New-York daily tribune., 1845-04-21
Cave johnson and the Mall Contractors.

The Mail Contracts for the different sections OF
the Union are made IN four divisions, for four years
respectively one-iourth each year. THIS Spring the
Contracts are let for New-lork and NewEnsland,
to take effect on the lst of July ensuing The old
Contractors, or their agents, assembled at Wash
ington early this month to put in their bids, Oo be-
accepted or rejected by the lst OF May,) bnl found
the field of competition greatly wldened by the
Cheap Postage Law, which torbids all requsltlons
Of Z" four-horsc post coaches, etc. and prescrbes
that the p. NJ General shall only reqsire that the
service be performed within the required time,
leaving the Contractor TO carry the Mail IN wheel
barrow If he peasss that he deliver II promptly
and safely The stipulation hitherto made by Ihe
Department that new Contractor shall take his
predecessors MalB Bags, &c. at valuation, Is also
necessarllv arrested by the new law. Heyeupon,
the old Contractors united IN memorial to The F.
NJ General, asking HIM 10 make new s,pulatlonS
IN their favor or postpone the commencement Of
operations under the Contracts Til January
next leaving the service 10 be performed under the
old Contracts and at the old rates meantime. Mr..
Johnson denies their request point blank, as will be
seen bv portion of his reply as follows
There can be no prcext holding the Department
pedsel 10 give the contractors the same advantages
now which had beer given them at former lettings
any more than if had made bad bargain your alth
woud be pledged IL Il called upon 10 60 SO by
he Department, al is expiration congress or the Depart
uen nigh; choose discontinue any all Of yolr routes
Al the expiration your pte.en; co,racs or The Depart
men might have superseded the service rendering ycu
stock and vehicles unavailable ana there could be no pre-
text for calling upon them take your stock on hand or
iadennfS icr losses you might sustain ihe con-
don rcqurls contractor take the property oi
prior regulation Of The Departm"ii attached 20
The advertisement, and not eNacied by any Aw and eau
| fha Nta.a
under IT, Your written with the Department
contain binding the Department for any DISPOSE
iou OF the property =; the end OF the term The injury
which have apptehendei from not oht t'lS s Eo0c
contracts formerly i The result of The law and not
OF anv action Of the Department should Your fears be
wei. founded the expectations q: Congress Will DC realized.
En,e -tair these views OF ho law You WI Perceive that
compliance with your request 20 suspend The lettings unit;
&c Is; January. 40 st OF Apr next, woad be gross
and palpahe violation Of the ide ard my ay 10 the paee
compliance with ihc remaining part OF Your request I"
continue vour service under the existing contracts till that
time would he st especially you state that The
present lettings under the new law at hi, iifse would s
AZ greatly reduced price, probably one-ha less hsr the
pc now rand The coach cont actors in New ork aud
New. England and AL. might readily assent to such
construction OF the law by The Department but doae
whether any other portions OF our citizens "o1 81 ediN
Weld 10 n, As member Of Congress opposed The lSiS-
sage OF the law but il has become my duty TO execute IL
And exertions on my part shall be spared 10 carry u
into eject. in TIE >pirit In which Il was passed AoG ne
will r,ese sincerely. II 1t can be nsNde to TeA1e
the hopes ana wishes of is friends
Il m, very respectfully. Ncpr oteteut servant
(SSued) {. JOHNSON, Z. NJ General
This is very right in the main, ihoagh there are
one or two filings et the Eastern States and tlelT
advocates OF the Cheap Postage Law, which arc
unworthy OF the station Of p NJ General, though
perhaps no: OF It's present occupant. But never
mind.
Tux WEATHER IN ENGLANp.-Nice observations
OF the weather established these facts: That in
December the mean temperature was $50 H., be
ing uearly1 degrees below the average. and lower
than the mean temperature Of any corresponding
month In the present century, with the exceptions
of December in lS2e and $50.
In January the mean Temperature was above the
average Of number OF years BY % degrees.
In Febrsary the mean ef the ,uonth was lower
than thai oi any February IN the present century.
In March, Cast monthly mp 20 the 18th, a lower
mean temperature was exhibited Than IN any cor
responding poTiion of March since 1857 al least,
Taking The period altogether. from the Is; OF last
December 10 the present time. the mean ,empera-
,ure is found 10 bs Sc, which lower than tha, Of
any similar period Ia the present century with The
escen,on of that of lSlS-l4. when II was Is deg
lower. and lS29-S0 about lilo deg. lower In these
DerioSs the frost was more continuous in January
and February. but not So proTscted as IN The pre-
sent season-whon the winter RIsy be said 10 nave
set in with severity early IN December, and Is sll
coutlnulng,