The daily union., 1854-03-05
Ocean Penny Postage offered by Private En-
terprise.

TO the Editor Of the Union
SIR: In recent article, which you courieously publish
ed in your journal, endeavoed 10 demonstrate that an
ocean penny postage would pay by augmenung the mali
matter conveyed across the Atlantic TO an amount,
which would yield much revenue as is derived from
the existing high rates hope the facts and argn-
ments adduced may have sutced satisfy the majority
of your readers that the American Post Office Depart
ment would incur any sensible loss OF income by
adopting this reduced for the transit But ii
the Post Office Department insist upon the positive proof
that the reduction Of this transit charge TO two cents will
not occasion any loss OF reyenueH It cannot be per-
suaded adopt this low rate at once on every ocean nail
route and by every line OF nasleamers in It's payif II
must Try some informal experiment preliminary to
the establishment OF universal ocean penny postage
there steamship companies ready TO convey all
the letters that the Atlantic for two cents apiece
The agent OF one OF these companies has offered repeat
edy and publicly to do this and his offer has been wide
" published in the journals in the United States and
Grea, Britain, and has been pressed upon the attention
of the British government by member of Parliament
Powerful steamers, of from 800 to 5000 tons,
thai make the transit on an average in less than fifteen
days. are plying regularly between the principal ports Of
the Two countries; and they increasing SO rapidly
that in the of year semi-weekly departure and
arrival OF OF their number may expected There is no
room TO doubt that all these steamship companies would
readily agree convey across the Atlantic any amount OF
letters 0f Uo csNS Pont oHcc Soeid
not lose anything by this arrangement especially the
amount iinow pays for the sea-seryice lis mails
ceeds by far the revenue il derives from them. This
might not afford satisfactorily expeditions transmission
for strictly commercial correspondence but the merchants
on both sides of the Atlantic could we'll afford pay for
The speed they almost alone require They might con-
tinue 10 despatch their letters by the Cupard Collins
line OF packets, and The present charge if il must alb
soluiey be retained Full one half of the letters that
cross the Atlantic are written and received by the mm
grants from Europe in this country most Of whom
poor hard toiling day aboers Three days difference
in the ocean transit of their letters OF appreclable
importance TO them. II seems almost cruel TO compel
poor Irish or German housemad TO pay, she does
now nintn cents for the seaservice her letter
10 an aged mother in the Old World. when private enter
prise offers perform that service for to cents with
difference OF only three days 10 the transit Why should
she be constrained to pay 10 the charge on that letter sir
teen cents for that difference OF tpeeo, which is
OF the slightest value her. but almost only Of import
ance 10 the merchant who does not pay the postage on
bis business letters of his pocket but charges il
on the goods he sells his customers he is expected TO
doi II the Post Office Department would arrange i'm
mediaely with the various lines OF steamers ply
ing regularly between this country and Great Britain 10
convey each mail al the rate OF fro cents half
for letters, 1T would be inestimabe boon 10 millions
on both sides OF the Atlantic and lead the way the
adoption OF this low transit charge on every mairoue
that crosses the ocean.
ELIHU BURRITT
| WASHINGTON, d. C., March 3, 1854.