USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII > Part 109
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The revenue derived from auction duties, was, dur- ing the last year, much below the receipts of previous years, owing it is believed, to cash payment of duties on foreign merchandize, being exacted, and the failure of
381
TREASURER'S REPORT ON THE SUBJECT OF FINANCE.
382
TREASURER'S REPORT ON THE SUBJECT OF FINANCE.
DECEMBER
one and death of another of the principal auctioneers of the city of Philadelphia. Upon the belief that their places will be speedily supplied, is founded the advance on the estimate of this item of revenue.
The estimates of the receipts from the tolls on canals and rail roads, belonging to the State, is sanctioned by the Commissioners of the Internal Improvement Fund, and by the opinions and judgments of the Canal Com- missioners. On the correctness of the estimate of the receipts into the Treasury from this source, will much depend, whether the gratifying results exhibited in the foregoing statements will be realized.
As the duty was first imposed on the State Treasurer, to make an annual report, on the subject of finance to the Legislature, at the last session, his attention was directed to the point, how far the public works were to be regarded and likely to prove valuable sources of revenue, and his views of the subject were therein fully exhibited.
The experience of the past year fully confirms, in his judgment, the correctness of those views, and he is not aware of any untoward event of a character to change the favourable opinions he then entertained and expressed, of the future productivenesss of the public works.
The tolls of the past fiscal year amounted to $151,- 419 61, falling short of the estimate of the receipts from this source, $48,580 39, a deficiency which arose from the interruption of the navigation of the canals, in con- sequence of the great flood which occurred in May last, the like of which had not been experienced for forty years past.
The interruption to the navigation of the canals by this extraordinary flood, had a disastrous effect, particu- larly on the Delaware and Branch canals; notwithstand- ing these adverse circumstances, the receipts of tolls into the Treasury for the last fiscal year, have amount- ed to the sum stated: viz. $151,419 61. And it cannot be doubted, but that for the causes above stated, the tolls would have greatly exceeded the amount of the estimate; causes which are not within the range of pru- dential calculation, and which are not to be expected to occur in the ordinary course of nature.
The estimate of the receipts from tolls, for the cur- rent fiscal year, is based on the experience of the past year, taking into consideration the adverse circumstances stated, the great extent of canals and rail roads which will be open in the spring, for navigation and travel, and on the important fact, that the great thoroughfare between Philadelphia and Pittshurg, will have the ad- vantage of an entire line of rail road and canal complet- ed, on the opening of the spring.
Whatever disappointments have heretofore taken place, in the calculations which have been presented, from time to time, of the extent of canals and rail roads which will be prepared for use, there can no longer ex- ist a doubt of the fact, that there will be completed and fit for use the ensuing season, five hundred and four- teen miles of canal, and one hundred and eighteen miles of rail road, which information, will be furnished by the Canal Commissioners, in their annual report. If, in the unfinished state of the public works, enjoying a limited and partial operation, subject to the interruptions to which new works of the kind, are ordinarily exposed, and visited by two most extraordinary floods, such as have not occurred within a period of forty years before, the increase of tolls, in the two last years has been from $45,550 58 to $151,419 69, it cannot be considered as extravagant to estimate the receipts of tolls from the public works, during the current fiscal year at $500,- 000 00, when the great line of communication, will be in active operation, and in addition to it, the Columbia rail road will have a single track completed and in use.
A comparison of the increase of tolls, on the canals of other states, particularly the canals of New York and Ohio, in the incipient stages, with the progressive in- crease of tolls of the canals of this state, will sustain
and support this estimate, the estimate has been made by the Commissioners of the Internal Improvement fund, and the Canal Commissioners, after a careful and cautious investigation of all the circumstances having a bearing on the subject; and is submitted to the L.egis- lature by the State Treasurer, with all the confidence of certain conviction, on his part, of its fairness and rea- sonableness
In estimating the future productiveness of the public works, their intimate connection with those of the state of Ohio is viewed as a matter highly important. Fortu- nately, within a short period, the serious attention of the citizens of the commercial metropolis of the state has been awakened to the absolute necessity of this connection, to sustain and support its prosperity-and in the excitement produced, has had the most salutary effect, of originating measures, which cannot fail to in- sure their speedy union, a consummation which will verify the most sanguine calculations, of the most ar- dent friends of internal improvement of the state.
By a fortunate coincidence, forty-seven miles of the Columbia rail road, is made to form a part of a great line of communication, by a continuous rail road from New York to the city of Washington, a great part of which, is now constructed, and all of which will be in use, within a short period of time, a circumstance which will greatly increase the productiveness of this part of the Pennsylvania improvements.
