Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-14
CITY INTELLIGENCE.

is iorestalled by the appearance OF a letter Fl ON
Mr. George Mattingly in yesterdays Star, aud the
remarks OF that paper on the same. The pith of
his letter is contained in the following extract
The Star, and all who favor the change Of the
mail route at an increased expenditure Of 50, 900
and travel twice day of fortyfve extra miles,
would be puzzled If brought to the witness stand,
10 establish the TACT or anything like it. that there
have been svexatious detentions Of the great
Southern mail so frequeRtly occurring from ice
In the Potomac during the winter Since the
hard winter OF 1872 there have been very few
detentions from Ice any other cause, and think
may safely say that the failures between Wash
ington and Richmond have been as feac in number
as upon any other mail route in the United States.
Let the record be tested and let the officers OF the
Post Office Department remember their own re-
peated declarations on the subject
: Now let a few facts be stated, which can be
established by the government employees them
selves. Within the last ten days there have been
several failures OF the new carriers to connect with
the Baltimore mail line at IL in the afternoon
and, whilst the boat line delivers it's passengers
here at o'clock in the morning, and always in
time 10 connect with the o'clock afternoon train
to Baltimore; the other is under great pressure
TO make the oonnexion at in the morning, and
at the proper hour "A l-2) in the afternoon. Be-
sides the boat line allows ample time for meals on
the route, both ways; and passengers for Peters
burg in the morning are landed there one hour be-
fore the mail leaves Richmond, throwing them
two hours ahead at that point. Again, let the
fact be known that there have already occurred on
the new line, since the first of July, failures
Tin less than two months) than happened on the
Old line during ne 'ehote Of last year) Let the
records speak,
The Star accepts the challenge, and gives the
following as the result Of his official investigation.
From this, there appears very wide discrepancy.
"Now, the actual number Of failures in this par
tcular contract, noted on the books of the Post
Office Department during the year 1854, sods 1871
all Of which were admitted by the Company to be
failures, and were so accounted for. The number
since the first Of July last is A that is since the
new contract went into operation. From the lst
of January to 3lst March, 1866, SO failures oc-
CURED on that contract--37 of which were attrbu-
able to the river. Most Of these failures were ex
cused on representations that they were unavod-
able.o
There must certainly be some point at issue as
to what constitutes a failure. Our only apology
for noticing the controversy is, that the steamboat
company is q home concern, employing many OF
our citizens in various capacities, and which dis
furses many thousands 10 our midst, and which,
therefore, should have chance to be set Alright,
il from any quarter put IN the wrong
NEWSPAPERS men are public property
the word over. A good many are bad invest
mcnts it is true, but they have their day, and
whether they 60 down like fancy stocks, or con-
tinue to pay good dividends to the end of their
career, they are subject at all times to the tful
and evanescent changes Of public opinion. just
so with newspapers.
An editor spreads his sails to what he considers
the prosperous breeze. He labors hard to serve
his party his friends, and the public at large and
when he thinks, "good easy man, full sure his
honors ripeningo he wakes suddenly to the truth
that he has failed entirely to meet expectations.
He finds, alas that in trying to please, to amuse,
TO instruct, and to conciliate all, he has pleased
nobody.
1t is singular fact that the most free and I'M
compromising critics are those who have not the
remotest idea OF newspaper machinery, together
with those who never pay for any paper but in
praise or abuse as best sllits their mood, There
are many whose money constitutes the least portion
Of their patronage Of anything whatever; yet to
hear them talk, one would suppose that they were
The very Atlas on whose shoulders rested the
success of every popular enterprise
But, the history OF both men and newspapers,
in this country, illustrate very strongly the superior
policy of independence in everything whether
right or wrong. You may vote for me If you
choose, take my paper If you choose, and leave it
alone il you choose. You have righ. 70 think
and talk fine as suits YOU, and vice versa. No
thing il made by counting public opinion. The
successful public man has owed his fortune to
having boldly braved it, when assured of right.
In newspaper enterprise the above facts are still
more striking. Take the examples of those papers
which have blaohguarded everybody, they could
not black-mail and daily not only dsregarded but
actually outraged public sentiment. Such are
eagerly sought AFTER and pronounced good, as Of
ten as somebody or something in "blown up"
The local column of the Organ is too short
space in which to put everything. Its readers con.
stute too great number and variety for all tastes
10 be exactly suited; so it goes in for pleasing
r. ~.
If It fails Of that, IL IL eminenly distressed But,
at the same time, It is utterly Indifferent to the
good, or il-will Of those who do not take, or who
do not pay for the paper.
STEEPLE Of THE FOURTH BAPTIST CHURcH.--This
go-a-head congregation having nearly completed
their fine church edihce, on Thirteenth street. are
going with their known vigor, for its early compile
tion The gaunt and lofty ribs of the steeple are
now being erected TO their places and when clothed
in, duly capped, will add much TO the attraction of
that already pretty portion of the city. We do not
know what has become Of the proposition TO place
town clock at this elevated and central point 1t
strikes us that the city authorities should be very
glad TO contribute so much to public convenience.
But il they should not, We confident the church
WILL and trust to the liberaity Of the great num-
bers benefited, for more than simple acknowl-
edgement of their obligation. The present state
Of the steeple is peculiarly interesting The inge
nuty and power necessary TO accomplish the work,
afford fine example Of the power Of mind over
matter.
WAsHISGroN HoUsE-This hotel, formerly Gads-
bys, having passed iato the hands OF Mr.. Corbn
Baker, will soon be opened, as we learn, for the
reception of visiters. Mr.. Baker is Virginian,
which is Of itself sufficient guarantee for good
living, while the eligibility and convenience OF the
house must make the concern highly popular. We
have observed cannishness on the part OF Ken.
tuckans and Virginians in patronizing particular
hotels. The Washington House and host win
certainly continue to receive such favor.
large number Of our fellow citizens visited
General McCalla last evening at bis residence on
Indiana avenue, where they were entertained with
true Kentucky hospitality. In addition to the more
substantial dishes, the tables we're loaded with a
piofuson OF the fruits of the season. The enter.
iainment was in accordance with the PRINCIPLES of
the Temperance Society, Of which General McCalla
is member, and was in every respect agreeable
80.