Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1852-08-31
A Daily Mail.


Under this heading, an item appeared in last
weeks issue, calling attention TO the fact that the
mail contract had been violated. An examina-
ton Of the facts in the case, proves not only a
most ~lagrant violation of the contract, but a gra-
tuitous intermeddling with our affairs by citizens
Of surrounding villages.
In a conspicuous place in the post Office in
Pomeroy may be seen a contract binding Mr..
z. Kreider to convey the United States Mail from
Lancaster to Pomeroy six times per week; mode
Of conveyance, in coaches; to arrive at Pomerny
4 P. NJ, and leave at 8 A. NJ. This contract is
accompany this schedule requiring the Postmaster
10 report to the Second Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral all failures. Upon the failure of the con
tractor, the temporary service was to be employed
by the Postmaster at Lancaster, only; and sub
stitute service not to be employe ed except III cases
Of absolute and unquestionable failure on the
part of the contractor.
Mr.. kreider, it appears, was an inexperienced
contractor, and stipulated to carry the mail for
about one half the sum formerly paid. Mr.. X.
~ u Aldu ldNOIduly hlIUW IL III HIS UWH COlIluu-
nifty. He obtained, as security, men of undoubted
wealth-men whose responsibility was unques-
tionable. From the LIST till the 9th of July (nine
days. the contract was faithfully adhered to. At
or before this time it was discovered that the full
fllment of the contract would involve Mr.. X. in
considerable loss. Mr.. Horr, a former contract
OF, was then employed by Mr.. K. at a sum nearly
double that received from Government, to fulfill
the contract for one year. Soon after, our post
master was informed by the HACK DRIVER that the
mail hereafter would be delivered only THREE
TINES a week-that such was the pleasure Of the
sub-contractor, and that arrangements had been
made TO that effect.
Our postmaster, surprising that arrangement,
had been entered into with the Department a
Washington, did not report the failure immcdi-
ately; but, after waiting some days, and receiving
no official intelligence Of any change, he reported
the failures. and the reply was that the ~"Service
on mail route No. 10,1 (Which is the route from
Lancaster to Pomeroy) is SIX TIhEs q week, anC
WILL NOT BE DIMINIsHED. Report all failures"
Since that time, the failures have been regularly
reported. The hack driver being informed of thi,
fact, stated as reason for this violation Of con
tract, that a DAILY MAIL was NOT NEEDED in thi
place-he, the DRIVER aforesaid, being the Judge
1t was soon understood that petitions were in cir
~culation in Lancaster, Athens, and perhaps olhe
places, to deprive our citizens Of a daily mail
for the especial accommodation of a contractor. |
seems that this Holt has another mail contract
10 carry a tri-weekly mail from Marietta to Chilli
cothe, and it SUITS HIS CONVENIENCE to violate III,
contract in another particular, viz: instead 0
leaving Pomeroy at 8 A. NJ. and arriving at Athen
at P. NJ, to leave here at 81 or Q o'clock, an,
wait at Albany, Athens county, for the Mariett
mail, arriving at Athens sometimes as late as 81
- OF seven O'Clock in the evening-too late for on
citizens 10 transact any ordinary business on tn
same day at Athens. Moreover, instead Of leav
ing Athens at 8 e'clock, A. NJ, as per contract
II leaves sometimes as early as 4 or 8 o'clock, +
y oder to connect with this Chillicothe mail, thu
preventing persons in Athens from sending an
letters to Ponieroy, which are not deposited tn
previous evening.
After these petitions were received at Washing
ton, a circular was addressed to our postmaster
requesting him to give a direct answer to the fol
lowing inquiry, and return the same sheet to III
Department: "ATe You in favo. Of tho propose
IeductionF'
The postmaster replied ~ am not" and addct
"a remonStrance, numerously signed, will be fol
warded in a few days" This reno insurance. va
forwarded a few days since, and is what we un
derstood last week to be q petition for a dali
mail.
Previous to the present mail contract, the SCI
vice on this route repaired a daily mail for eigl
months in the year, in coaches, and tri-weekl
four months. This being deemed insufficient
the Department at Washington, the present cor
tract was made for a daily mail Sundays excepted
for the entire year. To show the necessity fl
this increase of service, a few figures may suffice
We have before us a statement OF the amour
forwarded to the Department at Washington fro
this postofice, beginning Sept. 8, ls46 to Marc
30, 1851. This schedule was made out at II
General Postofice at Washington, and, of cours
10 official and correct. From this we learn TIL
from Oct. 1 to December 81, being the first fu
nunrter. the amount due the Department WI
s2o.4O. Each succeeding quarter exhibits a vel
marked increase. The last quarter named on Il
schedule, from Jan. / to March 81, 1861, SHOW
tho sosernment revenue to be slSs.5s' AT tn
time, the present cheap postage system went in
oueration; Notwithstanding which, the amount
actual receipts have increased rather than DIM
ished.
Asaiu, other large postofaccs depend upon IN
mail for ,leir letters and papers. Within a Oil
sRr. AZ Srs MilrS, slers thr river haSs are INT