These topics, which have been briefly referred to, have been deemed proper, to illustrate the subject, on which it has been made the duty of the State Treasurer to make an annual report to the Legislature. The pub- lic works, the extraordinary expenditures incurred to execute them, and the probable amount of revenues to be derived from them, constitute the most important items of the finances of the Commonwealth.
These statements are submitted, under a proper sense of the responsibility which necessarily attaches to the importance of the subject; and in their correctness and reasonableness, the State Treasurer feels confirmed by his own investigations and reflections.
If these statements and views are not founded in illu- sion and deception, it is certainly a gratifying considera- tion, that notwithstanding the gloomy forebodings, which predicted the embarrassment of the State, and the insolvency of the Treasury, an opposite state of things is presented; and if, in the incipient stage of the public works, under the many adverse circumstances attending them, the finances of the Commonwealth ex- hibit so flourishing an aspect, an earnest is afforded of the future prosperity of the State, when the public works will be in a situation to develope the rich and va- rying resources of the State, still dormant. And should the estimated amount of revenue to be derived from the public works, during the present year, be realized, and permanent, leaving out of view its certain future in- crease, the highly interesting and gratifying truth is presented, that, inasmuch as $500,000 00 will pay the interest, at five per cent. on ten millions of dollars, it is a virtual reduction of the public debt, created for the purposes of internal improvement, FROM UPWARDS OF SEVENTEEN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SEVEN !!
It is with some degree of pride, that the State Trea- surer adverts to the fact, presented in the exhibit of the state of the Treasury, at the end of the fiscal year 1834; from which it appears, that there will then re- main a balance in the Treasuary of $32,667 02, after paying all ordinary expenses of the Government, all miscellaneous appropriations now authorized by law, which will probably be required, the interest on the public debt, and in addition, pay off a portion of the public debt falling due within that year, viz: $380,- 000 00 of the stock loan of 1824.
At the last session of the Legislature, a law was pass- ed authorizing the Commissioners of the Internal Im- provement Fund, to apply so much of the funds appro- priated to the construction of the public works,as might
1833.]
be necessary to meet the deficiency of interest, due on the public debt in August last, and although the flour. ishing condition of the Treasury rendered a resort to the provisions of that law unnecessary, as many of the important demands on the Treasury are fixed and cer- tain, and the revenues of the Commonwealth are in their nature subject to fluctuation, prudence would dictate the propriety of making some provision, to guard against a possible deficiency during the current fiscal year. And as the adoption of plans, to increase the permanent revenues of the Commonwealth, are deem- ed at present premature, the State Treasurer would re- spectfully suggest the propriety of the passage of a law, similar to that passed at the last session of the Le- gislature, to meet the event of a deficiency, during the current financial year.
All which is respectfully submitted.
A. MAHON, State Treasurer.
December 6, 1833.
NOTE .- Receipts of canal tolls into the Treasury, from 1st of November, 1833, till 6th December, 1833, date of this report, $24,205 54; principal western col- lectors not heard from.
STATEMENT A.
Exhibiting the receipts and payments at the Treasury Office of Pennsylvania, during the year ending 31st October, 1833, (as already published on page 347,) $4,047,050 62, and payments per do. $3,796,794 48.
STATEMENT B.
Estimate of' Receipts and Payments at the Treasury of Pennsylvania, for the year ending 31st October, 1834.
RECEIPTS.
Balance of loan per act of 16th Febru- ary, 1833, $1,229,354 44
Premium on the same,
166,085 78
Lands and land office fees,
65,000 00
Auction commissions,
16,000 00
Auction duties,
100,000 00
Dividends on bank stock,
140,000 00
Dividends on bridge, navigation and turn- pike stock,
30,000 00
Tax on bank dividends,
50,000 00
Tax on certain offices,
14,500 00
Tax on writs, &c.
20,000 00
Fees of the Secretary's office,
600 00
Tavern licenses,
55,000 00
Retailers do.
65,000 00
State maps,
100 00
Collateral inheritances,
30,000 00
Pamphlet laws,
120 00
Militia and exempt fines,
1,600 00
Mount-Pleasant and Pitts- burg
210 00
210 00
Hawkers and pedlers' do
3,000 00
Increase of county rates and levies,
205,000 00
Tax on personal property,
45,000 00
Escheats,
1,500 00
Canal tolls,
500,000 00
Premiums on bank charters,
42,500 00
Old debts and miscellaneous,
5,000 00
Creek, per act of 1833, 1,000 00
1,000 00
2,787,760 22
Add balance in the Treasury 31st Octo- ber, 1833,
367,423 30
Jefferson College, $1,000
per annum, from 1st
May, 1832, (for 4 years, 2,000 00
1,000 00
PAYMENTS.
