Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-06-25
COMMUNICATIONS
Ekons The President of the Ralefgh and Castor.
Railroad Co1spdssgJ

To he Edfics Of The RegSster: s
An explanation is due 10 the public of the position
in which this Company stands reference to cary
ing the United States Mail. This explanation would
have been willingly withheld, as the difference with
the Post Office Department would have bee avoided
But the Postmaster in this city, having lnder orders
from the Department, advertised for Proposals for
carrying The mail in stages, and thus brought the I
subject before the public. can no longer, in justice
the Board OF Directors, permit their course 10 re-
main SUBJ ct to mi con :ep IN. If any think that /
have already remained silent long, to such can
only say, that desired add offended pride TO
the obstacles in the way of the mail being placed on
road therefore propose, liz ply 10 your note,
give brief synopsis of action the subj ect,
with of the reasons that induced it and il will
constitute all the vndication need or desire.
Reduced to the necessity, conceived, OF de-
Ierminng whether this road, which much mo-
ney has been expended was built and is TO be retain
ed for the benefit of its stockholders and the COLL
muDly at large was to be surrendered up 10 the
exclusive use of the Post Office Department, we have
unhesitangIy but deliberately determined, that
whilst entrusted with the management of its
affairs, il shall not be yielded up sacrifice, even TO
the most pervading and powerful of all the depart
ments of the government. newspaper in Peters
burg threatens with TIE vengeance of the Post OF
flee Department, and tauntngly predicts that We will
he forced to succumb. Time alone show whe-
ther as feeble In power. and as weak OF pur-
pose. that editor supposes. Experience has alrea
dy shown that North Carolina interest can some
times exist, and prosper, in despite OF the hos
tiliIy, might and oppression of government. The
aid of that editors patrons expected for we
accustomed look to that quarter for friendly
assistance, which always repaid, to the mutual
advantage of the parties If the strength and ntia'
Of those ancient friends against US now, we
regret it, But the taunts and SCOTS of that editor are
not likely TO shake our purpose The steps We have
taken taken advsedly. with know ledge that
The loss OF our mail pay would be the consequence,
and as that is the only punishment the Department
can nfict US, it is not probable that any step
| backward will be taken.
Until the 5th November last the cars on this rad
f,aAh onu wit hP
! the New Orleans route. On that day, order was
made for to change the schedule, and run In the
night. In letter to my predecessor In Office dated
IIIh November, even few days delay was peremP-
torily refused. That letter handed to me
the day after into office, and the new sched-
u was Immediately conformed 10. l. however, went
to Washington Immediately, and procured from the
Department order suspending the former ORDER
until such express ion Of public sentiment can
be obtained, will enable the Department to decide
what permanent arrangement should be adopted "
Under this order, continued 10 in the day time
Der, wnen uuet the II
ed. Having had two or three weeks experience OF
night running, hesitated TO conform 10 the order,
and would not have done but for the fact that
could get passengets CASTOR, except by running
! in connection with the mail. L wrote, " owing the
fact that an unusually large proportion of our
is derived from way-travel, which will be driven to
private conveyances, SO soon as it be
venent and comfortable travel the Railroad, we
dare not enter into arrangement, involving the
cessity OF running, in direction least, entirely
| IN Inc nSnts without putting extra ddY
to accommodate that travel. This are willing to
do, If the Department will increase our mail pay, so
that afford il. - / then proposed, for Ist
class pay, TO Two trains per day, putting
rely under the control of the Department; and
cluded - hepe you will never find US backward
to second your efforts 10 put the mail arrangements
on the best possible footing. Ii now, it
is because the fact stares in the face, and is ovious
TO all, that the change you desire, without the
notifications suggested above,wi be runous to this
company"
To that letter received reply, dated 11thJan-
uaTy, declining to give first class pay, but ncreas
ing our pay % per cent. in consideration Of night
service. This accepted not because it was deem
ed fair compensation, but because the
mercy OF the Department until road could be COM
pleied to Weldon Through the, whole of the late
Indictment winter, We continued to trains in
the night, encounerng its SHOWS, freezes, rains and
mud, under the darkness of the long winter nights,
and a and unfinished road, without an ac-
cdent. and without lie loss q mail But car
ried few passengers. When others stopped our
steam whistles sounded along the road the hours of
the night almost with the regularity of the clock.
wrote TO the Department, that, as long " pre-
tended to perform The service at all, would per-
form il well; and we kept our promise, constantly
encouraged by the hope that road would soon be
completed to Weldon and we delivered thereby from
thraIdom. During all this time. did not cease
to urge a change Of schedule. On the 3rd February,
wrote, asking to be permitted to run in connection
with the Express, and said " Public opinion, and
the instinct of sef-nerest, operating with stock
holders, will force US to in that way
our road Is completed to Weldon" " The twenty !
fl i've per cent. added TO mail pay, in consideration
of night service, would of course, relinquish, |
and would be glad if it could be transferred to
Bland & Dunn, in consideration of the additional
night service which would be thrown them" The |
reply got positive refusal, and nlima-
ton that /" this decision must be regarded final"
In March, the Department sent out tor me
to sign, and wrote, 18th March The Post |
master in this city has presented me, for
lion, contract him from the Post Office Depart
ment. l would not feel at liberty, at this time, to
bind this company TO carry the mail according any
other schedule than the one have lately urged you
TO adopt"
Immediately after the first train passed over our
Weldon connection, renewed my applcaon-press-
ed by numerously signed memorials, Indicating ''pub
lie sentiment, '-for change OF schedule, notwith-
sanding the pefemptory manner in which it had al |
ready been rejected at the time offering, if that
could be granted, carry the mail with freight
train at night, and run day train for mail and pas
sengers besides, for $l75 per mile, all but $25 of
which would be saved from the stage service, that
our Weldon connection would enable the Department
to reduce, without injury to contractors, and with
advantage to the public. To those who know the /
dangers and inconvenience Of running freight trains
at night particularly road having several impor-
tant freightng dePots. need not say that this offer
evnced an neutrality-suspicious., cu pable-anxiety on
my part to avoid controversy with the Post Office
Department. But IT seemed to to be justified by
considerations connected with the future interests of
the Company, which it is needless TO detail. The
road from Savannah to Macon, and that from NJ aeon
tn in r6r bI.,c,