The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-03-27

pointmeAt, in the presence Of his foavnsman.
Col. REUBEN SKIES, (then young man of 27
years of age) he was surprised by the volunta-
ry offer of that gentleman to embark with him
in the undertaking, and to join heart and hand
in making the hazardous experiment. The
offer was gladly accepted, and Pease and Skies
soon afterwards united their strength and
small resources (for they were both poor in
carrying the plan into effect. On The 18th of
October, 1888, they first commenced running
line of stages between Hartford and Boston.
1t was established upon the following plan:-
The coach went from Somers to Hartford on
Monday morning of every week, where it took
in passengers, and on Tuesday morning started
for Boston. The coach from Boston sat out on
Monday, came up as far as marlborough. in
Worcester County, Mass. about Sc miles from
Boston, on Monday night, and On Tuesday
morning proceeded TO Brook6eld, where it met
the stage from Hartford. Both stages stopped
over night at Brookfeld, and the next morning
continued their route to Hartford and Boston.
In the summer of 1884 Skies moved from
Somers to Hartford, and soon afterwards Pease
moved to Boston. The running of the stages
was then altered.-The' coach ffon Hartford
started on Monday morning for Springfield and
Palmer, up the Connecticut river, ard at Tues
day noon met the Boston stage At Spencer.
which now, instead of stopping at Northbor-
ough over Monday night, came as ar as Wor-
cester. In the spring Of 1884 the Inc was ex-
tended south to New-IIasen, connexion be-
ing formed with other propdetors for that
route. About two year afterwards, the line
was continued to the ely Of New-York.
For more than two Fears after the establish.
ment of the coaches Pease and Skies drove
their teams themsel.es-not being able to hire
drivers; for the lins instead of Seing profita-
bic, was constantly running them in debt;
and nothing but al uncommon spirit Of perse-
verance, in the anticipation of change for
the better, couldhave enabled them to strug-
gle through tne difficulties with which they
were beset.
About four years after the commencement
OF the line Under Pease and Skies, and two
years alter II hadbeen extended TO New-Yerk.
1t was thought e&pedient to take some meas
ures Tor obtaining the privilege of transporting
the publiek mail in the stage coaches. The
accomplishment Of this object, it was believed.
would De great accommodation to the pub
LEX and without it the proprietors q, SPARED
OF being able to support their line, as it had
not yet yielded them any profit, but had in
vowed them IN em5auassments. A proprie-
tors meeting was accordingly held at New
York, when IT was resolved to make a repre-
sentaton upon the subject to the Postmaster
General, and Capt. Pease was appointed gent
for that purpose. The application was imme-
dlaieiy made, but was met by a peremptory
refusal from the Postmaster General. who
stated, in emphatical language, that it was not
yet time to entertain such project-that such
was the state oil the roads, particularly in the
winter and spring, that the mails could not be
carried with so much safety or despatch in
carriages as on horseback and he therefore
declined the proposition altogether. The pro-
prietors, however, believing thst the POST Mas
ter General had taken a wrong view of the
subject, and had not bestowed upon it proper
consideration, were not Immediately discour-
aged. They determined to appeal to higher
authority. A petition was presented to Con-
gress, and the consequence was, that resolu-
ton was passed directing the EMPLOYMENT of
the stage coaches on the line from New-York
to Boston in the transportation of the mail.
The result soon proved the wisdom of the
measure. Capt. Pease became the sole con-
tractor with government for the whole route.
At that time there were only Eve post-offices
on the main road between Boston and New
York-yiz. Worcester, Springfield, Hartford.
Middletown, and New-Haven. There is now
a post-ofice in almost every village on the
same route 1t was as much as two years af
ter the proprie'ors procured the mails, before
this line became profitable to them.
For some time after the mail was carried in
the coaches, the proprietors employed persons,
who were called conductors, in addition to the
drivers, to take charge of the mails. and also
to act as agents for the transaction of such
business as might be committed to their care,
on the route, and in. the different towns and
cities. The proprietors were responsible for
all goods and money entrusted to these con-
ductors.
The original fare for passengers in the coach
es was what it is generally at this day-6&
cents per mile. The first stage-house in Bos-
ton was at the sign of the Lamb, in Newbnry-
street. The house was then kept by widow
Moore. Capt. Pease originally applied for the
first turnpike laid out in Massachusetts. the
short one from Western to Palmer.