A. L. Bishop— The State Worhs of Pennsylvania. 251 



price as fixed by the Act of April 29th was not too high and that 

 to place the works in the hands of a corporation would be an exceed- 

 ingly dangerous move. Accordingly the legislature, for the time 

 being, made no further attempt to effect a sale. It is difficult to 

 say to what extent the fear of corporate power influenced the sub- 

 sidence of the popular agitation. Certainly in 1844, when a large 

 majority was given in favor of selling the works, it was known 

 that, in case of a sale, they must pass into the hands of a corpor- 

 ation. Yet it should be remembered that, on account of the recent 

 financial embarrassment, the public mind was temporarily in a 

 most depressed condition ; and that any means by which the debt 

 could be diminished and expenses reduced would be anxiously 

 sought. But by the time the committee on ways and means had 

 reported in 1845 general prosperity was returning. Moreover, 

 the dismissal of a large number of superfluous employees on the 

 works; the adoption of a policy of non-extension; the general 

 practice of economy wherever possible ; and a diminished amount of 

 corruption,* all combined to allay, for the time being, the agitation 

 for the sale. Consequently, during the next few years, this matter 

 seems to have received but little attention. 



Meanwhile another movement began to manifest itself. As a 

 medium for competing for the trade of the West, the state works 

 Avere, as has been seen, a complete failure. Various improvements, 

 however, had now developed a method of transportation to which the 

 Allegheny mountain should be a less formidable barrier than it had 

 been twenty years earlier when the public works were about to be 

 built. It seemed necessary for Pennsylvania to take advantage of 

 these improvements and build an all-rail line to the West. For, on 

 the north, the Erie canal, as has been seen, had secured to J^ew 

 York a large proportion of the commerce passing to and fro between 

 the seaboard and the West. Also, in the south, the Baltimore and 

 Ohio Railroad Company was threatening to divert the rest to 

 Baltimore. In the face of these conditions, the commercial classes 

 of Philadelphia threw themselves into the movement for the con- 

 struction of a railroad to the Ohio valley. 



When the legislature met at Harrisburg in January, 1846, many 

 influential citizens of both Philadelphia and Baltimore were on 

 hand to secure legislation favoring their respective cities. Those 



* See Exec. Does., 1846, p. 9. of Governor's message. 



