Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-09-29
From the South Carolinian.

lima Railroad Company declined ito carry semi I
daily mall it is due to the Postmaster General to pub
lish the following letter, which has been sent US Dy
the gentleman to whom it was addressed:
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT, July 28, 1854
Sr:-I have the honor 10 acknowledge the receipt I
of your letter of the Oath inst, with one from Cen
HarIlee, dated 21st ul and to enclose herewith the
report of MIR. Fleming, Superintendent OF the Will
mington ant Manchester Railroad, which was sub
mitted 10 me by Gen. Harlee, and which he now de-
sires TO have returned.
In answer to your inquiry what action has been
taken by this department. on the memorial addressed
to me by the South Carolina delegation and other
Southern gentlemen in Congress. on the subject OF
a semi daily mail on The Wilmington and Manches-
ter and South Carolina Railroads have to state
that the subject has received my most earnest consul
Grafton, but that have been entirely unable 10 Ell
feet The desired improvement, owing to the unyleld
ing demand of said Railroad Companies tor nlgher
rate of compensation than can be allowed consist
emily with the settled line of policy which the, IN
terests of this department compel me TO pursue IN
such cases. They demand $500 per mile, in order
to place them upon equality with some other rail-
roads north of Wilmington. My firm conviction is
that such pay is entirely too high for double daily
mail service any railroad No contract or ar
rnngement has been will be made by me at that
rate and am determined. if the question shall come
before me, not to renew the existing ones to which
reference is had.
1t is remarkable fac, that no railroads IN the
country, other than those from New York to VIII
receive $500 per mile, although there are many rem
dering equally important services; and that there
are some roads which actually receive less pay tor
two or more daily mails than is allowed tor single
daily lines between Wilmington. Augusta and
| Charleston. |
For instance on the Hudson River Railroad very
large mails are conveyed nineteen trips weekly each
way between New York and Albany, at 1925 per
mile while but 5000 per mile is paid for similar ser
the connecting routes from Albany to Butta-
| IN nrd0 OLE Tho ratio thn
! New York to Dunkirk. On the routes from Phade-
phla to Pttsburg, and Baltimore to Harrisburg, the
pay is likewise but $500 per mile for double daily
mails.
! On the great routes between New York, Spring
field, and Boston, nineteen weekly trips are made
each way at $3.50 per mile. Neither Is this lower
of pay for first class service confined to Northern
routes, enormously assumed in the arguments pre-
sented to this departments on The contrary tclce dali
ly service is performed by contract the Georgia
! Railroad, between Augusta and Atlanta, a, $237 So
| 100 per mile being the rate allowed for one
daily line between Wilmington and Augusta This
very important fact has been overlooked by the Will
mington and Manchester and South Carolina Rail-
road Companies, while claiming TO be put upon an
| equality with connecting routes.
i For such reasons, cannot yield 10 the demands
of these latter companies. Being, however, deeply
anxious that the Southern cities should partic pate
in the advantages of twice daily mail service, de-
termineL, after mature reflection, TO offer $3.50 per
mile for the distance from Wilmington by kingsvllle
to Augusta, making the pay equal to that on other
equally important routes, and greater than that on
the majority of routes on which similar service is
rendered in other sections of the country. Letters
were addressed accordingly, on the 29th ut to the
respective Presidents of the Railroads in question:
setting forth particularly the grounds of my decis
ion, but my offers have been rejected, and $500 per
mile is again demanded, notwithstanding my positive
decision against making such allowance in any case
whatever The reasons for such decision, as herein
given, apply equally to the Wilmington and Man
chester and South Carolina Railroads. There are
still further reasons applicable alone to the latter
roads. to which | invite your attention. Since the
1st February last (the time of changing the great
mail routes only local mail has been conveyed be-
tween Charleston and Branchville, South Carolina,
which entitled the Railroad Company to 500 per
mile per annum at most for that distance being the
rate for similar service the Macon and Western,
e Muscogee and Western and Atlantic Railroads,
the latter, indeei conveying large through
/ mail In other sections the pay is still lower and
on the Georgia Central road two daily mails
viewed at $175 per mile No reduction, however
has been made on the South Carolina ROAD and the
. u pay af 1887 50lOO per mile per annum for first
l. class -rrv.'c is continued the route between
Charleston and Branchville, being $62 SO per mile
for daily mail than Is allowed for double
vice on the Georgia Central road and S137 so per
mile more than is allowed for a much larger mail on
0 the Western and Atlantic road Under such Cir.
cumstances thought it but reasonable that the Com
pany should recede somewhat from it's demands. Be-
Y ing disappointed, presented to Mr. Caldwell the
P esident, the 18th inst, the further important
consideration, that the contract entered into by his
predecessor actually provides for two daily mails be-
tween Charleston and Augusta at the present rate of
pay, 1927 $1,000 per mile that such service was
performed up TO the Isl of February last and that
lis discontnuanCe has not been sanctioned by this de-
d partment The supposition is, that this change of
service made under the mistaken impression that
it followed matter of course, after the with.
drawa of the steamboats, between Charleston and
: Wilmington. Whatever may have been the reasons
according TO the letter of the contract the reduction
of service involved d corresponding reduction of pay
and it is not perceived how the Railroad Company
reasonably persist in its demands after thus dis
pensng with the daily express trains, ESQ called
= which formerly maintained at cost probably
e equalling if exceeding, that of the additional
trains now proposed between Kingsville and Angus
8 These considerations appear to have been entirely
overlooked by the Railroad Company heretofore
er Having now specially brought them to vew trus
they may yet exert proper influence by leading tt
the acceptance of Whist, under the circumstances
should be regarded most liberal offer
t. AS regards the calculations of the additional CO..
of an extra mail on the Wilmington and Manchester
e, Railroad may say that such criterion can gov
= ern this department in fixing the compensation fo
mail service. Instead Of having such calculations
made. it would be we'll for the companies interested
to take into consdertion the very high rate pa
r. by the government for the single daily lines. 1t il
impossible for me to regard the local consideration
presented in favor of higher pay than have Offered
lie on that road. The sum of 1927 $4,000 per mile
&c consider than adequate for single daily mail
and it is more than paid for double service
ny roads besides those herein specified.
III ~ ~ " " JAMES CAMPBELL.
Hon. JAS. L. Orr, House of Representatives.