The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-22
To the Editor Of the Union'
BRows's HOTEL, Washington city,

master General makes out strong case in behalf of tbs
department against the steamboat and railroad companies
between Washington and Richmond but believe tina
you have lived long enough know that frequent
than otherwise, there two sides 10 case and tina
the worse may often appear the better cause II an advo
cate allowed to stray from the facts and abandon the
record. fHsaur
The facts OF the present simply these In sis
there existed, under joint resolution OF Congress-
tract between the steamboat company and the department
and Acquia creek at the rate of $l2 752 per annum,
continue until LIST July, ls47 AT the same time there
being no contract and none likely to be made between
the railroad company and the department, Mr. Tyler
then President, selected by the parties arbitrate
the matter His decision gave the company the OF
$4,000 abou $3.50 per mle for the transportation of the
mails one year between Acqua creek and Richmond. AT
the expiration of this ermsay on the lsJ July, ls44he
mail continued the route for the compensa
ton and was so continued until LIST July last when
posals ISSUED Tor the service between Washington
and Richmond At this letting bid was made by the
railroad company for the entire from Washington to
Richmond of $36,5OO per annum and, although no other
offer came from any quarter was rejected by the depart
ment A proposition then made by the same COM
pany that at the mutual pleasure of both parties. the mail
should be continued the route for the compensation
previously paid which amounted to the OF 1872 1852
in all, per annum, which will show surplus of but
81 377 what the route Of 1870 miles, (nearly 1871
mes at 237 SO per mile, would amount to, and which
porting the mail when delivered in Washington, Alex
andria, Fredericksburg, and Richmond. This proposl-
ton was likewise rejected BY the Postmaster General,
who insisted upon the sum of 1855 less than the amount
named.
Under the impression that the opinion of eminent
legal gentlemen, entertained in common with the first
officers of the government when maturely considered by
the Postmaster General might induce him to reconsider
his decision, and anxious to avoid the inconvenience
and disorder which would result to the department by
contrary course the companies proposed to continue the
service and rely on the justice OF the department to
award them fair compensation.
Finding, at the expiration of one quarter, that the
views OF the Postmaster General had undergone no
hang and fho
dent to continuance Of their service at the most
expensive season of the year, when to the hazards OF
night service on the river to be added the expenses
Of an extra train the railroad portion of the route the
directors unanimously resolved longer to continue the
transportation of the mail after 10th December follow
ing. This decision was made known to the Postmaster
General early October, though formal notice thereof
given till the Goth; because the Postmaster General
had stated that notice of ten twenty days only
necessary to enable him to perfect other arrangements
With what reason then, can the Postmaster General
find fault with the course of The companies He was
of their dissatisfaction with his views of the laws
which related to their compensation and knowing that
reliance felt upon change OF his opinion, it was his
duty, when certain that that opinion would undergo
change, to take such seemed to him best under
the circumstances and not rely upon the continuance OF
service liable any moment to disruption The impression
has gone abroad that the companies the route exact
not only illegal compensation, but greatly exceed
ing a fair proportion for the use OF their route.
In regard to the first objection no lawyer whose opin-
the Postmaster General in his construction OF the laws
which relate to railroad and steamboat compensation for
mail service and regards the latter IMPRESSION need
only refer any dsnterested mind to the peculiar charac
terstcs of the steamboat and rail route between Wash
ngton and Richmond, to satisfy SUCH that if the maxi
mum OF the law, $500 per mule for one or more daily
nails is allowed the companies, will not realize to the
stockholders that fair and Just proportion OF their income
which ought to be expected from the government.
In the first place. the largest daily mail in the United
which offers but little support in the way Of local travel
freight and that little which is derived from the steam
boat portion of the almost totally surrendered to
the necessity of rapid transportation OF the mail 1t
the department is hours beyond any mode
OF transportation which il adopt, and thus will be
abled in the absence Of any contract for the mail to OBJ
(Which fast taking the place Of the mals) compen
satOn more than equivalent to any income which can
reasonably be expected at the hands of the department
Finally, the service performed for the department equal
Of the whole service done on the route the
TACT OF freight being transported the steamboat portion
Of the route, between Acquia creek and Fredercks
burg and Richmond, makes it necessary look to the
transportation Of the mail and passengers almost entirely
tor the expenses of the route and very moderate div
lend for the stockholders OF this service the depart
ment has received proportion of one-third, whilst the
compensation received from is not one-tenth of the in
come on the route.
pleased that the merits of railroad service in con-
nexion with the government, have fair chance of being
canvassed by the public The great benefits which have
resulted from reduced system Of postage are, believe,
nov generally acknowledge as well in this country as
been simultaneous Can any one doubt that this immense
tax, under which the public long goaned would ever
have been lighened but for the aid of railroadsl Ger
tanly not, far widely country is con-
cerned What is the result to the of the Post
Office Department. A largely increased income, and the
atterng hope advanced BY the Postmaster General that
the period is not distant when further reduction may be
expected of that tax which weighs but as feather
the community. To the railroads OF the country and
to other cause, can these ncalcuabe benefits be
traced They have been able and efficient agents in the
greatest reformation of the age; and like all refomers,
have met but SCOTS and derson No portion of the vast
good which has accrued through their to the de-
not increased cent, whilst their abors have been
quadrupled
it, to say the least, polite the part of the govern
men under such circumstances, to ask receive OF the
companies engaged in the transportation of the great mails
OF the country an ungraciOus eervlce Is not rather
best to encourage BY liberal laws upon the subject the
construction OF important railroads. the cost of which Gas
marked in his report to Congress) sis as much actually
added to the defensive of the nation without any
expense to the general government"
cannot conclude without reference to the BAL
sheet of the Postmaster General attached to his
statement of yesterday. To make up the which is
requisite to show that for service fifteen hours longer than
the old. he pays no more the mapay for the route be-
absaced without the information on his part as how
this mail is to be transported in FUTURE whether it is to
be taken between the two places at all The latter idea
the most plausible northern editor has already ad
vanced the opinion that Mr. Johnson expects to reduce
the cost of mail transportation by breaking up the mail
routes of the country to an equal extent Mr. Johnsons
mode of getting mail service for reduced pay, is
expects to obtain $50 miles by water for the money
which obtained for him only $50 bv land