Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-07-04

through In 80 hours. Though Gen. House has
succeeded with his steamboat he appears 10 have had
OF wardness, preparing for the up
the Kanawhs; and the Department appears 10 have been
anxious TO have the steamboat line established as a con-
Meeting link between the Guy aujoe stage route In Viz
ginia and the stage lines from Gaipol-, by Chcoihe
To Colun,bus and TO Cincinnati, in Ohio In conformity
with the wishes OF the Department, A Ross there
fore, voluntarily relinqushed the route between Gapo
lis and Chileohe, that II isht be given TO House, aud
ex,s nded, by steamboat, to Ccalsmouh kanawha Court
A contract was then made with Geo. House, to carry
the moi three times week. in four horse post cosches 62
miles. through IN day. also. to extend, three tunes
week, on horse back, from GspoIis TO Coasmouh, so
miles; and IL II should be found practicable steam
boats then TO extend TO Kenhswsy c. H.. 81 ucs, and
carry the mail la steamboats, between Gallpolis and
ksnhsway c. H., and 10 perform the whole service Tor
600 dollars year. appears from the reports foin
Posnestsrs that Gen. House has often failed 10 deliver
the mail his route, according TO the directions OF the
Department aud the penalties have been generally
forced These failures were frequently occasoned by the
high aud impossible state c the waters on this route and
in instances the penalties have been imposcd stll
cannot think from the evidence In the possession
OF the Department, that sufficient rigor has been exer
cised
William Smith is contractor for carrying the mail in
coaches many routes among which sre the OF
those constituting the lire Washington City. by Fair
fax c. H. Warrenton, Va, Culpeper Z. H., Orange Z.
H., Charlottesville, Lyuchburg. Danvie, Salem, N. c..
forkvlt, 5. c., aud Wasbington Ga, 10 Miiedgevie.
The route from Washington to Lynchburg, 200 miles, he
CONTACTED TO three times week. in four horse post
coaches from January 1881 TO December 81, 1884, at
So 900 per annum. In April 1881, such alteration
made in times Of arrival aud departure this route and
on the route between Lynchburg and Dsnve, and such
increased expedition given, TO require considerable adj
ditional expense. The object perfect the connex
ion south Of DAnse, with the route from Salem, N. c.,
10 South Carolina aud Georgia, two days OF
time, which would otherwise be LOST and is stated that
IL would require additional teams OF horses. For this
alteration. he allowed suo dollars year extra pay
In the August following, he directed TO make such
further alteration, that part OF the route between
ren'on and Washington city, would bring the mall once
in each wees into The latter place, day earlier than
would otherwise do. This alteration evidently subjected
him TO increased expense and is stated that required
additional team; aud he allowed for il 800 dollars
year extra compensation. lie was afterwards allowed
81 200 for improving il from triweekly TO daily route
between Washington city and warrenton, 90 miles. In
April, 1882, he was allowed the further Of l60U dol
lars per for extending the daily route Orange
c. H.; aud from the LIST OF May 1882 he allo ed The
furths OF 5000 dollars year, Tor extending the daily
line oil coaches the whole distance from w ashingon city
Lynchburg
The extension of the line daily, from Washington TO
Lynchburg, appears TO have been made in conformity
with the general and calls OF the cizens oil the
section OF the country through which this mail runs
thousand signatures. calling Tor the improvement and
tanned by the members OF Congress representing the
try through which passes. This makes, together with
the former allowances 900 dollars year, allow
aDce Tor improving the route from three times 10
times week His original contract 5000 dollars a
year for three weekly trips 600 dollars year
weekly tip. Four additional weekly trips were added
which, at the same RATE would amount 10 900 dollars
year The allow ance was less than that sum- IL was
therefore within the Limitation fixed by law lts expedi-
ency Is the only point on which question be rais
ed. IL has hccn suggested that it's proximity 10
North Carolina, is such render inc xpedieat inn
proper 10 incur the expence OF daily coach mail ,is
On this point, OF opinion, that the Postmas
Ter General, aud that HE citizens interested including
their representatives inCongress the Competent
judges rnns through an important section OF the
Try, connecting the seats OF justice OF not less than
countless including the towns of Charlottesville and
Lynehburg with each other and with the OF the
General Government. There is another stage
Mug between this and the pTincipsl mail route
southern cities But il has xion with this route
that commencing at Fredericksburg and terminating
NnrlhC hia
ton and terminating al Lyncbburg here other
routes extending from the southern termination OF these,
which continue I'LL they terminate in point Salem,
North Carolina, and the principal mail route between
Washington aud Fredericksburg, these north
erD points; but they commence hiiy-seyen miles dis
tant from each other, aud their te minaling points.
Milton and l.ynohbutg, sill distant. We
OF opinion therefore, that there nothing obviously
inexpeden IN The improvements which have been made
in this roue and from The uncommon socude oil the ci-
zens and their representatives, upon the subject would
that they object of more than ordinary de-
sire The Postmaster General who had the best me
OF determining the question: decided in favor OF
diency; and find evidence which would justify
in taking exception 10 his decision. There has been
ducon made in the line from Washington 10 Lynchburg
The meiI is only transported six times week TO War
ren'oD, and three times week 10 Lynchburg and
responding reduction OF compensation has also been made
This dminution OF service and has been
Juced Iy the want of means Isl the department, and
prepared 10 say that The former service and
pensalon should be restored whenever The finances
the department will warrsDtit. IL should be remarked in
this case that npuiaon OF Partially ards the
should be INDUCED in because the compensation
the services falls short OF the legal standard or
what might have allowed by law, and the reduco of
service TO great amour, made such season
OF the year greatly 10 sacrifice the value OF much of
the stock thrown out OF employment by the reduction.
The mail routes between Ssunton, Virgins, and Cat
ettsburgh Kentucky, 252 miles advertised TO run
three times week in four horse post coaches Porter
Belden Co.. proposed 10 form that service from ia.
nuary let, 1881, TO December 3ls 1884, three times
week for 1855 dollars year. six times week for To-
40 dollars year, daily TOR 1880 dollars year. TIE
contract made for three times q week. 1866 dol
lars year, and signed by Edwin Porter s. Co., Jour
don Voolfolk, dated October 20, $780, commence Janma
1881, and 10 continue four years About year a-
ter this contract commenced hey allowed the adj-
ional sum oil loo dollars year Tor sending mail
horseback three times week TO the post Office Teases
valley From 1s April 1881, three months after this con-
tract commenced, il improved 10 six times week.
Their proposals would have entitled them Is dollars
for the whole service six times a week. which would
have been additional allowance 10 the original
contract OF 1901 dollars years but the Postmaster-
General refused them this amount, snd allowed them
only 5000 dollars year, which was 1854 dollars
less than their proposal In August 1892, that psrt OF
this route which lies between Guysndoie end Cat
pittsburgh, IL miles, discontinued and reduction Of
3l6 dollars year made from their From the
Ist November last, the whole line reduced 10 tfi-
weekly route, aud the allowance OF 600 dollars year
withdrawn which had been made for its improve me- t al.
the allowance Of loo dollars year for sending mail
Teasr's valley, was at the time Withdrawn which
reduced the annual compensation Tor the stage line 10
1920 dollars year, being 346 dollars less than the
original contract In this discover nothing incou,psd
bic with law and equity.
The law Of March ID, 1928 (Sec 81 which establishes
post roads all waters Nhich steamboats, regularly
pass, fom port 10 port makes the Ohio post road
aud the 4ih and sections OF The law, Of March g. 1926
has been construed bJ the Postmaster General auho
Ring him TO make contracts Tor the Conveyance OF mails
txtfl.