Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-11-11
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
A WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT Mis-
TAKEs.-We find in recent Washington let
ter in the Baltimore Patriot, long statement
concerning the arrangement for second line
of mail post coaches, daily. between Montgo-
merry and Stockton, Alabama, which embraces
gross errors AS the subject is one in which
the business public are greatly interested, we
proceed to correct them. The writer is in
error in calling the service as altered,
"twice day service the mail being sent
but once a day between Mobile and New o.
leans. The new arrangement simply provides
for second daily line, leaving both the ter
mini at the same time the original line starts.
1t seems that the original services was con-
tracted for in the spring of 1850. when it was
perhaps enough for the transportation of the
great southern mail. Subsequently, this mail
has so increased in bulk, as to make it abso-
lutely necessary for the employment of greater
means for its transportation. The law made
it incumbent on the Postmaster General to
increase these means whenever he conceived
that to be necessary. lie was authorized to
pay pro rata with the old, for the new service.
The contract for the former was for $50 900
per annum, but he gets the new service-which
is precisely similar to the old-for S24 900 Tor
two. airds) additional ; with guarantee, be-
sides, that the connection with the boat shall
hereafter always be made. The public at
large, who have suffered so long in their bust
ness from the insuficiency of one daily line of
mail coaches between the termini above men,
TONED, will appreciate the Importance and
wisdom of this new postal arrangement with.
out further explanation or comments.
The same correspondent, in connection with
this subject, makes further misstatements con-
corning what is known as the g Sloo contract;
for the transportion of the great mail by
steamboat between New Orleans and Mobile
We have no space at command in which to
quote him; and, therefore, proceed to give
the true history of that affair, as follows viz ::
The original contract for this particular SER
vice cost the Government but $50 600 per an
mum nominally, and was performed in boats
which were utterly unfit. So frequently did
they break down, as completely to destroy the
connection and efficiency of the service, until
the Postmaster General, at that time. was
| compelled to declare it % off, - or annul it,
| and advertise for new contract to be per-
formed in suitable boats. A. G Sloo, bidding
ST., 900 per annum, was the lowest bidder for
the balance of the term and, therefore. the
Postmaster General was compelled by law to
close with him. Ere his term had expired.
Congress, mot the Postmaster General on the
strength of the substantial improvement which
he effected in the service, renewed the con-
tract with him by statute, for four years Ion
ger. 1t is due to him to say that he has strictly
complied with his obligations, performing his
service ever since without single break down
in steamers in all respects suitable for safety
dispatch and regularity. So, the Department
could not avoid paying hin the increased rate
originally, and is not responsible for the con-
tinuati0n of his service at that original rate
1t is due, however, to truth and Justice to
write, that the increased speed safety and
regularity afforded by his line amply COM
pensate for the difference of $4,000 per an
mum, between its cost and that of his prede-
cessors; which was simply an apology for a
daily mail line, failing oftener than it ran
according to the schedule. Of late, the only
trouble on the whole great southern mail route
arose from the insuficiency of single daily
line Zone coach through for the transpo-ta-
ton of all the greal mails between Montgom-
cry and Stockton; and, next, from the failure
of the coaches always to connect with the
boat between Stockton and Mobile As we
explained not long since. the new arrange
ment mentioned above will undoubtedly cure
these troubles; SO that for an additional OK.
penditure of but S24 900 per annum, the bust
ness community will have secured for them
certain regularity in the transmission of the
great southern mail tho most important by
long odds, in the United States
The SEVENTH CEysUS.-Herewith append
ed, we present what is to be the title page Of
the Seventh Census of the United States, now
about appearing. We give this title page as,
in itself, embracing a brief synopsis of the
contents of the work, sufficient to afford
general idea of its character:
THE
SEVENTH CENSUS
OF THE
UNITED STATES:
1850.
Embracing a statistical riep of each of the
States and Territories, ged by COu1a-
ties, S"6-dtrtSioHS Of Counties, ToWnS, DC.
under tie hea1S of
L. Population by counties-cl of
ages and color-aggregates.
z. Population by subdivision of counties
3. Nativites of the population.
f. Births, marriages, deaths, dwellings and
families.
5. Progress of population from 1910 to 1880.
.. Deaf and dumb, blind, insane and idiotic
Z. Colleges, academies, schools, &c