be contracted by the state, to construct the va- rious lines of canals and railways contemplated by the bill reported by the committee on inland navigation and internal improvement. of Maryland is no less zcalous in the cause of internal im- provement. To keep pace with the improvements made by neigh- bouring states, is imposed on this state as a measure of defence. All that Pennsylvania has to do to maintain her superiority, is to avail herself of the superioradvan- tages of geographical position, of climate, of agricultu- ral and mineral wealth, by affording the means of their developement. - In the relative situation of the states, and from their political connexions, the policy adopted by any one of them must necessarily exercise a sensible influence on. the others. The system of internal improvement would now. appear to be the fixed and settled policy of all the states; and if the system adopted in this state is more extended than in others, the cause is to be referred to the natural advantages enjoyed by the state for impro- yed inland navigation, which justify the employment of means commensurate with the magnitude of the object to be realized: As intimately connected with the fiscal concerns of the commonwealth, in relation to the system of the canal policy of the state, the subject of future loans to prosecute the public works, invites the serious attention of the legislature. The experience of the last two years has sufficiently demonstrated the defects of the present system of making loans, and calls loudly for the adoption of a remedy. The distance of the seat of government from the place where the great monied transactions are conduct- ed, and the manner of advertising the loans, operate very disadvantageously to the interests of the state; and your committee are decidedly of opinion, that it would prove beneficial to the interests of the state to have a commissioner of loans appointed, to reside in the city of Philadelphia, who shall be empowered to contract for the state loans, and to make from time to time the necessary transfers of stock; for which pur- pose the committee make provisionis in the bill accom- The system of internal improvement has been adop- ted by the legislature, as your committee believe, on a . panying this report. confident expectation and well founded calculation, that. With the Bank of Pennsylvania the finances of the commonwealth are closely associated. Three-fifths of the capital stock of that bank are held by the state; and by far the largest portion of the loans made by the state is held by this bank. Your committee have been satis- factorily informed, that the bank has afforded the most important aid in the various loans negociated by the state, and in the advancement of instalments essential to carry on the works of internal improvement; and has thus lived up to the spirit and intention of its charter; one object of which, as deelarcu in its preamble, was "to promote the regular, permanent, and successful operation of the finances of this state." To sustain and support an institution in which the state has so deep an interest, is at all times a duty imposed on the legislature as the guardian of the public weal; and to afford it now cvery possible advantage would appearto be a measure dictated by a proper regard for the best interests of the state. The charter of the bank will soon expire, and the time is drawing nigh, if not now at hand, when its charter is to be renewed. In the opinion of your com- mittee, the magnitude of the interest of the state in the bank, and the extended scale of the financial concerns of the commonwealth, would render desirable some ar- rangement on the subject, if practicable, by which the interests of the bank and state may be mutually promot- ed. the public works, when constructed, will yield an in- terest on the expenditure, and a surplus fund adequate to the extinguishment of the debt contracted for their construction. The experiment has already been fairly tested; and the developements of that experiment es- tablish beyond doubt, the fact, that a canal under favor- able circumstances will pay the cost of its construction; The New York canals, constructed at an average cost of $25,000 per mile, have for some time yielded, not only an interest on the expenditure, but a large surplus fund to be applied to the extinguishment of the canal debt. The partial operations of the Schuylkill navigation and Union Canal exhibit the most flattering demonstration in favor of the same result in this state. With agricul- tural products equal, if not greater; with mineral wealth, exhaustless in almost every variety, and a cli- · mate more favorable to canal navigation, it cannot be doubted, but that the revenues of the canals in this state will greatly exceed those of the state of New York .