New-York tribune., 1842-02-01
RAILROADS AND THE POST OFFICE.

Il
We observe with concern the existence 0.
rupture between tie Post Office Department and
certain Railroad Companies covering important
routes. The parties appear TO differ with regard
10 the first principles upon which their mutual
dealings should be regulated. The Postmaster
General holds that, in cases where q Railroad
does not vary its hours other arrangements 10
accommodate the Mail it ought 10 charge for the
service what il would charge for any other SER
vcc-tllat is. the cost Of transportation, and
reasonable allowance for profit. The Railroads,
on the other hand, consider the transportation of
the Mails one OF the elements which enter into
the calculation Of profit upon such Il work--that
the cxpedting of the Mails, as such, is of the
chief purposes and benefits of Railroad, ard
ought to be paid for accordingly. For instance,
will suppose the transportation Of the Mails
by stage from the ST. ohm to the Sabine requir-
ed twenty days; when the most intelligent and
cnterprising capitalists of the great cities should
unite and propose TO the Government Pay US
what is right for the service, and VIC will con-
struct a line Of Railroad from Bangor to New Or
leans and carry your Mails tlroug h in six days
Would not every one say This is u great and be-
neticcnt enterprise-thcy who undertake it ougll,
to be paid literally Who would suy that
they should have more for carving it i'll six
days than in twenty THAT who does not see
they should have more for this than for carry
ing much coul or timber the nun,be, Of let
ters and papers transmitted by Mail would at
least be doubled by the accclcr;tion and that
the Government can afford to pay more for the
improved service
We insist, therefore, that the Railroads should
be dealt with literally, even though the cost of
the Mail service is thereby enhanced Very many
would gladly give half a dollar for taking letter to
ST Louis and bringing al, answer back in ten days
rather than have it done in month for sixpcncc.
For many wears the Government has taxed the
postage payers dcfrav the whole cost not
only OF its own vast correspondence, but tina,
of the private letter. of its fifteen thousand Post
masters and the infinite csions of its three hun
dred Members of Congress and their deputy cleo
1ioneerers. Several million Of partisan speeches
and reports are annually sent from Washington
all parts Of the country, not merely nt the cost ot
the business correspondence of the country, bnt
the latter is actually subjected to heavy charge
for the mere deliuery of these documents, for
which Postmusters are paid as for 90 many free
letters. We trust this crying injustice will soon
be remedied by an act of Congress abolishing al
rogethcrth Fr.nking Privilege or restraining it to
the purely official dispatches of public officers.
We might then have sensible reduction of the
average rates of Letter Postage, and the Depart
men, overtlowing Treasury. This will answer
The purpose great deal better than higglins
few dollars off the contract price of Mail service
on nn important route.
Such appear to us the general principles
which these differences should be settled. We do
not pretend to decide, nor to know which party is
right in any particular case but think the basis
narrow. Take the case of the Massachusetts
Western Railroad. 1t has been carried across the
rugged ridges forming the Southern spurs Of the
Green Mountains at an enormous cost to the cor
porators and not one farthng to the Government :;
1t brings Albany within ten hours of Boston in
stead of thirty to forty, and in Of an INVASION
OF New Eng land would enable the Government, to
assemble fifty thousand Ncw-York Militia at Bos-
Ion in three DAYS after the alarm and a, n compare
lively ,rining cost Thar road. rs a work of pub
lie defence, is worth One Million of Dollars the
Union This Mr.Wickliffc cannot pay for, but it
should induce him to be liberal in his dealings
with it.
But Railroad Companies will often be cxor-
bitant in their demands-thcre can be no doubt of
This; since their stockholders and directors are
but men, and, like other men, intent on their own
interest. Wha; shall be done in such cases Must
,he public suffer! Shall the Mail in slow rickcty
caches agdaysbehind ,hepaSscngers and the news,
and thus become Mail at all (! There is u Diff
Guilty here and its root is in that fatal Veto of Gen
jackson on the Maysvillc Road bill. But for
that, the Government would have aided somewhat
IN the construction of all the great Railroads, in
stead OF distributing its Surplus Revenue to the
States tor that purpose, and would haze secured
RIGHT 10 the transportation of the Mails. on the
most favorable terms. Now if ii have any right it
IS that OF the stronsest and many sound States
men oe!leve that this dubious right must ye, be lr
sorted ,o-that the Government. by virtue of It's
inherent power, mus, take possession of the Rail
roads and transport its Mails over them, awarding
to the stockholders fair compensation. Under
all tha circumstances, shah see this power cx.
erted with extreme reluctance.
The controversy between the Department and
the Western Railroad has thrown the Mail OFT ,!a,
Road and back on the old wagon-track The
Railroad requires S2225 mile for the annual trans
portation of daily mail each way, or abou, 80
cents for every mile run, which is one-ourth less
than the Departments, is authorized 10 pay this
the Department viii not accede to. So the Mail