Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-06-20
SAM'L F. HARwooD, Sec'ty.
MAIL REPORT.

IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, Juno 8,
1913, Mr.. PEARcE made tho following report,
which was ordered TO be printed.
The Committee on the Post Office and Post
Roads, to whom was referred the resolution OF
the Senate, directing them to inquire whether
any and what legislation is necessary TO Sc
cure the more regular and speedy transmission
Of the great Northern and Southern mall re-
port
That for several years past, prior to Deem
Der last, the great Southern mail was carried
from Washington TO Richmond, Virginia, BY
steamboats,, on the Potomac river, TO Aqua
Creek and thence by railroad. That the ser
vice was well and regularly performed, and the
route better, quicker more regular and satlslac'
tory than any other between the same points
The cost of this route from 1913 down to July
last, was S32 ,252 per annum, and its length l5l
miles. The Postmaster General being unwil-
ling TO renew the contract on the same terms,
this route, after much unsuccessful negotiation,
was discontinued in December last, and inc
longer, slower, less certain and satisfactory
route, in steamboats,, from Baltimore, via NOT
folk and City Point, TO Petersburg and Rlchmohd'
has been adopted The length OF this route IS
$50 miles and The compensation 3i,O'U dollars
per annum. Besides this alteration oil the prln.
cpal route, several changes have been made ior
the local supply, which were necessarily conse-
quent upon the transfer OF the great mail. mus
the local mail, between Washington ana kicn.
mond, is now carried in two.horse wagons, 10
double the time required BY the rallroad ana
steamboat company, at cost oil l3'uoo uoiiais
per annum; nearly one half the whole sum paid
10 the said company for the transportation oil
both the great Southern and local mails.
for Inca al
On the other hand, the contract lor the iocal
supply between Baltimore and y orlolk mas oeef
discontinued This amounted 10 9,2ou dollars
Der apnum. After making due allowance, how
ever, for all the reductions and ADDITIONS occa-
stoned by the change OF route, IL appears llial
the old service was cheapest, best, most regular
much quicker, more convenient to the public
generally and even more advantageous to the
denartment itself. The comparative cost OF the
two routes, and their adjuncts, as set forth in
various letters from the Post Office Department
n The committees of the House of Representa-.
lives and the Senate, may be thus stated. Cost
of new route:
From Baltimore, in steamboats,, via
Norfolk and City Point, TO Rich
mond-snpplying Petersburg, also, S34,Ooo
Local mail from Washington 10 Rich.
mond in two horse wagons, l3,0OO
Local mail from Richmond to Pc.
tsrsburg in wagons, 1891
s45,95O
Additional service. for the supply OF small Of
fees, near the present coach line, between Rich
mond and Washington, increase this sum 10
SAC 407 so.
To this must be added the cost not yet ascer-
tanned Tor agreed upon with the contractors OF
,oL;no tho mails from the steamboat landings at
Richmond and Petersburg.
The cost of the old route and service was, in
oil s47575 az: the details of which, as stated
bv The Postmaster General, are as follows
Route between Baltimore, Norfolk
Nc aud Richmond, $4,000 90
Railroad and steamboat line from
Washington to Richmond, 32,2o2 W
Railroad route from Richmond 10 Pc
tersburg, o,odo 80 80
Horse routes now discontinued, 3o5 90
s47,575 As
Difference in favor Of tho old route and SER
vice. per annum besides the unasccrtained sum
before mentioned, S3,466 % a..
The Postmaster General, in his ictter 70 ''e
Should be 81 2o9-thus making difference as' =,
the nre,ent arrangement Of s3,466 ", IN Pisee y
oil As5 o. as stated by the Committee