The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-26
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL AND
THE RAILROADS.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHU-
SETTS

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHU-
SETS
The committee on railways and canals, TO whom was
referred an order directing them to inquire into the
causes of the disconiinuance of the United States
mail on the Western railroad also the petition OF
EIiphalet Williams and LOG others citizens of North
ampton, on the same subject have had the same un-
der consideration, and report
That after due notice to the Western Railroad Cor
poraon and the gentlemen who introduced the orders,
and presented the petition above they proceed
ed to hearing of the facts in the case.
IL appeared, that previous TO March 1870 the mail
carried in stage coaches, between Worcester and
Springfield, six times week, each way, for $4,000
per annum. That after that time, by arrangement
between the stage proprieors who were also the mail
contractors and the railroad corporation the mail was
transferred the cars, after which the corporation
requested the Postmaster General to pay them larger
sum for carrying the mail than had been paid to the
stage propretors A negotiation followed between
the parties which resulted in contract for the rail-
road corporation to carry the mail for 81 900 year.
This contract expired on 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
cars and the corporation refused longer TO carry 1t.
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
lion TO the terms upon which the mail shall be con-
veyed the Western railroad between Worcester
and Albany. The corporation refused to carry the
mail, because the Postmaster General would not pay
the price demanded and the public suffering
great ncon ventnce in consequence OF this disagree
ment
In a late communication to the Postmaster Gene
rail- the directors proposed to him to submit the ques
ton of compensation for the service required on the
Western road to arbitration To this he replied, that
he not authorized by law so TO do,
He stated in letter to MIR. 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 director 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 cheerfully consent
ed TO give their opinion in the case. They will briefly
state the grounds of that opinion
The service required between Springfield and Wor
ceser is, twice day. each way, six days in the week
and once day, each way, on Sunday
That between Springfield and Albany, six times a
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 an engine sent for the express purpose of
carrying the mail
The price demanded by the directors for the per-
Torrance of the service above-named at the rate
of 5000 per mile, for the whole distance of 1855 miles
of railroad.
The distance as measured for stage coaches, and
for which they are paid, is SO 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 So 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, S20,000,-55 miles ll,G00 S3l 900
The present contract for stage service six times
week, each way, is
Between Albany and Springfield per year Sc, 500
q Worcester and Springfield 1920
SO, 700
The Postmaster General offers $50 mile
Between Worcester and Springfield, 55 miles,
which is -, $50
Between Springfield and Albany, 100 miles,
500 per mile $4,000
1880
And in addition to this, "A portion Of the route
between Springfield and Albany must be
supplied by stages, which will cost the De-
partment more 2OUU
Making the whole cost of mail, if the offer
of the Postmaster General should be ac-
cepted $50, $50
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 are 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
gune both parties may have been in the maintenance
of their respective opinions of what was right your
committee very DESTROYS of bringing this contro-
versy between these contracting parties to close OF
quieting 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 once accept the
offer of the Postmaster General, for carrying the
mall reasonable, and much as in the present con-
don of the Department he can afford to pay.
BY order of the Committee:
EDW. DICKINSON,
Feb. Is, 1912, Chairman.