Balance of loan per act of 16th February, 1833,
$1,229,354 44
1,000 00
500 00
Expenses of government,
213,000 00
3,000 00
3,000 00
Militia expenses,
20,000 CO.
Pensions and gratuities,
30,000 00
Interest on loans not pertaining to canals, 103,725 00
Pennsylvania claimants, 300 00
State maps, 100 00
Conveying convicts and fugitives, 2,000 00
Miscellaneous, 9,000 00
Appropriations, &c. per statement C.
175,857 06
Salaries of penitentiary officers, 7,480 00
Interest on canal loans, and to pay toll collectors and lock keepers, 951,700 00
Loan under act of 1824 redeemable 1st May 1834. 380,000 00
3,122,516 50
Balance in the Treasury 1 Nov. 1834. 32,667 02
$3,155,183 52
STATEMENT C.
Appropriations and balances of appropriations, unpaid 1st November, 1833, with an estimate of the amount likely to be called for, during the year 1834. Estimate for 1834.
Springhouse, Northamp- ton and Bethlehem turnpike, $15,000 00
Lycoming and Potter, 2,898 62
$2,898 62
Clifford and Wilkesbarre, 1,677 16
York and Gettysburg, 6 09
Downingtown, Ephrata and Harrisburg, 69 63
Waynesburg, Greencas-
tle, and Mercersburg, 3,620 04
Huntingdon, Cambria, and Indiana 25 95
Philadelphia, Brandywine, and New London, 12,500 00
Washington and Pittsburg, 199 01
Washington and Williams- port, 98 37
Chambersburg and Bed- ford, 118 22
New Alexandria and Con- emaugh, 75 93
Harrisburg and Millerstown, 300 50 22 04 Little Conestoga,
Derrstown and Northum- berland,
4,607 50
Milesburg and Smeths- port,
5,362 44
5,362 44
Gettysburg and Hagers- town, 20,000 00
York-Haven and Harris-
burg Bridge, "l'urnpike Road, 6,186 00
6,186 00
T'in and clock pedlers' licenses,
2,400 00
Juniata Bridge,
1,000 00
Robbstown Bridge,
6,000 00
6,000 00
Columbia Bridge, 50,000 00
Bridge over Ten Mile
Creek, per act of 1832,
700 00
700 00
Bridge over Ten Mile
Monongahela Bridge at Williamsport, per act of 1833, 15,000 00
$3,155,183 52
Washington College, $500 per annum, from 4th April, 1831, (for 4 years, )
Dickinson College,
Warren Academy, per act of 1832,
2,000 00
383
TREASURER'S REPORT ON THE SUBJECT OF FINANCE.
1
MISCELLANEOUS.
[DECEMBER
Deaf and Dumb Institu- tion not to exceed $8,000 per annum, for 5 years from 1st April, 1833, per act of 1833, House of Refuge, $5,000 per annum, from 2d March, 1833, for 3 years, per act of 1832, Commissioners of Erie county, to be collected from the owners of un- patented lands,
36,000 00
8,000 00
5,000 00
name that with the Ohio Canal, which is now the sub- ject of discussion at the Warren Convention. Next to that we deem it important to connect the City of Phila- delphia with the Erie Canal, by the North Branch of the Susquehanna. We are mistaken, if the southern counties of New York would not then become the re- gular tributaries of Philadelphia, while the whole line of the Erie Canal, including the immense Salt Works at Onondago, would depend for its fuel upon the Coal Mines of Wyoming.
In determining the latter connection, the proposed Rail Road between the Lehigh, at Mauch Chunk, and the North Branch, at Wilkesbarre, should not be lost sight of. Whenever the City of Philadelphia under- stands its true interests, that Rail road will be made.
NAMES.
Ships.
| Bar's
{ Brigs.
Sch'rs
Sloops
Total.
Lehigh Coal Company,
2
0
42
203
136
383
0
0
5
81
24
110
0
0
9
62
19
90
Do. per act of 1833, 40,000 00
40,000 00
Eastern Penitentiary,per act of 1833,
90,000 00
90,000 00
Susquehanna and branch- es, act of 1821,
2,000 00
J. W. Downing,
0
0
23
53!
15
101
Blight, Wallace & Co.
0
0
(
27
15
42
Eldridge & Brick,
0
0
4
81
6
18
A. J. Bolton,
0
1
C
11
0
12
By 8 firms or individuals*
0
0
6
90
48
144
Total,
2
1
124}
884'
328 1339
* Up to the first of September. We have been una- ble to obtain the exact number of vessels cleared by these houses since that time, and therefore make a ve- ry moderate estimate, and set them down at 61-mak- ing the whole number that have cleared in seven months FOURTEEN HUNDHED.
