Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-04-09

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with that Of Mr.. Hale. and when his prin-
ciples Of calculation are understood, The
committee chose Hot to rely upon il, but
20 inquire into the items which would
compose 30 large sum. He stated them
and among others considered Reside as
having injured his horses to hall the a.
mount OF their value. by running them 90
miles per day Cor 50 days, at rate not
over Is miles an hour. Yet even with
this allowance, amounting by his estimate
to 90. 600, and adding all the other items,
which the committee could not suppose
would enter into statement OF expenses,
and giving to Reside $1,000 for bis own
trouble, they do not perceive how The &C
count could have arisen TO much more
than 5000 dollars. not one hall oil the sum
which has been allowed.
John A. Weart was also called TO this
point, (see doc 1881 He. with his part
nsr. Hutchinson, carried the express for
Reside Is miles, aad bore all the cxpen.
SOS OF every kind, from 4th February, to
7th Of March, the day ii stopped, and re
-ceived therefor, 81 1886 IL, which makes
81 dollars 93 cents per day for IS miles,
and for tho whole route OF 30 miles. sos
IS per day, and 1874 90 for the period Of
50 days, about 1000 dollars more than one
half OF the SUN allowed for this express.
but this express was got up for spc.
eial purpose, that Of running down the
private express established by MIR, Hale,
the editor Of the N. York Journal Of Com
mercc. That it did not beat bis express
10 clearly shown by the testimony Of all
tho witnesses and Mr.. Hale tcsiiiies that
while his private express answered all the
purposes for which il was intended, and
was discontinued only upon the adjourn.
ment Of Congress, this express failed in nu
msrous instances Of its object, having ar.
rived but six times in ten days SO az 10 get
the intelligence from Washington 10 time
Tor the morning papers. Therefore, as
the private express succeeded, and the
'Governm&nt express failed Of its object,
were the same. The one being established
In reference 10 the other, it would be at
least Air 10 cay that the Government ex
press which failed, ought to cost no more
than the private express which succeeded
Mr.. Hale exhibited to your committee, un.
der oath, . statement Of the whole cost Of
his express, and it amounted to 8 800 dol
lars. Tho amount paid 10 Mr.. Reside
Tor bis was 1860 dollars. In deciding
upon the propriety of this enormous allow
ancc. II ought not to be forgotten that
Reside was bound by his contract to fur.
nish all government expresses free from
eharge--(see Halc's deposition, doc. 49,
Ihe committee now desire 10 call the
attention Of the Senate more particularly
to the manner in which the mail has been
carried upon this route, and the amount of
compensation which has been paid for it,
lhe contract was to carry "the mail !"
upon this route. The nature, weight, and
extent OF that mail was perfectly under.
stood, both by the contractor and the de.
Pariment when the contract was made, and
1t embraced all the mail, not merely let.
ters. but newspapers, pamphlets, public
documents. &c. &c., and was to be carried
Tor 5000 dollars per year.
!. The great mail, as il is generally cal
led, has run pretty regularly at tho pre-.
scribed times, and been paid for at the con
tract price Of 5000 dollars.
Q. In addition TO this, one Of the red ink
endorsements states another mail was or.
dered from the beginning. at 1900 dollars
Per year, which has been regularly paid
lor. This is called the second, or city line
II existed when the contract was examined
and must have been within the contempa
ton oil the contractor when he made his
Ord. he was then carrying it, and made no
ofier Tor II as separate service. II was.
indeed, but part Of the mail between N.
York and Philadelphia for the convenience
OF those cities alone. II is sent at O'Clock
A. NJ, In the steamboats,, while they are
running, and in its departure and arrival
depends upon them, and in stages in the
winter. during which time the contractor
has usually had lines OF stages for passen
gers between the two cities; one OF which
started at six, another at ten, another at
two o'clock into the first OF which lines
this mail is thrown. Postmaster Page saws
q carries the letters from this city for New
xork city alone; and one Of the clerks
says II 10 not sent in the winter. This mail
accommodation to the two cities, while il
- useful to the public, has the effect of re.
i'sving the contractor from portion ofthe
weight which he would otherwise have To
carry, and the actual expense of carrying
u must be very small il is but the weight
OF tnese mail bags in a coach or steam
boat which would make the trip at any
rate, and the weight which is thrown into
'nis 70 taken out Of some other coach or
steamboat, for the whole mail was by his
nrse bid to be carried for 81, 900. One of
inc witnesses examined on this subject
testifes, that it is an advantage to the con, |
tractor to permit him 10 divide the mail |
and take part by one CONVEYANCE. and
part by another. The committee refer tn |
tne aindavits Of James Page. Joseph Ben.
eu'ct, beckman Potter, Joseph bod, and
GeorBe aaoer.-(See docs, 100, 1902, l0S,
q; ihe express line before referred TO. |
Paio ior at The rate Of $3.50 per year, |
rom Let OF January, 1882, to the LIST of |
october, 1883. On this line further ex.
Plsnation rs not necessary, except 10 re.
MARK that we have not been able to dis.
cover BY what line of stages or Steamboats,
u w.s carried, or that it yeas ever carried
1T all.