American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-10-10

wife.
Until better state of things can be brought
about, | am firmly resolved to continue
AN OLD MAID.
GEN. DUFF GREEN'S CIRCULAR. The Union
of Thursday last contains circular from Gene
raj Duff Green, in relatiOR to the contracts for
carrying the mails upon railroads. He thinks
that, by the adoption ofmeasures which he re-
commends, reduction in the cost of Transport
taton can be made, and that this reduction will
enable congress still farther to diminish the
price of postage. We make the following ex-
tracts from his circular:
GA reduction of the cost of transportation is
an important step towards reducing the rates Of
postage The railroad transportation is an inn
portant item iii the expenditures of the depart
ment believe that an arrangement may be
made, by which this expenditure can, mmedi-
ately, be greatly diminished, and ultimately
give to the department proper control over
the railroad companies, free from any charge
whatsoever.
propose that congress shall authorize con-
tracts to be made with railroad companies for
the transportation of the mails, and troops, and
munitions Of war, and that, instead of paying
them quarterly, as now, fair equivalent for the
service, in perpetuity or for given series of
years, in government five per cent. bonds,
should be paid in advance; reseIving, in all ca
SEES, prior lien upon the railroads thus employ
ed, with proper guards and securities to guar
anty faithful performance. The present pay
ments to railroads and steamboats, is abou4 $780,
900 dollars per annum. By way of illustration,
we will assume that the payment to railroads is
100000. This is equalto five per cent. in ten
millions Of dollar, and the $500, 900 now paid
to these railroad companies, would pay the in
terest upon Sl0,000,000. 1t matters not to the
department, whether that sum is paid as the
cost of transportation, or as the interest on
the sum received in payment for transporta-
ton"
He argues that this advance of stock by 60
vernment, would enable railroad companies to
so much below the present charge, as to create
a sinking fund out of the present expenditure,
which, in fifteen years, would discharge the
principal, and thus relieve the government from
the payment Of interest, and to give to the go
vernment the use of such roads, forever there
after free Of any charge whatsoever"
If we rightly comprehend the proposition, it
:. .;,,r,, Ri. ,hot aovoromoDt ohar land ns
"P'' ,~-S.,,..
STOCK lo' cfeul') 10 Tie a"ouii' 81 'eli inii'0''S
of dollars to the railroad companies for fifteen
years-during which time, the companies shall
receive five per cent. upon the stock as the
price OF transporting tne ina'iS-pu' '''oy slan
L |.
create sinking fund, which Will eXungush
the principal within the fifteen years-atter
which time. thew shall carry the mails gratui-
tors,,, r,rovor
,,,c.,
~ eN"o'o MN ~ "N4'''0 ""~
tails necessary 10 flghI understanding ol the
subject" General Green has annexed to his
circular the following queries, to which he So
lcts replies. addressed to him at WASHINGTON
o;,u.
'"!
l.. "hat are the names vi the several Rali-
road companies IN your otate'
g What is the length Of road which each is
authorized to make?
3. How much Of each road is completed
a. How muck of each road is unfinished
5. What has been the average cost per mile
of so much as has been finished?
6. What Is the estlinateo COST per mile oil the
unfinished ROAD!
7. what amount Oh iuhus nave tie several
railroad companies aPPlca6ie 10 the compile
ton OF THESE unhhlsneu Ioaus'
s. what points 90 the seVelai loaos con-
meets u,, -, o,on, ronoo,o - o.oh ro,a
o. Wha' 10 vac G.ohts 80 1"u.
"'' N What other lines are now authorized bv
o,ber States to connect with these roads?
''" ~, w, oeea, ,no,,d ,ho oomn,o,;oo -
,bd o mna. HTIi nss embraced by ;Udici.