LARGE EEL .- An Eel was caught in the pool of the Shamokin Dam, a week or two since, by Mr. John Din- gler of Union county, which weighed seven and a half pounds; it measured four feet one inch in length, and ten inches round. The skin may be seen at this office. Lycoming Chronicle.
THE REGISTER
PHILADELPHIA, DEC. 14, 1833.
During the session of the Legislature, there are ma- ny long but important documents to be inserted, which will occasionally exclude variety from our co- lumns-but must ultimately render the Register more valuable as a work of reference, as it is principally de- signed to be. The present number contains the Go- vernor's message, and the Treasurer's and Auditor's reports on Finance. Our friends in the Legislature will confer upon us a favour by furnishing reports and other documents as early as possible, after they are printed. We are already under obligations to Mr. Mil- ler for his attention in this way. Our space will not permit the insertion of some notices of the proceed- ings of the General Assembly which we had prepared.
Printed every Saturday morning by Wm. F. Geddes, No. 9, Library street.
Susquehanna, from Co. lumbia to tide water. Act of 26th March, 1833, directs this bal ance to be paid to the Columbia Bridge com- pany, when double tracks of rail-road shall be laid on said bridge, Susquehanna from Co- lumbia to Northumber- land,
4,012 52
10,878 00
Delaware River, per act of 1821, new Commis- sioners appointed per act of 1833,
1,000 00
Towanda Bridge, per act of 1833,
10,000 00
5,000 00
Repairing and painting public buildings, per resolution of 4th April, 1833,
1,000 00
1,000 00
$362,783 00
$175,857 06
From the Commercial Herald. COAL TRADE.
The following table, showing the number of vessels which have departed from Philadelphia, freighted with Coal, during the present season, up to the 1st Nov. furnishes one of the strongest practical illustrations of the benefits which our city has derived from internal improvements. The immense coasting trade thus ex- hibited has been literally created within the last six years-and goes far to account for the continued pros- perity and vigorous growth of Philadelphia, after a sen- sible diminution of her foreign commerce.
Any increase of our internal communications, by which the mineral and agricultural wealth of the interior may be poured into this market, and by which for- eign articles of necessity and luxury may be returned, will have a corresponding effect on the prosperity of the City. Hence the importance of completing, with the least possible delay, the great system of improve- ment within our borders, and of uniting our public works at suitable points with those of other States. As first in value among the connections proposed, we would |
2,500 00
Improving a road from the mouth of Juniata to Mohontongo creek, per act of April, 1827. The direction of this appropriation changed to another road, per act of 9th April, 1833, Penitentiary near Pitts- burg, old balance,
600 00
114 98
0
0
17
101
11 129
S. B. Reeve & Co.
0
0
C
111
23
134
M'Canles, Chambers & Co
0
0
13
64
23
90
J. S. Silver,*
0
0
5
63
18
86
Little Schuylkill Coal Co. North American Coal Co. Delaware Coal Co.
-
384
10,000 00
HAZARD'S REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.
DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.
EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.
VOI .. XII .- NO. 25. PHILADELPHIA, DECEMBER 21, 1533. NO. 311
CANAL COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.
Report of the Canal Commissioners of Pennsylvania,- Read in the Senate, December 7, 1833.
The Canal Commissioners respectfully submit the following report:
As the public improvements of Pennsylvania, which have been required by law to be constructed, at the ex- pense of the State, are approximating to completion, it may be useful and satisfactory to the citizens of the Commonwealth, to present them with an account of the commencement and progress of the most splendid sys- tem of internal improvement, that lias ever been under- taken and executed in so short a period, by any coun- try.
The first law authorizing the construction of eanals and rail roads, exclusively at the expense and for the benefit of the Commonwealth, was passed on the 25th of February, 1826, and on the 4th of July in the same year, the first ground was broken near Harrisburg.
The several lines were put under contract in the fol- lowing order:
In 1826. On the Eastern division 225 miles. On the Western division 24
Miles of canal 463
In 1827, On the Western division
51 miles.
