The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-19
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT. MAY 10, ls47.
The Post Ome. Establi.hment.

The largest governmental estabshment--an perhaps,
the most difficult Of management-in the world, is the
post Office establishment of the United States II has
been constantly, and with the most extraordinary rapid
, extending its dimensions from the period of its ogan
cation to the present moment Every day increases the
intricate and muarious duties of its head and however
well he may be supported by faithful assistants in each
of the $1,000 sub Offices is scarcely possible that occa
siona Inconvenience to the corresponding community
&ould not be experienced.
The post office establishment at this time, and the post
office establishment when was under the administration
of the Hon John Mclean twenty years ago. are unlike
each other respects importance and the amount of
thought and labor required control them properly,
the post Office at Buffalo at the two periods. Compare
vey the skill necessary for the successful navigation
of gun ship must be displayed, while, in 1927,
no higher qualifications indispensable than those
possessed BY cock boat sailor In the last twenty years
what revolutions have not been effected in social and
commercial intercourse by the discoveries OF science' If
some could awaken to-day from as long sleep
that enjoyed by Old Rip, his surprise would assuredly be
vastly greater than that Of the astonished Dutchman He
could not possibly realize anywhere in the United States,
that this was the world he last He would find every
thing moving with the velocity of ''rue hope"-on ''swa
lows wings" Butthe improvements, extraordinary they
have been have kept pace with the desire annhate
space The mails throughout the United States although
they have been expedited the aggregate, at moderate
calculation one hundred per within the time refer
red to- still they too slowly to satate the thirst for
the laest--and later, If observation-disclosures which
severywhere rife From the seat of war, and from the
markets of Europe, every citizen is interested in hear
ing by the NEST expeditions conveyance With the cities
north of this the communication is speedy, that p
vate express cannot get ahead of the mail but this not
the case between Montgomery and Stockton, Alabama,
where ii is transported in coaches drawn by horses dis
lance Of 1863 miles. On that posroute, the regular
ming time of the mail is anticipated twentyfour hours
The express of the Baltimore Sum-" which, we earn is
always in readiness leave Stockton upon the receipt Of
news from Mexico, by travelling at rate varying from
10 II miles per hour, may start from Stockton day
after the mail and overake it at Montgomery before it
is put upon the railroad to Cherawa distance OF As
miles From Cheraw to Griffin, 81 miles, the railroad
has not been completed but express coming in this
direction can enjoy but little advantage then over the
regular post.
With this statement OF facts we now proceed to hold
the Postmaster General entirely bameless for not expe
dting the mail between Washington and New Orleans
and we trust thawe shall succeed in silencng the
murings which manifest themselves against him when
the latest intelligence from that emporium reaches here,
via Baltimore as efectually did the camos of the
two 'Couriers of New York relative to the rates of
postage by the new line Of ocean steamers.
The Postmaster General, in his last annual report, COM
municated to Congress in December, stated with refer
ence to the Alabama and Stockton route
The department has been urged with much earncsiness
establish express over that part Of the mai
route where the service now performed IN coaches This
press can be put down. because it abstans from the
poraton of written matter, for which alone the owner or
Of March 1916 The revenues Of The department not
materially affected by the express II me whole postage on
not equal the expenses of such line for single day Its
effect individual interest is far different gves the
enables the purchaser defaud the seller in open market
by obtaining his commodities AT less than their value IL
mails for such puposes be secured to the citizen by the act
of the Sd of March, 1915, claimed, may be question
by creating competition against is own citizens IN their
lawful pursuits and enterprises II i be not secured then
De of nss 10 accomplish the object
Ii such line should be established by the government IT
lar 10 thai taken by the private express and be spe-
ca exclusive in characters and limited to the use OF a
few or would be broken down by its own weight There
would then be mail lines passing over the same rone
going with the despatch for the benefit ofa few
1t large The department say what portion OF the
matter put in the mails shall be sent with great despatch,
and what shall be taken with the common speed OF the
mails II cannot so regulate the of postage as TO
charge more upon the mail matter taken with great speed
than is paid upon that which is taken with less The
hostages y the of the 3d of March, l6i5 made unit
orn If such line should be estished the object OF
urging II could not be accomplished The use OF The
telegraph being under tire control OF private individuals,
would enable those interested to communicate intelligence
New Orleans day or two IN advance OF the letters
brought by the foreign mail with the utmost speed that
could be given them There would be increase OF the
hostages BY establishment whilst the Increased expen-
diture would fall short OF lilly thousand dollars anna-
ally, TO be paid out OF the treasury.
If the had the to establish such line,
and had yielded to the urgent soicaii for IT, similar APP
points, and could not, with justice, have been declined
and thus the department would have been involved in
heavy expenditures which its present revenues would not
IL IS the duty of the department give the expo
dition to mails but this is performed by attempting
law now stands and which be useuly undertaken
until the epaftent has the exclusive control OF the cle-
and authorized The hostages so high as TO
exclude from the mails much OF the matter that now gives
weight to them.
II is thus clearly demonstrated, that the establishment
of an express line could be productive OF no good results
unless it were established exclusively with an eye to
the transmission of intelligence from army to the cap
ta for which no provision made by Congress, moi
any authority vested in the Postmaster General horse
express could not probably for such purpose, carry
an eighth of the letters which daily transmitted on
the route 80 as to gain half even quarter OF day
mon the mail coach and it is believed that no wheel
carriage which would have the capacity to convey the
entire quantity of written mail matter could be expe
di,ed on rough .earthen road. such that between
A. with increased