The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-07

Correspondence Of TIE NsU York Journal Of Com

Correspondence Of II. Nsp York Journal Of Com
wAsHlNaros, April %.
The Louisville and New Orleans mail contract
has been the subject of come remark in the press
but the importance and grandeur OF the enterprise
is not generally understood.
The mail service on this route, by the Ohio and
Mississippi rivers from Louisville to New Orleans,
has been heretofore very impsrfectly and irregu-
larry performed. TIE time has been tedious and
uncer tain. both between these points and points
the way. The commerce on these rivers de ma nded
an increase Of mail accommodation, and Com ress
authorized by law contract for affording it in the
most liberal manner. Proposals were advertised
for, and bids received. and the contract WIS az
signed to the lowest bidders essrs. Glover and
Mather.
The contract provides that the mail DO carried
between Louisville and New Orleans, daily and
back, l,4i6 miles, Sin suitable and safe steam
boats,' built on the low pressure plan. There is 10
be an express line which is to carry the mail down
in six days. and up in seven days. Besides this,
there is embraced in the contract way line for
carrying the mail between certain intermediate
points.
To perform thls contract will require a very
heavy outlay at the beg ming; and, the service
is to commence in October, il will require much
activity in the preparation for its execution.
There to be built sixteen STEAMBOATS,, of the
most approved construction, of six seven hun
bred tons EACH for the express and fourteen steam
boats Of smaller dimensions for the way line.
Messrs Glover and Mather undertake to per-
form the whole service for the compensation of
8 $3.50 GOO per annum. To show how email this
amount of compensation is in proportion to the
expense of the undertaking, will mention a few
facts. The cost OF the thirty amboats will be at
least million and half of dollars to begin with
The expenses for running the sixteen 1press boats
will be, monthly, Sl66 $40 The running of the
fourteen way boats will coat half that sum per
month - $50, 800 making S259, $50 monthly.
The contract 10 for four years. So, the expenses
for running the boats for the term Of the contract
four years, will be Sill ,99S, 900. Against this
amount Of outlay and expense, the contract for the
term OF four years 10 fer only 800 900, leaving,
therefore, more than s 10 0OO, 600 deficiency to
be made up by receipts for passage and freight.
The bid which was next lowest to that of Glover
and Mather for ths service was that of Mr.. Cald
we'll 490, 600 ma king difference in four years
of S l6O, coo. Another bid. by Messrs. Benedict
and Carter, was for the express mail alone 8 $780,.
600 year. Surprising the way service to be paid
at the same rate the amount of this offer would in
the four years exceed that OF Glover and ,slather
by the sum of ;, $50 .9S4.
Compared with the expense of the irregular and
limited service now performed on this route, il is
computed that the service now provided for will
cost. in four year,, only So, 900 more than that
would cost we're il increased to the same extent.
The Department has, therefore, made a very
ludicous and economical arrangement in regard
TO this service. The cum Of $3.50 900 year seems
q large item, but it will be found to be very small
In proportion to the expenses involved in the per-
tormapee OF the contract.
The boats on the western waters on the high
pressure principle. But Mr.. Hubbard had taken
up the idea that low pressure boats were more safe
than the hgh-pressure. But that ia denied, and
the advantages of the high pressure for the service
proposed now under consideration. Memorials
from the West and the South signed by many
steamboat engineers and inspectors, including
those of the latter who were appointed under the
steamboat act of the 3lst August last, have been
received by the Postmaster General, requesting
him to alter the terms of the contract as to sub
stitute high pressure for low pressure.
Under the new steamboat law, the steamboats,
are restricted from employing pressure OF more
than ITO pounds to the square inch, instsnd of 100
or ITO pounds, az heretofore,