, 1853-07-30
Mail Matters, &C.


Of this place, unwilling longer 10 endure the
irregularities OF the mail between Rainier
and the Cowlitz Landing, have met together
AMI addressed the Postal Agent at Oregon
Ciy upon the subject. Whether or not
these resolutions will have any effect, we
cannot tell-but il the Postal Agent IS dis
posed 10 do his duty by seeing that the Post
masters and sub contractors in his district
do their duty, we may reasonably expect a
change for the better.
We have frequently referred to this mat
ter heretofore in a complaining manner, but
never when we had not just and sufficient
grounds for complaint-but now the matter
has come TO such pass that We have de-
termined to give few facts, as they are told
by eve witnesses. The mail steamer letl
San Francisco on the sth inst, and arrived
at Rainier on the 18th. Our mail was re-
tained at that place until the 26,h-though
our weekly mail left there on the l9th.-,
Now, why is this Did the mail carrier
on the Cowlitz refuse 10 take it when il was
Offered 10 him by the postmaster, or did the
postmaster fail 10 give it TO the carrier p
Speak out gentlemen, the fault lies some
where-the mail was there in the post office
when the carrier started up the Cowlitz on
the 18th inst This is the manner in which
our mails fail to reach us. Moreover, we
understand that the mail is taken from Raj
nier on Monday evening, instead of Tuesday
morning as the law directs. This is yio-
lalion of contract, done 10 answer their own
convenience, which frequently results in
depriying US Of States mail for another
week. This matter demands investigation
on ;he part Of the Postal Agent. The pres
ent state Of affairs is ruinous to our mer-
chants. How are they TO trade understand
ingly, when they cannot hear from the
market at San Francisco for months at
time? How is the farmer 10 know what
price to put upon his produce, when he
has not seen the price current for two
months? How is the lumber trader TO sell
his lumber to shippers when he does not
know what it is worth in San Francisco
No, no, this state Of things will never do.
The Post Office Department of the United
States was never established for any other
purpose than as an accommodation 10 its
eitizens-and when it fails 10 reach its end,
it becomes worse than a nuisance. There
are few enough mail routes in this Terrific
ry 10 accommodate the people when the law
in all cases is strictly complied with. Many
of our citizens live two hundred miles from
the post Office, and when they come once in
two months anxiously expecting 10 hear
from distant friends, it is too bad to be dis
appointed through the carelessness Of or
stupidity Of agents.
We sincerely hope that the officer whose
duty it is 10 attend to this matter will have
these abuses corrected speedily.
1t will be noticed that a committee was
appointed by the meeting on Saturday last
to take the necessary steps towards having
direct postal communication by steam es-
tablishcd between this place and San Fran
cisco. This is an all important step to the
people on the Sound, and deserves their
closest attention. Puget Sound is assuming
a commercial importance in the trade Of the
Pacific coast, which entities us TO the great
est facilities for intercourse with San Fran
cisco that can be afforded, and there is not
doubt but that the committee will be sue
ceEsful in attaining the object, provided they
can get the hearty cooperation Of every
citizen directly interested.