The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-10-13
DUFF GREEN.
CIRCULAR.

SIR: MY relations TO the press have led me 10
reflect much on the subject of postage, and, in
connection Herewith, on the best means of chsapen-
ing the transportation of the mails.
| am The advocate of cheap postage, as a means
of diffusIng knowledge, cullivaling the social
virtues, elevating the standard Of public and
private morals. and thereby preserving the public
liberty.
A reduction of the cost of transportation is an
important step towards reducing the rates of post
age. The railroad transportation is an important
item in the expenditures Of the department.
believe that an arrangement may be made by
which this expenditure eau. Immediately, be
greatly diminished, and ultimately give to the
department a proper control over the railroad COM
panies, free from any charge whatsoever.
| propose that Congress shall authorize con.
tracts to he made with railroad companies for the
transportation of the mails. and troops, and NUM-
iicns of war. and that, instead of paying them
quarterly, as now, a fair equivalent for the ser
vice, in perpetuity or for a given series of years,
IN government five per cent. bonds should be paid
IN advance TeseTving, in all cases, a prior lien
upon the railroads thus employed. with proper
guards and securities To guaranty a faithful per-
formance The present payments to railroads
and steamboats, is abont 800 900 dollars per annum.
BY way Of illustration. we will assume that the
payment to railroads is $500 900. This is equal
w wv lHl Cclt III ttIl tNilIlDIlS Oh UDli1IS, ana the
100000 now paid to these railroad companies
world pay the interest npon 10000, 900. 1t
matters not 10 the department whether that sum
is paid as the cost Of transportation, or as The in
ierest on the sum received in payment for trans.
poriation.
But when we take into consideration the large
sums already expended in construction Of rail
roads. their connexion with each other, the in.
creased profits which would accrue upon all by
tho Cnr nIofipp Of fho ,nE,;.I.1 -.-J- II IL.
many OF these are in the south and west, where
the cost of construction is but little, and that upon
some of them large sums have been already ex-
pended, 1t is apparent that the proposed advance
would tend to the immediate completion of many
Of these unfinished roads. and bring into use from
one TO two thousand miles more Of railroad. II
follows that the railroad companies. in consequence
ut the aid Tins given them, could afford, and
they, no doubt, would consent to make the con
tracts 80 much below the present charge, as to
create a sinking fund out If the present expendi
tire, which, in fifteen years would discharge the
principal and thus relieve the department from
The payment OF interest, and give to the govern
ment the use of such roads, forever thereafter,
free Of any charge tohatever.
The application Of the same principle to The
roads hereafter 10 be constructed, would so far
extend the system, and so much reduce the cost
OF transportation, as 10 enable the government TO
reduce the rates Of postage lower than is now
charged in England.
Such is the outline. There will necessarily he
mnch Of detail. which cannot be satisfactorily
arranged. bot by a consultation between persons
representing the railroad companies and the Post
Office Department. If this arrangement will
greatly benefit all the parties to it without preiu.
dice 10 any one, or the viola lion Of any correct
principle Of public policy, as I believe il will do,
all that is required 10 secure its adoption is that
it should be properly presented To the considera-
ton Of Congress. ] take the liberty TO ask your