No. 62.

IN SENATE,

March 3, 1836.

REPORT

Of the committee on rail-roads, on the bill from the Assembly, entitled "An Act to expedite the construction of a rail-road from New-York to Lake Erie," &c.

Mr. Mack, from the standing committee on rail-roads, to whom were referred the bill from the Assembly, entitled "An Act to expedite the construction of a rail-road from New-York to Lake Erie," the memorial of the mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of New-York; the resolutions of the mayor and common council of the city of Brooklyn; and the petitions of sundry inhabitants of the counties of Westchester, Delaware, Genesee, Allegany and Cattaraugus, in favor of the passage of said act, with a remonstrance from the county of Orange, and so much of the Governor's message as relates to the same subject

REPORTED:

The bill authorizes a loan of the credit of the State to the NewYork and Erie Rail-Road Company, of $3,000,000; for which amount stock is to be issued, bearing an interest of 4 per cent per annum, and redeemable any time after 20 years; for the payment of the interest of which, and the ultimate redemption of the stock, the said road and its appurtenances, and its tolls and income are pledged.

From the examination the committee have been enabled to give to the subject, they feel bound to accompany the bill, which has [Senate, No 62.]

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been submitted to their consideration, with an acknowledgment of their conviction, that the work which it is designed to aid, is justly characterized by his Excellency, the Governor, as an "extensive and useful enterprize:" They accord, also, with him, in the views he has expressed, that "the magnitude of the undertaking, the public benefits it will confer, and the deep interest felt by the inhabitants of the section of the State, through which this extensive line of communication is to pass," have induced "the company again to ask the aid of the Legislature," to facilitate and hasten its accomplishment.

A work of such magnitude, extending from the commercial metropolis, a distance of 480 miles through the interior of the State to the inland seas, and connecting with those navigable waters, which stretch through the boundless valleys of the fertile west, cannot fail, when completed, to produce the most important and beneficial results. It will infuse joy into the hearts of thousands of our fellow-citizens, who, with honest and persevering toil, are contending against local disadvantages, excluded from a participation in the benefits of that invigorating system of internal improvements, which has been proudly cherished as the emanation of enlightened minds, and the progressive source of the general prosperity. It will develop new resources of wealth and enterprize. It will impart a new stimulus to individual enterprize. It will check the tide of emigration, now flowing westward, beyond the limits of our State, and render the southern and western portions of our State, desirable resting places to the hardy pioneers from the east. Their forests will be subdued; their population increased; their soil cultivated; and extensive agricultural improvements induced, where the energies of the husbandman have been hitherto depressed, by an inability to compete with those favored sections which have possessed, through the medium of the canals, more cheap and expeditious avenues to market.

The numerous petitions which are before the committee, most of which accompanied the bill from the Assembly, furnish evidence that in this light, the project is regarded by the people of those counties through which the road is designed to pass, and of those favorably situated for connecting with it, by lateral rail-roads or canals, now in progress or in contemplation. Public feeling, indeed, appears to be deeply seated, and rapidly extending, in favor of this great and important enterprize. The number, the language,

and the spirit of the petitioners, are commensurate with the vast object they have in view, and evince a zeal and perseverance which will not stop short of its accomplishment. They ask, what as citizens, as freemen, they have a right to ask-the aid and countenance of the State, in a most laudable endeavor. They expect, what they have a right to expect-that the representatives of an enlightened and patriotic people, of which they, themselves, constitute so large a proportion-that the administrators of a government, instituted for the general benefit-will yield a kind and respectful, if not a favorable, response to their petitions.

But, it is not upon the ground of extensive local advantages and improvements to be secured, nor of the just expectations and claims of those of its citizens who have hitherto derived few benefits from the vast expenditures of the general funds for the construction of public works, that the call upon the State, to promote the immediate completion of the undertaking, is alone predicated. It rests upon a broader basis. It appeals, not only to a spirit of reciprocity, as between the various sections of a great community, but to those elevated views and feelings which cherish, with a just pride, the high character, the influence and prosperity of the State, as a prominent member of the Union.

This State possesses a soil unsurpassed in strength and fertility, and adapted to almost every species of agricultural production. Its manufacturing facilities are unrivalled, and the treasures of its mountains and its forests have scarce begun to be developed. But to its commercial enterprise and advantages is it most materially indebted for its unparalleled progression in population, wealth, influence and prosperity.

The city of New-York, commanding one of the finest harbors in the world, and possessing a population peculiarly active and enterprising, has been the great mart of the Union for commercial operations, both foreign and domestic. Nor have the constituted authorities of the State, by the improvement of natural, and the construction of artificial channels of communication, becn unmindful of the means which were requisite to secure to its commercial emporium this desirable pre-eminence.

But the spirit of improvement is abroad. It is active and progressive. Its operations cannot be confined to narrow and sectional limits to particular modes and methods or restrained by that

contracted policy whose views are bounded by the present. Other States have been stimulated by our example. In a spirit of emulation, laudable in itself, and which it becomes us rather to counteract than to complain of, they are pressing forward for the prize which we have so long enjoyed.

"The memorial of the mayor, aldermen and commonality of the city of New-York," in favor of the passage of the bill now before your committee, emanating from a body of citizens whose experience, sagacity and vigilance entitle their views to respect, is upon this point, and many others connected with the subject, worthy of serious consideration. It sets forth, forcibly, and, as your committee conceive, truly, "that the construction of the proposed road has become indispensably necessary to this metropolis, in order to preserve and extend the lucrative commerce it has heretofore enjoyed with the populous and increasing territories of the west: that the existing channels of intercourse, rendered useless by the severity of our climate for a large portion of the year, have become in a great degree inadequate to that object:" and "that the energetic and persevering exertions of the canal and rail-road companies, chartered and powerfully patronized by the Atlantic States south of this port, to divert from the city and State of New-York the great and expanding commerce of the western communities, demand immediate and corresponding efforts on our part to provide without delay new and additional facilities of commercial communication between this city and the interior." The memorialists express their entire confidence in the projected rail-road, and that it "has become an object of transcendant importance to the public, not only in maintaining the commercial advantages of this city, but also in affording to the large and increasing population within the interior of our own State the means of rapid, cheap and regular communication with the seaboard." And, among many just and important considerations urged, and for which they refer to the memorial itself, the following has impressed itself with peculiar force upon the minds of the committee: "That in view of the po sition occupied by the State of New-York in respect to the adjacent members of the national union, the accomplishment of this work will become of paramount importance, by securing in time of war the means of rapid communication through our own territory for the military forces of the republic, and at all times the expeditious passage of the public mails and consequent diffusion of commercial intelligence."