Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-06-19

OF the route between Cuy dnuOlte anu ClnCln-
natl was reduced to two trips each way, week,
and deduction made from his compensation
of E, 1000 dollars per annum. The present steam
boat contract, therefore, is to run twice week
each way, between Guayandotte and Clncin-
natl and Louisville, and the annual compensa-
ton is 5000 dollars.
The mail route between Mobile Alabama,
and New Orleans, Louisiana, has been sub
iect of investigation. 1t appears that the con-
tract foE this route had been annulled on &C
count of the failure of the contractors; and the
Postmaster General advertised it on the 18th
of April, 1929, for proposals to be received till
the 18th July, 1929, to run three times week
from Mobile, via Pascagoula, in stages and
steamboats,, the terms indefinite. 1t was &C
copied to James Reside q co. at 20, 600 dollars
a wear; and the contract made with them, at
that rate, to transport the mail in stages and
steamboats,, or in steamboats,, as might be found
most eligible, for four years. from the 10th OF
November 1929. The contract is dated July
"a, 1929, signed by James Reside Richard C..
Stockton, VIM. B. Stokes, John II. Avery, Ed
win Porter and the Potomac Steamboat Com
pany by Frederick May.
The Postmaster General determined, in the
fall of 1881, to improve the mail route between
the Atlantic cities and New Orleans, to daily
line; but as the enterprise OF this company had in
many respects proved dsasterous, he determin
ed to confine the contract on the route for this
part of the line to the responsibility of an lndlvi-
dual who might select his associates, but stand
personally pledged for the performance of the
service. He therefore, superseded this contract
by new one, with Edwin Porter, to run daily,
instead Of three times week, and TO receive for
his annual compensation 1000 dollars. This
contract bears date October 15 1881, to COM
mence on the 1st Of January 1882, and to
continue for four years 1t is signed by Edwin
Porter, as principal, and by Sidney Porter and
nd or
the mail appears to be carried at this time.
1t has been suggested, that this contract was
liable to exception. 1t should be remembered
that the Postmaster General is expressly au-
thorized, by the act of 1925, to cause the mail
to be transported by water, from Mobile to
the city New Orleans. 1t was put into ope-
ration before the present Postmaster Gene
raj came into office-Was advertised, and
regularly let to contract, in July, 1829-the
transportation between the above named pla-
ces to be tri-weeky at the price Of 25, 900 dollars
per annum. The additional $4,000 dollars for
the additional four trips week, so as to make
the service daily, at 10000 dollars per annum,
was clearly less than the pro rata allowance
which the Postmaster General is authorized by
the law TO grant.
1t is alleged, however, that this route costs the
large sum of4O, 900 dollars while the nett amount
received for postage in the year ending on the
31st March, 1888, in the whole State Of louisa
ma, was only S46,71S 43, and at this time cannot
greatly exceed that sum; and in the State of
Alabama, the nett amount of hostages in the
same period was only $37, $50 So. Were these
two States alone interested in this route, itwoud
be readily admitted that the expense produced
by it would be unreasonable; but when it is re-
collected that New Orleans is the point to which
the whole surplus agricultural products of the
nine Western States, and the western parts OF
Pennsylvania and Virginia, are transported to
market, and the purchasers in great measure
are the merchants and traders of the eastern CT
ties it will be seen that the whole western States
and great portion of the eastern trading com
munity, have an interest in securing a certain,
frequent and speedy transmission ofintegence
by this route. principal object of expedition
in mail transportation is that intelligence
through that channel may become general
among those why have articles to SELL before
purchasers, or their agents. acting by means Of
private information, procured through express
es, and otherwise can obtain that advantage
which those acting with knowledge Of the
market in other parts Of the world always have
over those who do not possess similar informa-
ton. In this view of the subject, the whole
western country is deeply interested in keeping
up this route, cost what it may. Without ii they
might be exposed to the danger of sacrificing
the products o. their labor without obtaining a
fair equivalent and citizens Of the eastern por-
curing certain and early intelligence of the kind
and quantity of western productions that are or
probably may be in market at New Orleans. 1t
is true that numerous failures have occurred on
this route, owing chiefly to the incapacity Of Mr..
Porter's agent for which fines to the amount Of
about 5000 dollars have been imposed; but
since the contractor has fixed his residence at
Mobile and New Orleans alternately, and given
to the route his immediate personal attention,
the transportation Of the mail has become regu-
lar, and well connected with the great mail line
from Mobile to the Atlantic cities. BY this ar
the time of transporting the mails
from New Orleans to Washington, and the CT
ties east of it, is several days less than it was pre-
vious to its adoption.
AT first view it may seem exceptionable that
the Postmaster General has granted such impor-
tant mail facilities in the southern and western
States, and has not, to a greater extent, dscon-
tinued unproductive routes in those sections in
asmuch as the hostages received in those States
in no instance equals the expense ofthe trans
portation through them 1t is true, that by the
act of 1926, he is directed that whenever within !
the term of three successive years, route shall