- With this assurance, nothing is left to hazard; and with the certain demonstration that the works to be construc- ted will ultimately pay the cost of their construction, ev- cry inducement is presented to persevere in a system of internal improvement, which will give to the state a. " power and wealth limited only by her physical capaci- ties. Indeed, in the opinion of your committee, a per- severance in the system of canal policy, to the extent The report of the Auditor General, made at this scs- sion of the legislature, exhibits a statement of stocks held by the commonwealth, and of appropriations and loans remaining unpaid on-the first day of December, 1828. Your committee, therefore, do not deem any fur- ther exposition necessary. Their investigations have been confined to the ability of the revenues of the con- monwealth to meet the interest on loans contracted and those contemplated to prosecute the public works. And recognized in former acts of the legislature, is not only justified by prudential considerations, but is demanded as a measure of defence. On one side, the state of New York, with the experience of the great advantages of her canals already constructed, is now extending rami- fications of them in every direction of her own territo- ry, and even into this state. On the other side, the state of Ohio, still in-infancy, is projecting and rapidly com- pleting her canals on an extended scale ;-- and the state | il the views submitted by them are correct, in their opi- . 192 MISCELLANEOUS. [MARCH nion, the state of the finances of the commonwealth ful- ly justifies the expenditure, for the ensuing year, recom- | internal improvement. mended by the committee on inland navigation and METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER, FEBRUARY 1829, ·KEPT IN CHILISQUAQUE, PENN. 1829. BAROMETER. THERMOMETER. ATMOSPHERIC VARIATIONS. Time. nine o'clock. twelve .o'clock. o'clock. o'clk 'clk. o'clk. .Feb. 1 .29 3 -23 2 29 3 : 20 26 29 Cloudy Snow 3 29 5 29 5 29 6. 10 18 20 Sunshine Clear 4 29 6 29 7 9 6 .. 0 22 319 Clear Clear 5 29 5 29 5 below 10 17 16 Sunshine Cloudy 6 29 6 29 6 29 5. 22 37 44 Cloudy Clear 7 29 5 29 5 29 5 .18 35 46 Sunshine Clear _1 8 29 4 29 2 290 38 .44 45 35 43 Clear Rain 10 29.5 29 4 29 4 24 29 31 Cloudy Rain 11 29 3 29 3 29 -2 20 30 32 Sunshine Cloudy 12 29 5 29 5 29 5 6 16 25 Clear Cloudy® 13 29 5 29. 5 29 5 12 25 22 Sunshine Cloudy 14 29 4 29 4 29 3 16 23 24 Cloudy Cloudy 15 29 1 29 1 29 0 23 32 28 Sunshine Cloudy 17 29 1 29 2 29 2 23 29 26 Cloudy. Cloudy 18 29 3 29 4 29 4 22 -27 31 Cloudy Sunshine 19 29 5 29 5 29 5 20 29 43 Cloudy 20 29 1 - 29 0 28 9 18 23 25 Snow all day 21 - 29 1 29 2 29 2 16 26 35 Sunshine Clear 22 29.6" 29 6 29 6 14 :31 40 Clear Clear 24 29 .5* 29 5 29 4 -7 15 18 Cloudy Snow 25 29 3 29 3 29 2 25 :38 30 Cloudy Rain Snow 26 28 5 28 6 28 7 35 41 38 Cloudy Snow 27 29 2 29 3 ~29 3 22 29 36 Clear Snow 28 29 2 29 2 29 0 18 29 37 Clear ISnow [ States' Advocate. Medicine for out-door poor 108 50. Funeral expenses out of the house · 168 05 In the House, Jan. 1, 1829. 63 men-12 boys-65 women-21 girls .--- Total 161 Aided out of the House. 22 males-21 females - Total 43 Total aided and supported 204 Total during the year 1828, including those now aided and supported ·- 420 Of these there were bound apprentices 22 Dismissed and absconded 157 Died 37 Supported now in the house 161 do. out 43 Monthly numbers in the House. January 1828 162 | September 1828 139 February 155 October 138 March 167 - November 145 April 157 .December 161 Mny 150 June 132 1755 July 126 August 133 Average number 146} ANNALS OF PAUPERISM. Paupers in York County Poor-House, Jan. 31, 1829. House. Hospital. 33 men-20 women-12 men-15 women ?. Total 97 9 boys- 1 girl - 2 boys- 5 girls [ York Recorder. Poor-Flouse of Chester County .: Expenses of the house $1,435 56} Allowed 43 out-door poor 688 61 Medicines in the house, including ($80) the Physician's salary 205 96 - Cloudy Cloudy Mean. three nine [twelve | three A. M. P. M. CHESTER COUNTY MUTTON. Some fine Mutton was exhibited at the Shanibles of our neighbours Osborne and Matlack, the three last days of the preceding week. That fel by John Brad- ley, was claimed by a person, who had previously made a bid for it, and was taken to Philadelphia: but as mouths had been moistened from the expectations raised by the advertisement of Mr. Bradley, to prevent a dis- appointment some well-fed Sheep were driven here from the farm of Wmn. Evans, of Willistown, and slaugh- tered and sold at 8 cents per pound for the fore-quarters, and 10 cents for the hind; and the demand. exceeded the supply. The following is the weight of each car- case when neatly dresssed: lbs. lbs. No.1.86 No.9. 117 2. 93 10. 84 3.185} 11. 121} 4. 100 12. - 115 .1144 13. 120 6. 116 14. 90 7. 102 15. 114 P 8. . 105 . (. Total 15644 9 29 4 29 5 29 5 27 - - Cloudy all day Clear - - 23 - Value at 9 cents per lb. $140.80}, exclusive of Skins and Wool .- Westeliester Village Record. Independent Journal. Adams County Poor-House .. 35 Paupers remained in the Poor House on 8 January 1828. 70 do. (including out door) admitted in the" course of the year. 43 do remained in the House on the . 6th January 1829, 6 do. out door supported in part by the institution at an average of 66 cts per week .: ' Assistance given to poor families in the course of the year in flour &c. was $20. Expenses $2206 222. Cloudy Rain 16 2 THE REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA. DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD. VOL. III .- NO. 13. PHILADELPHIA, MARCH 28, 1829. NO. 65. AUDITOR GENERAL'S REPORT ON THE FINANCES. EXPENDITURES OF THE COMMONWEALTH, FOR 1828. Summary Statements of the Payments at the State Trea- sury, for the year commencing the first day of December, 1827, and ending the thirtieth day of November, 1828 Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.