The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-07

The notes appended this advertisement provided lhat
,he mails must be conveyed IN " sale aud suitable steam
ooa,s OF Inc very best clss mat they should carry the
nuns anu passngers only; that the whole number 70.
for the service must be provided before the con
tract would be considered commenced; that they
wond be subject to rigid inspection by agents appoint
Cd oy me department; tha, none could be wilhdfawn
Without The consent OF the department., and
admitted Without the like inspection and assent
Bidders In Preparing and submitting their proposals, n
dlvduas IN consenting 10 become guafaHtos, and post
masters IN certifying TO their sutfciency requested
TO bear in mind that the object OF Congress in enaciing
the law and OF the department 10 executing it, 10 OBJ
tam regular and reliable lines OF mail packets these
waters arriving and departing at fixed times the pn
cipal points all the year round aud that src, comp
ance with tho contract obligations would be demanded
Under this advertisement several proposals were re-
ceiGed, The lowest OF which was that oil Glover and Ma
ther. OF Louisville, al $i300o0 year Tor the whole SER
vice between Louisville and New Orleans; and OIL. T.
Caldwell a. $4,000 for the line between 81, Louis and
Caro- aud these proposals were accepted BY my preaeces
sor on The ls OF March, 1853
Sooa after assuming the charge OF the department.. my
att.niion directed TO this matter aAd doubls
whether the service called for by the :epted proposal
not only mole thaa intended BY Cjagless bu, also
more lnan WAS required by the pablo convenience Be-
log satisfied on these points, and the accepted bidders be-
tween louisville and New Orleans having waived the
acceptance OF their proposal, order made the
2o May aa to contract with the persons Tor the
daily EXPRESS line between Louisville and New Orleans
in seven days each way, and for additional daily way
lines between Louisville and Evansville Evansville and
Cairo, and ST. Fancisvle and New Orleans, and at The
compensation OF $29I975 per year. being the aggregate
amount of the lowest bids for the service separate
ly. Tins contract has since been executed, with
ties believed 10 be amply sufficient and is TO take effect
on the Ist December CURRENT and 10 expire on the 3o
jane, 1857.
The contract Of j. + Caldwell for the ST Louis and
Cairo line, $4,000 year, is also executed. 10
nence and terminate al the same time AT my request
the Secretary OF the Treasury detailed TWO inspectors o
STEAMBOATS,, appointed under the law oil August 80,
1882 to act in conjunction with special agent OF this
department in the examination OF the steamboats, present.
tir ,hv kaua vaI
instructions TO accept which do no, conform in all
respects the requirements mentioned in the contract
and advertisement, and which will receive The mails and
passengers only, excluding all articles of freight.
The subject OF failures the great northern and south
mail line between New York and New Orleans is one
OF absorbing public interest.
1t has had place III former reports OF this department
and has also claimed the special attention OF Congress-
During the winter and spring months, especially embrac
ing the active business portion OF the year, the service
has been oil the most unsatisfactory character, and the ef
forts OF the department improve 1t have been almost
fruless
The steamboat route between Wilmington. North Car
olina, Charleston, South Carollna IS one on which
II is well known large proportion of failures occur.
notwithstanding the most pefsevefns Efforts 10 prevent
them
The difficulties to be encountered are OF character
well rstood not require particular exPana
lion. The trips OF the boats necessarily Affected by
wind and weather, and also by the des especially al the
mouth OF Cape Fear river that regular conformity to
any given schedule OF departures and ARRIVALS is hardly
10 be expected
Under such circumstances, it is matter OF congratuation
that land route is rapidly approaching completion,
which will supeIsede the present one by sea, with all
its altenaant difficulties.
The late Postmaster Generals report referred TO the
pr robable employment wiihia lhis year OF The dining
on aud Manchester railroad for conveying the great
northern southern mail. But twelve miles now
main unhnished aud arrangements have been niade TO
transfer The great mail IRON The steamboats, soon as
possible and convey coaches tor The short distance
stated, until the railroad Is completes, which, It IS
noped. will be by The lst day oil January next after
rp
NAV be con denly expected thus poflOn oil the New
York and New Orleans mail line
There is however, between Montgomery and Stockton,
another portion, upon which delays and rteg-
ulaes been occurring TO extent eqaalng those
on referred 10, although arising iroH
quite different causes.
Oae daily line OF coaches has heretofore been pro.
vided running lin conuexlon with steamboat between
Mobile and Stockon) natural road OF 100 miles IN
length, frequently liable TO distractions from hgn wafer
oner causes and kept good repair irayersng
as it does sparseiy opulated section OF county such
OF conveyance, upon such road has been found
entirely inadequate Tor tie vast accamaai,on OF mas
York. and other cities along the whole extent OF that
xrea. line Considering the increase IN the amount oil
aa mailer OF all descriptions especially printed matter
the Transmission OF bound volumes and other public doc
aments printed by oder of Congress- Increasing as ihey
do from year year, and OF all the matter IRON The sew
era executive departments OF the general govsrnnen
also rapidly increasing in quantity and IN view OF the
act aso all the mails or Mobile, New Orleans, and
be, ond thus accumulated by contributions from boston
Montgomery, ale conveyed 10 Inc iatef Poht oJ is
roads and steamboats,, especially the orme rs matter
OF snprs: that they have been forwarded by one daily
coach IN a manner at all approaching regularity.
These facts rendered most imperative tne necessity oil
providing Immediately more adequate means oil convey
ance and accordingly, the lSh October iast second
daily line OF four. horse coaches was ordered between
Montgomery and Stockton, Alabama. 10 connect with
The steamboat line between Stockton and Mobile with
the stipulation that the contractors should furnish veh-
ces of sufficient capacity to convey whatever mail may
he daily received Montgomery SiocktoD and that
The esmboa, employed between Stockton and Mobile
hould be OF sufficient size, structure and htDess or the
navigation of the Tensaw river, and be under the
and exclusive control OF the contractors SO sat no
breaches OF connexon should occur by reason oil any
other persons having right to interfere with lis arrivals
and departures. ~.
The mpensaton allowed for this additional service
i. 24 900 per annum being osehrd less than pro rata
OF the presen pay with the agreement thai II the ser
vice shall be well and faithfully performed the ex-
tension OF the contract the conditions over the
succeeding term of four years. commencing lst july 1884
will recommended To Congress and shoud congress
decline 10 aulhozs such extension, the rate OF A"a,-
tona pay shall be raised 10 $50 900 per aunun, sun one
sixth ess than pro yofs for the residue oi 'ne eNng
term |, further stipulated that the contractors,
The LIST November 1859. should place on the roue iui
additional every o,berjay line, and double me ROAD,
Necessary, to carry of ali the mail matter every day and
hy the 18th December, full additional daily line 'ne 70
creased compensation To commence, IN case Oh lahu
compliance with these terms, on the Let November:
The terms OF this agreement are favorable IN view o'
The great public benefit expected 10 result thereirom
The stipulation az to The EXTENSION OF .ne conuso =
and proper because the present cont'hct
pres on he y)th jane aud the contractors eoa
be expected 10 provide a great expense Al ,ne ao
ona stock for second line for seven OF eR
months only witbout guarantee against loss ~ cas
OF being underpid 10 the competition AZ INC mex. s's