The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-11


Prince Oscar the second of the King, is appointed
commander-n-chief of the Swedish and Norwegian navy
and Prince Nicholas Augustus his younger brother, cap
tain of the Norwegian rife corps. The army and naval
gun-boat) force of Norway be considerably aug
mented Orders have been given to raise 700 sailors.
OVERLAND NAIL FROM INDEPENDENCE, MIssoU-
RI, TO SAN FRANCISCO.
There two about coming before Con-
gress that from their importance, deserve passing
ce allude particularly the Senate resolution No. 3d.
and the amendment reported February st establishing
express mail ueekly from point the Mississippi
10 San Francisco California, and also Mr. Bentons amend
ment the army bill the subject There two
great desderaa this time in which all the people of the
United States interested particularly merchants and
Others having correspondence with California and Oregon
emigrants to western States and Territories and all
of our citizens living in the Far West These are
rapid mail communication with the Pacific, and chain
of settlements possible to protect travellers fur
nish supplies and forerunners railroad route
to the Pacific The provides for weekly
mail service to San Francisco in fourteen sixteen days
Sir, have had considerable acquaintance with postal
matters and mail transportation in western
try, though | have possible present prospective
interest in this NATTER and must tell you that
land mail to the Pacific in fourteen days from any point
the Mississippi is thoroughly impracticabe know
and have conversed with, the gentlemen who the
for carrying the mail from Independence Missouri
10
San Antonio and the contractor the important
from Independence Santa Fe The last-named contract
is probably well and farorably known a any
mail contractor in the United States He has been
the mail route Santa Fe many times knows all the
ground and all the obstacles He has carried this mail for
near five years and never been behind time except sim
gle day OCCASION and his agree practi-
cay with that of Others no accustomed travelling
the plains. These facts ought to give this genemans
statements peculiar weight All parties acquainted with
the circumstances agree that the shortest possible time
twenty-five days and contractor says thirty The
government wants mail and rapid mail possible
but mpossbilities mpractcabilities cannot be had
The mail now has twenty-five days go from Independ-
Santa Fe distance of 1915 miles But this con-
tractor says if he to be remuneraed for his outlay
and could have the privilege of establishing stations every
twenty miles the route and have preemption right
to the land he would improve he could 100 miles
day.
1t will be remembered that this mail is transported in
superior coaches of peculiar construction adapted
travel the plains drawn by six mules and capable of
carrying all the mail and accommodating all the passen-
gers. The Santa Fe mails often weighs a ton and TO
transport this and the passengers three coaches are
queny sent In the opinion OF this contractor and from
all can learn from other sources there no reason why
this kind of service be continued from Santa Fe to
California and at average speed of 100 miles each day
Such mail service viii be doubyyes far more than
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to the government and the public
in the protection the safety and celebrity afforded by the
armed travellers accompanying it, and forming caval
cade for mutual defence After the various painful events
of the last year among the hostile tribes Of the plains does
not appear like act Of madness send one or two
mounted express riders through hostile country much
of that is with idea that they will gethrough in safety
How do the merchants of the East the travellers Mecca
and Bagdad in safety Certainly by uniting in par
ties for mutual protection
From Santa Fe TO San Francisco is some fourteen hun
ded miles and you may calculate the probabilities or pos
sibties Of running through in fourteen sixteen days
and that from the Mississippi river But why start this
mail from Ct Louis the Mississippi when there is al
ready daily mail from St Louis to Independence and
part of the way a railroad in operation and all the
rest under contract The steam-whise will be heard at
Independence in less than eighteen months.
But now to the important part OF this meas
ure-the giving presumption right those contractors,
not only this route but all ma-routes the
plains where they shall establish ofener than
twenty miles than section Of land in place
and as the bill provides include mountain passes or
defe This simply gives what has already been conceded
righ-the FIRST claim the first settler And who so
deserving the hardy pioneer who carries the mails
eiliates the Indians commences settlement and makes
the land to resound with the busy sound Of industry and
the desert 70 blossom the What encouragement
II be 10 the mail contractOrt man who enters the
field Of competition the government az the lowest
price gives security for faithful services who subdues ma
ture and the elements, and after improving section Of
the wilderness and perhaps makes money his con-
ac he is then turned of Of the very land that he made
into GARDEN What way likely to make chain Of
permanent settlements Each station, with the at
tached win form nucleus for thriving community and
what way likely bring the land into the market and
build up thriving villages and towns