Western courier. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-07-06

~il'ch offer was accepted.
Itapphars by the books and files of the de :
partment, that. from the lst of January, 1852,
% about the lst of May of that year, none of
the improved service was performed the mail
having been carried through in daily line
occupying about three days in the passage,
as nuder the old contract. Letters on file
from the contractors, dated 2o:h and esd
April, 1882, show that they were then prepar>
ing for The increased speed. These letters
inform the Department, that the contractors
were about to make daily the tri-weekly ac~
commodation lne of stages run by them, and
ask, a. matter of favor, that they may be
permitted to carry the way mails upon it, to
prevent the detenti n of their swift line by
stopping for the opening of the mails at SO
many small post offices. BY letter dated
the 24th of April, 1882, this privilege was
granted upon condition that the second line
should continue 10 run daily.
Som after the contract commenced, the
mail appears to have been carried from Balti-
more to Frederick on the Railroad; and from
first February. 1852, the sum of $2,046 per
annum vas added 10 the contractors compen.
sation therefor.
On the first September, 1882, the second
daily line was cut down to an every other day
run daily about four months; but no deduc.
ton was made from their compensation.
The first schedule for the swift line was is.
sued on the 18Th April, 1899, and was carried
into effect about the first of May. In Septem.
Der Of that year the contractors produced
proofs that in consequence of the Cumberland
road being broken up for repairs, it was
scarcely possible, and not at all safe, to run
a. oil &c Tha,,
liciled that the service might be put upon the
winter fcheduIe, as a means Of giving them
temporarily more time. In consequence, they
were, on the 81 October, allowed tive and IA
half days each way-and nthe 22d Decem-
Der they were put on the winter schedule, and
allowed two days and 10 hours going out, and
tive days and 20 hours returning.
In their account for the first quarter of 1893,
the contractors charged se,405 for running
second daily mail during the year 1882 which,
upon statement of tile then Superintendent
of Mail Contracts, that such mail had been
run from the first Janunry, 1882, was allowed.
This statement was papab'y incorrect this
mail not having run daily more than about
four months.
In the same account the contractors charged
$9.8l2 for forty extra horses and twenty-five
postiliions, al'edged to have been necessarily
employed by them in consequence OF the in
creased weight of the mails, 10 enable them 10
ascend the mountains with the requisite speed,
which charge, upon like certificate that they
had been employed from the 1st January, 1882,
was also allowed. This statement, also, was
palpaby incorrect; as the extra horses and
postillions could not have been employed until
after the swift line was put in operation.
These allowances thenceforward became
part Of the contractcrs' annu al compensation,
which was considered to bo as follows, vix:
Original annual pay as accepted 81, 80
First improvement of speed, aud
tri-weekly mail 8,9)p
Railroad service 2,046
| Second improvement OF speed $3.50
Second daily mail 6,4Oo
Extra horses and postillijns 9,612
Whole annual compensation, S38,5O5
| Thus was the original compensation of ST.,
$50 improved INTO S3S, sos in the progress Of
! fifteen months.
On the 9Th of March, 1888, the con-
tractors, in letter to the Department,
represented that the weight of the mails
had enormously increased,and that it was
impossible TO convey them by the means
provided. For an advance of 25 per cent.
on their whole improved compensation,
they offered to put such additional stock
and vehicles on the road as should be
adequate to this object.
The second daily mail was not then
running, although they we're under pay
| for it.. AS the most obvious mode of pro.
viding for the transportation Of the in.
creased mail matter, the Department. by
letter dated the 29th of March, 1888 i,
ordered them to run second line of four
horse post"coaches, reserving the ques-
tion of compensation. But. as it appear
ed they were already under pay fo' such
line, nothing could be added to their
compensation on that account. This line
uever carried much mail, and part of
the time scarcely any. 1t was run very
much as the contractors pleased, not hav-
ing had regular schedule. and was al.
ways called the slow mail.
On the 22d of April, 1888, the con-
tractors were directed to run through in
two days and six hours each way, being
allowed SIX hours more than their con-
tract time.
In this condition was the contractors
service and pay at the time of the re-
trenchments ordered in November, 1888.
The order of retrenchnent reduced the
speed from two days to two and half,
and cut off the second allowance for in
creased speed. $3.50, and also the all
lowance Of S9,8l2 for extra horses and
postillions, which was an incident Of that
improvement.
These retrenchments left the pay OF
contractors, from the 1st of January,