The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-02-26
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL AND |
THE RAILROADS.
COMM ONWEALTH OF MASSACHU-
SETTS

1
| SETS
The committee on railways and canals, TO whom was
referred an order directing them to inquire into the
causes of the dscontinuance of the United States
mail on the Western railroad also the petition OF
Eliphaet Williams and LOG others, citizens of North
ampton, the subject, have had the same I'M
der consideration, and report
That after due notice to the w estern Railroad Cor
poration and the gentlemen who introduced the orders,
and presented the petition above named they proceed
ed to a hearing of the facts In the case
1t appeared that previous to March 1910, the mail
was carried in stage coaches, between Worcester and
Springfield, six times week, each way, for 5000
per annum That after that time, by an arrangement
between the stage pIopreors, who were also the mail
contractors and the railroad corporation, the mail was
transferred to the cars after which, the corporation
requested the Postmaster General to pay them larger
for carrying the mail than had been paid TO the
stage proprietors. A negotiation followed between
the parties which resulted in contract for the rail
road corporation to carry the mail for S4 600 year
This contract expired the LIST Of July last; but
the corporation continued to carry the mail in their
cars in the expectation of being able to make salts
factory contract for the next four years. until the 10Th
of January last when the mail excluded from the
and the corporation refused longer to carry It,
The committee do not think it necessary to present
IN detail the history of the negotiation between the
Post Office Department and this corporation in rela-
hon to the terms upon which the mail shall be con-
veyed over the Western railroad between Worcester
mail because the Postmaster General would not pay
the price demanded and the public suffering
great Inconvenience in consequence OF this disagree
ment.
ra the directors proposed to him to submit the ques
ton of compensation for the service required the
Western road to arbitration To this he replied, that
he was not authorized by law to do
He stated in a letter to Mr.. Bliss, of Feb inst,
that he had made the highest offer that he could
make. The directors had refused to accept it,
In this state of the case, the directors have eX-
pressed Willingness that your committee should re-
commend sum, which, in their opinion, it is best,
under existing circumstances, the corporation should
accept; and the committee have cheerfuy consent
ed to give their opinion in the They will briefly
state the grounds of that opinion.
The service required between Springfield and Wor
cester is twice day, each way, six days in the week.
and once day, each way, on Sunday.
That between Springfield and Albany, six times
week, each way no Sunday mail.
The whole Of this service, six days in the week.
will be performed in the regular passenger trains;
and If the Sunday service is required, it must be per-
formed by engine sent for the express purpose Of
carrying the mail
The price demanded by the directors for the per-
Torrance of the service abovenamed, at the rate
of 5000 per mile, for the whole distance of l55 miles
of railroad.
The distance as measured for stage coaches and
for which they are paid is 80 miles between Al
bany and Springfield, and AZ miles between Spring
field and Worcester.
The distance of railroad between Albany and
Springfield, is 100 miles between Springfield and
Worcester, SIS miles; making the distance by rail-
road "a miles greater than the distance by stage.
l55 miles at 5000 per mile, would be, viz:
100 miles, $40, O00,-55 miles, IL, 600 $4,000
The present contract for stage service, six times
week, each way, is
Between Albany and Springfield, per year $500
Worcester and Springfield 1920 |
$4,000
The Postmaster General offers $50 mile
Between Worcester and Springfield, SIS miles,
which is $3.50
Between Springfield and Albany, 100 miles,
500 per mile $4,000
1850
And in addition to this, portion of the route
between Springfield and Albany must be
supplied by stages, which will cost the De-
partment more 1000
Making the whole cost of mail, if the offer
of the Postmaster General should be
cepted s2O,25O
Deduct amount paid for stage service 10,700
$3.50
1t shows that the Department have offered the
Western Railroad $3.50 more to carry the Mail be-
tween Worcester and Albany, than they now pay
ing to have the same conveyed by wagons and stage
| coaches between the same places
Whatever views the directors Of the Western Rail
road may have entertained of the Importance and
value of the service required and however made
quate they may have deemed the compensation afford
ed by the Postmaster General and however san
guine both parties may have been in the maintenance
Of their respective opinions of what was right, your
committee are very DESTROYS of bringing this contro-
versy between these contracting parties ito close, of
quoting the public mind, and restoring*to the people
one Of the greatest advantages which they were in
duced to expect from the completion of this great
work. And they recommend that the directors of
the Western Railroad should at accept the
offer of the Postmaster General, for carrying the
mall reasonable and much in the present con-
dton of the Department he can afford to pay. !
BY order Of the Committee:
EDW. DICKINSON,
Feb. Is, 1912, Chairman.