Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-05-16
HENRY A. WISE.
FOR THE E.TQ UiRER
MAIL. TRANSPORTATION.

MAIL TRANSPORTATION.
tD,deatfd 10 Mr.. HiekH9r)
uWe understand" says the Norfolk Herald, "that
the pTonrieios OF the line of travel from Baltimore,
South vil Portsmouth, bidders for the Great
Southern hall Contract, from Baltimore to Weldon,
n and At sum 500 900 less than the last contract
under which il carried; VIA Fredericksburg fich
mond and Petersburg; and 1t is understood, that the
bid for the af,c contract the latter route makes
stlil greater difference.
mouth route equal time, far greater regularity, nno
saving of $4,000 10 the Department, which surely
all thinps else being eqna should give preference to
that route.
We know nothing Of the terms in which offers are
made for lie transportation Of the Great Northern anu
Southern Mail by the Railroad Companies, consttu'
TIM the inland route The Companies between wash
naion and Petersburg are, understand willing TO
ransnort il on as favorable terms 10 the Department.
as il il carried for by other Companies on leading mail
routes And il exiravagant demands or undue exac
lions are made of the Department, by any OF the CON
NAMES r.,er South should think, lghencd as the
mail n,us be after leaving Petersburg, that the fost
master General might have it transported IN mail wa
gons over the common roads, without serious d'saa
VANTAGE. We protest against the plan OF exposing
mail conta ming the important correspondence ano I'M
mense remttances which are conveyed 10y The Great
No,,hern and Southern mail, 10 The contingencies OF
s,n and bay transportation at all times, and the Constant
during Winter, any farther than may De
una yoidable We hive doubts also, whether there
ynud he such saving as The NofloiH iltIaio sup
noses even II the Post Master General in SO grave
matter. were Influenced by the mere consideration oil
dollars and cents. The mails of Richmond and re-
tersburp and the whole correspondence OF The interior
of yrania US well as large part oil North Carolina
must necessarily be by the present route, and the
CHARGE Of the rail road companies for conveying these
nort;ons of the Great Mail far as Pe,esbprg-w
probsby not be materially less than for the whoe-so
Ina, unless The charge for conveying the mai between
Weldon and Baltimore by the Bay ronie, should be iess
,hon The charge between Weldon and Petersburg by
The Inland route (Which presume It conld scarcely
he ! we do not well see, how there could be any
saving. 4:n,oo he,.,een
the Post Office Department and The Companies on
Tho inland route will be accommodated We are sure,
I'M, in the Directors Of The Companies constituting the
line in Virginia. there disposition 10 do what
nav no in their power meet the wishes OF the De-
natment and il there have been irregularities IN the
mail South of this (no transportation could have been
mora regular than that Of the mail between this and
Aon,a creek the Department may, seems 10 US, ea-
sy correct lhem agreeaby 10 the suggestion of The
Comper by inserting such conditions in future con
tracs as may admit Of adequate penalties being I'm:
nosed in the case of failure On the other hand, The
Dana1,ment, whilst exacng this much OF the Compa-
n;es. ought, We think, TO be willing to pay, not only
farly but literally, for the transportation OF The mali
n ,bs great Northern and Southern line OF railroad
The stock holders, by whom il was constructed, have
so far derived beael from their expenditure, whilst