The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-10-08
To the Editor Of the Union,
CIRCULAR.
Yours, truly,
DUFF GREEN

Yours, truly,
DUFF GREEN
CIRCULAR.
SIR: My relations To the press have led me to re-.
| fleet much on the subject Of postage, and, in con-
nexion herewith, on the best means Of ehsapening
| the transportation Of the mails.
| ! am the advocate Of cheap postage, as a means
Of dlfusing knowledge, eultyating the social viz.
tues, eeyaung the standard Of public and private
morals, and thereby preserving the public liberty.
| A reduction of the cost OF transportation l. an
important step towards reducing the rates Of posi-.
age. The railroad transportation is an important
item in the expenditures Of the department | be.
| eye that an arrangement may be made by which
this expenditure can, Immediately be greatly dmIB
ished and ultimately give to the department prop
er control over the railroad companies, free from
any charge whatsoever.
propose that Congress shall authorize contract,
TO be made with railroad companies for the trans.
portaton of the mails, and troops, and munitions Of
war, and that, instead Of paying them quarterly a.
now, fair equivalent for the service In perpeluily
or for a given series Of years In government five
per cent bonds should be paid In advance; resery.
ing, In all cases, prior lien upon the railroads thus
employed, with proper guards and securities 10
guaranty faithful performance. The present pay.
ments 10 railroads and steamboats, 10 about 800 600
dollars per annum. BY way Of illustration, we viii
assume that the payment TO railroads is s5OO,OOO
inns - uNc per CENT millions OF do
lars, and the $500 900 now paid TO these railroad
companies would pay the interest upon slO, 900 900
IL matters not 10 the department whether that sun
10 paid the cost OF transportation, or as the In
terest on the sum received in payment for lnns.
portation.
| But when we take into consideration the larg,
sums already expended in construction Of railroad
their connexion with each other the increased profits
which would accrue upon all by the completion Of
the unfinished roads, and that many Of these ar,
| in the south and west, where the cost Of con.
struction is but little, and that upon some Of them
large have been already expended il is appa.
| rent that the proposed advance would tend TO Ii,
immediate completion Of many Of these unfinished
roads, and bring into from one TO two thousand
miles Of railroad. Il follows that the railroad
companies, in consequence OF the aid thus given
them, could afford, and they, doubt, would con.
sent 10 make the contracts much below the pres.
ent charge, as 10 create sinking fund out Of the
present expenditure, which, in fifteen years would
discharge the principal, and thus relieve the depart.
ment from the payment Of interest, and give TO the
government the use Of such roads forever thereafter
| free Of any charge trhaisoepr.
| The application OF the same principle 10 the roady
hereafter to be constructed would so far extend the
system, and so much reduce the cost Of ransporta-
on, to enable the government to reduce the rates
| Of postage lower than Is now charged in England
| Such is the outline. There will necessarily be
| much OF detail, which cannot be satisfactorily
| arranged, but by a consultation between Der.
| sons representing the railroad companies and the
Post Office Department. IL this arrangement will
greatly benefit all the parties to il without prelude.
to any one, or the violation Of any correct principle
ofpublc policy, believe il will do all that is re-
quired TO secure its adoption is that il should be
properly presented to the consideration of Con-
gress. take the liberty to ask your co-operation
in doing this, and would respectfully recommend
that the persons interested in the principal railroads
in he IInItad Il. n
meeting to be held in this city for the purpose Of
preparing bill, in concert with the War and Post
Office Departments, to be submitted TO the next SEES
sion Of Congress.
! am aware that some will object that the war
with Mexico creates necessity for borrowing mo-
ney, and that the proposed issue would depress tho
public credit by increasing the amount upon the
market.
| reply, that it is not the amount of the public
debt, but the failure Of the indebted States to ray
interest, that injured the public credit. The meas.
ure which propose would go far towards enabling
the defaulting States to make satisfactory arrange
ments with their European creditors, and thus re-
store the national credit in the European market
Instead OF depressing it would the. efore benefit the
public credit
would also respectfully invite the attention of those
connected with the public press to this subject Its I'M
porance justifes the hope that it will rise above the
influence Of party; but il must be studied, examn.
moral, commercial, and national point Of view, can
be duly appreciated.
My desire is to accumulate here, at the seat OF
government the facts and details to right
understanding Of the whole subject This can best
be furnished through the press. I take the liberty
OF appending hereto few queries, and hope that
some one will be found in each Of the States will.
ling to prepare and publish reply. Is it asking
too much to request editors making such publca-
ton, to send me copies Of the paper containing il
10 facilitate a cooperation between those imme-
dlatey interested, the undersigned respectfully
tenders his services, and will cheerfuy correspond
with those who desire to accomplish this important
measure.
DUFF GREEN.
WARRINGTON CITY, Oct. l, 1876.
Queries suggested by d. Green, for the purpose Of
obtaining information to be submitted to Congress
IN aid of proposition for an issue of government
five per cent bonds in payment for TRANSPORTATION of
the mails, and with view to call forth through the
press, an expression of public opinion on that sub
ject
l. What are the names of the several railroad
companies in your Slater
:, z What is the length of road which each is au
thorzed to maker ~
j. How much of each road is completely
O. How much of each road is unfinished
B. What has been the average cost per mile of so
much as has been finished
g. What is the estimated cost per mile of the I'm.
finished road
I: What amount Of funds have the several rail-
road companies applicable to the completion Of these
unfinished roads,
g. What points do the several roads connect
=. what Is the present revenue of each road, and
ID II derived from freights or passengersi
lO. What other lines are now authorized by other
States to connect with these roads,
III. What effect would the completion of other
connecting lines, embraced by judicious system Of
railroads. have on the value Of the shares of the
eral companies in your State,
~. would The railroad companies in your State,
or either of them, be disposed to favor the arrange
ment proposei
10. How many miles, in addition TO those now
IN use, would such an arrangement enable the seve.
"a, companies to maker Il include in this query all
o.ner resources of the company which this arrange