On the Juniata division 443
On the Susquehanna division 39 On the Delaware division 13 On the French Creek Feeder 9 On the Eastern division
Miles of canal 162₴
In 1828. On the North Branch division 46 miles. On the Juniata division 45 Navigable feeder on do. 1
On the Delaware division 35 €
On the Western Division 263
On the West Branch division 24 On the French Creek feeder 10g On the Eastern division 10
1983
Miles of canal and navigable feeder There was also forty and a half miles of road bed formation, on the Columbia rail- way, placed under contract, being equal to about two-fifths of the cost of a finish- ed railway with double tracks, or say about sixteen miles of a double track of railway 16
Miles of railway, canal and feeder 2143
In 1829. On the North Branch division 93 miles. On the Delaware division 64
Miles of canal 153
The foregoing four hundred and thirty- nine and a half miles of railway, canal and navigable feeder, have been denominated the " old lines," and those subsequently VOL. XII. 49
placed under contract,are called the "new lines. " In 1830. On the Western division, 3g miles of canal
In 1831. On the West Branch division 42} miles. The Lewisburg side cut On the Juniata division 384
On
do.
navigable feeder 3}
On the Beaver division
223
On the French creek division 22}
On the North Branch division 17
On
do.
do.
naviga-
ble feeder
On the Eastern division 9
Miles of canal and feeder 155₴
There were forty- one and a fourth miles of road bed formation, and thirty-two and a half miles of single track of rails of the Columbia railway, put under contract, (of which twelve and a half miles of the single track of rails was by law suspended, )being equal in cost to about twenty-two and a half of railway, finished, with double tracks 224
'There was also put'under contract thirty- six and three-fourths miles of road bed for- mation, upon the Portage railway, being equal in cost to about fourteen and three- fourtbs miles of railway, with double tracks 143
Miles of railway, and canal feeder 193
In 1832. On the French Creek feeder 4 miles. On the Beaver division 2 On the West Branch division 13
Miles of canal
There was also put under contract one- fourth of a mile of additional length of road bed formation, through the city of Lancas- ter, and twenty-four miles of single track of rails, on the Columbia railway, being equal in cost to about seven and a half miles of railway completed 74
Also, forty-four miles of single track of rails, on the Portage railway, being equal in cost to about thirteen and a half miles of double track of railway, completed 13}
Miles of canal and rail road 28₺
In 1833. On the Beaver division, of tow- ing-path along the pool of the Shenango dam 6 miles.
On the West Branch division, the Bald Eagle side cut 33 On the Western division, of na- vigable feeder at the town of Conemaugh 1 4
Miles of canal feeder Contracts have also been made for laying a double track of rails on sixty miles of the
11
386
CANAL COMMISSIONERS' REPORT.
[DECEMBER
Columbia railway, being equal in cost to about thirty-six miles of double track of railway completed
36
Miles of railway, canal and feeder
47
RECAPITULATION.
Miles.
Placed under contract in 1826
46₺
Do.
do.
1827
162号
Do.
do.
1828
2143
Do.
do.
1829
15₴
Do.
do.
1830
Do.
do.
1831
193
Do.
do.
1832
283
Do.
do.
1833
47
Miles under contract 7113
There is yet to be put under contract on the Portage railway, the laying of the rails on about twenty-eight and a half miles of single track, which will be equal to the cost of completing a railway, with double tracks, on eight and a half miles
83
Length of the whole improvements-miles 720
December eighteenth, 1829, the Canal Commission- ers reported that one hundred and ninety-five miles of canal were finished; but of this distance, only one hun- dred and eighty miles were so situated as to be partially navigable, on which, twenty-seven thousand and twelve dollars and ninety cents of tolls were received in 1830.
On the twenty-first of December, 1830, four hundred and twenty-six miles of canal were reported as finished, and the water had been introduced into four hundred and six miles: but owing to its detached situation and insecure condition, only three hundred and ten miles could be used for navigation, on which, thirty-eight thousand two hundred and forty-one dollars and twen- ty cents of tolls were received in 1831.
By the report of December fifteenth, 1831, it does not appear that any part of the public works prosecut- The continuation of the Portage rail- way along side of the basins at Hollidays- burg and Conemaugh-the Conemaugh ed that year, was finished; hence nothing was added to the four hundred and twenty six miles reported as fi- nished the preceding year. It appears, however, that feeder and Alleghenytown branch on the eighty-seven miles were added to the navigable portion Western division-the South fork and Raystown feeders on the Juniata division -and the Lewisburg side cut on the West Branch division, form an aggregate of of the canal, and this, with the three hundred and ten miles of the preceding year, made three hundred and ninety-seven miles, on which, fifty thousand nine hun- dred and nine dollars and fifty-seven cents of tolls were received in the fiscal year, ending the thirty-first Octo- ber, 183 !.
On the first of November, 1832, four hundred and eighty and a half miles of canal and navigable feeder, were reported as finished, and also twenty-two miles of a single track of railway; of which, only four hundred and sixty-one miles of canal and eighteen miles of rail- road could be advantageously used; the tolls on which,
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