The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-08

,..s n c,sss IN which they have declined becoming par
ties 70 any contract am 'ems ilsss
While such been some OF the difficulties which the
Depsrtmeut has had To encounter with these railroad
that service, with rs necessary attendants
than third Of the entire derived from post
ages. oo.. .,.r.,,o,
within the United States 2O2 railroad routes their sgsre
gate length was Is 4loG5 mites and the coat OF mai
transportation thereon slois4s2 Ssbeng at tbs rate
OF $40 &c 10 PER mile Include the pay o, all
gers route and local agents the whole Of tn
service is increased to 26l 49, or $3.50 % oo p'r
nils.
On estimating other kinds of service Ia the Same m sn
ner upon aggregate length of routes IS
that the average Of steamboat service nodes pot
mile coach service $22 So per mile; and Oh moass nov
specified, 81 SO per mile ,,, a. +,,. sorr;..
Such being the condition Of this branen Oh Gus
and the prices paid for II, tho attsnuon u oohso''
particular requested to this subject. ,,,,
By the nth ssc.on Of IN. act OF congress estaoshng
Sa Satr Of tie Ppssmass snsra s proposals
and contract the transportation OF daily mai. be-
Memnhls and Memp his and New O-iesns and to supply
such points as hs ma, order from time to
time on suit able and safe ttean boats"
In compliance with the provisions of this law, ad
ver.isement prepared with much BY my prsds
Of Wsssinston New York Pitbarg Cincinnati. luis
Vile ST. Louis Memphis Little Rock and New Orleans
inviting proposals for daily line BIT seen Louis
vile and New Orleans touching a. points, aud
running down in six days and in and also for
way lines between Louisville and Evansville Evansville
and Cairo Cairo and Memphis Memphis and Napoleon
Napoleon sud vcksburg Vicksburg and St. Francsville
St. Francisve and New o lsans to be run CLOSE
necton and supplying inerms' late oces and asos con
meeting Inns between St Lsuis and Cairo.
The Does appended to this advertisement provided that
the mails mast bs conveyed safs and suitable steam
boas Of the best class that they should carry the
mails and passengers only; that the whole nambsr re-
qure os tho service must provided before the
would be ideged commenced that they would b
subject TO igd inspection by agents appointed oy the
department that none could bs withdrawn without ths
conseit cf the department, ana new ones admitted
without tha Lii inspec ton aud assent
BIDDERS in preparing submitting their proposals IN
diyiduas rsenting to become guarantors and post
masters in certifying to their sufcisncy were
to bear in mind that the object OF Congress in eacsng
the law and Of the department in executing it, to OBJ.
waters and departing sed times at the prn
cipal poi t. all the round, and that strict comp.
ance with the contract obligations would be demanded.
Under this Advertiser ent several proposals
ceved tho lowest of which that Of Glover Mather,
of louisville at 900 year for the whole service
tween louisville and New Orleans and Of j. E. CALDWELL
At $40 900 for the line between st Louis and Cairo and
these proposals accepted by my predecessor on the
Soon after assuming the charge of the Department my
attention directed to this matter and doubts
was not only more than intended by Congress- but
also more than was required by the public convenience
s
acceptance OF their proposal an order made the
2ohof Nsy last to contract with the persons for
the daily express line between Louisville and New Orsa
in days each way, and for additional daily wa
lines between Louisville and Evansville, Evansville
Cairo and st Francuvile and New Orleans, and at the
saon Of s2o7 a75 per year, being the aggregate
Of the lowest bids for the service
This centsct has since been executed, with suretiss
believed to be amply sufficient, and is to take effect
the ls OF December current and expire on the 3oth
june 1857
Cairo line at COO year, is also executed, to com
and terminate at the sams time At my request
the Secretary Of the Treasury detailed two inspectors
steamboats, appointed uuder the law of August 80 1852
to act in conu' cton with special agent OF this depart
the contractors for this who have reserved instruo
toDs to accept whia do not conform in all
to the ens mentioned In the contract and adver
tsement and which will receive the mails and passengers
only, excluding all articles of freight.
The subject Of failures on the great northern ant
southern mail line between New York and New Orleans
is one OF absorbing public int est.
1t has had place in former reports Of this department
and alto 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 the unsatisfactory character and the
efforts of the department to improve it have been Amo
The steamboat route between Wilmington North Caro-
lima and Oh .rleston South C.rolna, is whcl il
is well known a large proportion of failures occur
Notwithstanding the most psrseverng efforts to preyen
them
The difficulties be encountered of character sc
well understood not to require particular .naon
and weather and aDo by the tides, especially at thu
mouth OF Cape Fear river; that regular conformity Il
any given schedule CT departures aud arrivals is hardy
Under such crcumstsnces it is matter Of cougratula
on that land route is rapidly approaching pleton
which will supesede the present by son, with 81 it
ettenda mt diiiculties
TIE late Postmaster Generals report referred thu
probable employment within this OF the Wimin ytor
and Manchester railroad for conveying s great Northern
end Southern mail But twelve lies remain
finished 81 arr engagements have been made transfe
the great mails ON the as soon as
and conway it in coaches for the short distance sisted
until the railroad is completed which, it hoped will b
by the LIST day OF Janusry Eext after which te mucl
auar and expeditions service may be coniident,
expected on this portion Of the New York ana New Or
leans mail liEe.
There is however between Montgomery and Stockton
Alabama another portion which delays and rregu
iares nave been occurring 70 an extent equang tnos
the sea cute above referred to- although arng from
quiie different causes.
daily line coaches has heretofore been provided
running On connection with Bteaasb boat between Mobil
and Stccktop) natural road OF l60 miles in length
frequently liable TO Instructors from high water
other aud not kept in good repair traversny
does spatsey populated tction Of country Sach mod
of conveyance upon such road has been found entirely
merry cor thither from Boston New York and
cites all the wkoe extent Of that great line Consi
derng the increase In the amount Of mail matter Of al
descriptions especially printed matter the sranmissoI
Of bo volumes and ot public documents, priated b
order of Congress in easing A. they do from year t.
year aud of all the matter from the several executive de
parmepts Of this general go-srnrent also rap lily in
cIeasng in quanty an in viev of tho fact also, thai
ali the ma S for Mobile New Orleans and yond, thu
accomu lated by contributions om Bost 10 Hontgons
ry, conveyed to the latter poin, by railroads ant
toa'a, especially the frner II Is matter Of sur
prise that they have been forwarded by neaiy coach
in . manner AZ all approaching reg iariy.
These facts rendered most mpe ativs Tho necessity
providing immediately nore adequate Of convey
snca: and accordingly. The i5tn October last, second
daily line CT four coaches ordered betyse-
Mont ~ and Stockton Aanams to connect With the
steamtsat lie between stockton aud Mobile, with tho
stipulation hat the contractor shod furnish vehicles
sufficient capacity to coayey v. a.sver mail may b
daily received NJ Montgomery Stockton AID that the
steamboat employed between Stockton and Io5e should
Do OF aucient Ss, structure. ard fitness for the rssu
lar naVc ;c Of the Tensaw river add be under the entire
end xcle5ive control of the Contractors, - that nj
breaches az connection should by reason of any
Other rtrons having right 10 10 ssriere with its arvas
and departures.
The cooperation allowed for thiea1ditiona service