520                 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Feb. 29,

expect to find the highest degree of prosperity, national or indi-
vidual. If any portion of our citizens find it to be their interest
to construct a public improvement similar to the work in question
we believe they should be permitted to do so.

2nd. We favor the incorporation of this Rail Road because its
construction will bring a valuable trade into our State. The route
proposed is along the eastern margin of the Susquehanna river
with a descending grade throughout its entire length. The road
when completed will therefore be admirably adapted to the trans-
portation of coal, iron, lime, lumber, and all other heavy articles,
and this, unaffected by any change of season, the frosts of winter
will not lock up its energies. Its connections through the Rail
Roads of Pennsylvania with the coal fields of that State, will at-
tract to the head of our noble Chesapeake, a valuable trade in
that indispensable article of fuel, coal; and also be the means of
cheapening it, to the citizens of Baltimore and other parts of our
State.                                                                                 

By the same system of Rail Roads the finest qualities of pine
lumber, which is now sent by Rail Road from the lumbering re-
gions of Pennsylvania to the northern cities, and which is there
re-shipped by sea to Baltimore at a heavy cost, will be trans-
ported over descending grades to the mouth of the Susquehanna
and find a market in our commercial emporium, thus saving en-
tirely the cost of the freight by sea.

3d. Our agricultural interests will be greatly promoted. The
quarries of Pequa immediately on the line of the proposed road
will furnish vast quantities of lime with which to fertilize our
worn out lands, and at much lower prices than now prevail.

4th The increase in the value of property on the line of the
road will still further extend the basis of taxation, and thus in ef-
fect lessen the burden on other portions of the State. This will
be effected by developing the resources of a region of Cecil
county and along the line of the road, abounding in slate, soap
stone, chrome, and iron ore, besides the additional value of the
farming lands.

But there have been certain objections urged against the char-
ter of this road by the Tide Water Canal Company. It is said
the Canal is largely indebted to the State, that the construction
of a rival work will seriously impair the ability of the canal to
pay its interest to the State, and that for this reason, and this
alone, the railroad should not be chartered. Let all this be ad-
mitted, and we still hold that it furnishes the General Assembly
no good ground upon which to refuse this charter; Our Bill of
Rights pronounces monopolies to be odious, contrary to the spirit
of a free government and the principles of commerce, and that
they ought not to be suffered. Had the State no immediate in-