A. L. Bishop — The State Worhs of Pennsylvania. 253 



or intermediate points and carried more tlian twenty miles.* 

 According to the original enactment, this tonnage tax was to be 

 collected only during the months when the canal was being navi- 

 gated, viz. — from March 10th to December 1st. By Act of March 

 27th, 1848, the rate was changed to three mills, to be collected 

 throughout the whole year.f When the Pennsylvania railroad 

 was opened for traffic, it was soon found that no injury was done 

 to the business of the public works. Accordingly, the plea that the 

 tonnage tax was necessary for their protection ceased to be urged, 

 but its continuance was defended on the ground that the state needed 

 the revenue. $ The real competition for the trade of the West was 

 beyond the sphere of the canal, and the Pennsylvania railroad was 

 the only means by which the fraction of the western trade not 

 yet diverted into other channels could be retained for Philadelphia. 

 The evils connected with the management of the public works 

 which, as has been mentioned, were partially eliminated in 1844-45, 

 soon began to reappear. This fact was brought to the attention 

 of the legislature by Governor Johnson through his message in 1850. 

 Moreover, investigating committees brought to light many suspected 

 abuses. Soon the popular agitation for the sale of the improvement 

 system was revived. In this connection the principal arguments 

 now advanced were — the necessity of reducing the state debt so that 

 there might be relief from high taxation; the greater efficiency' 

 and economy of management under private ownership ; the excessive 

 frauds practised upon the commonwealth; and the oft-repeated 

 fact that, even before improvements in the methods of transporta- 

 tion had placed the state works out of the race, the main line, at 

 least, had failed of its purpose. 



* A tax had been levied iipcn the traffic of the central line of railway in 

 New York state extending from Bufl'alo to Albany. The object of its imposi- , 

 tion was to protect the Erie canal and prevent the diversion of trade from 

 this improvement. This act on the part of New York no doubt influenced 

 the legislature of Pennsylvania in imposing a similar tax on the tonnage 

 of the Pennsylvania railroad. An act to abolish state tolls on railroads in 

 New York was passed on July 10th, 1851. See the Fifth Annual Report of 

 the Directors of the Pennsylvania Railroad, February 2d, 1852. 



f See Exec. Docs., ISolJ, Governor's message, p. 6. It should be mentioned 

 that by Act of May 7th, 1855, lumber and coal were exempted from the tax. 



% See Exec. Docs., 1854, p. 10, of Governor's message. 



