Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-09-13

ticular contract, n0ted on the pooAs VI sno s's
Office Department during the year 1884, 'cas
127!-all of which were admitted by the Com
pany to be failures, and were 30 accounted
for. The number since the first Of July last is
A; that Is, since the new contract went into ope-
ration. From the 1st January to 3lst March,
1855, So failures occurred on that contract-37
of which were attributable to the river. Most
of these failures were excused on representa-
tions that they we're unavoidable.
The old contractors opposed the wishes Of the
from Washington to Baltimore, on the ground
that they could not make the requisite expe.
dition; and also for the same reason they de-
clined to fix an earlier hour of arrival at Rich
mond in the morning.
They now boast Of making such expedi-
tion-showing that their former statements
were incorrect, and that they did not promote
the interests of the mail service, as might have
been done.
The running of the Fredericksburg route
being now so regular and SO much expedited,
as represented, it would seem that the Depart
ment was not fairly dealt with when the mails
were on that route, and that proper efforts
were not made to guard against failures and
perform the service as the Department desired.
The mail is now actually conveyed on the
new route between Washington and Richmond,
to say the least, as regularly and expeditions
ly Is it was conveyed, even at the same sea-
son Of the year, on the old one; and the bid of
the old company for the service to commence
on the first of July, particularly objected to
making any expedition, SO that nothing at all
in this respect would have been gained by con-
tinuing the mail on the old line. If it should
now appear that greater expedition and regu-
larity can be attained on that line than on the
new one, it will prove that deception was prac-
tised on the Department by the old contrac-
tors.
They also declined to supply Alexandria
with two daily mails each way, on the ground
that it was impracticable and unsafe to stop
the boat there at night, while such stoppages
are now made; showing that the Department
and the public were imposed on in this re-
speet.
That many failures have occurred, owing to
the difficulties of the river, especially in the
winter season, is too notorious to admit Of de-
NAL. 1t is believed that the former contrac-
tors did all they could to prevent them, and
performed the service on that part of their
route as regularly and expeditiously as was
possible. The storms, and fogs, and ice, can
not be successfully contended against; thus
rendering it quite inevitable that irregularities
must be expected certainly during the winter
corruption, as in times past, from the great ac
emulation of ice. Such difficulties are, of
course, entirely avoided on the new route.
We started out with the intimation that the
change was made to avoid difficulties inherent
in river steamboating, in this latitude, in the
winter-knowing we'll that the only purpose of
the Department in making the change was to
that end. Our friend, Capt Mattingly, essays
to show that no such cause existed and we
prove, from tie record, at his summons, that
he is mistaken. There is no other mail route
in the country on which regularity is Of great
er public importance than between Wash
ington and Richmond. The record from
which we quote above makes it plain, that
if land line or route could be contracted
with, STIMULATING to carry the mail in the
same time, by which failures from ice, fogs,
&C., in winter could be avoided, it was the plain
duty Of the Postmaster General to avail him.
self of it. He has simply done that thing The
public at large, who ar, interested in the GER
tain transportation of the great Atlantic coast
mails, not entering into this controversy as par
tisans of either route, will thank him for OBJ
tanning for them the insurance to which we
refer above; which was sadly wanted (notwith-
standing the asseverations Of our friend, the
captain) as is proved from the record of fail
ures on the part of the old mail line to run to
schedule time, to which we refer above; every
one Of which was fairly and squarely admitted
to have occurred by the Chem contractors, and
were accounted for by them, as the records Of
the Post Office Department show. But we see
no good that can come out of pursuing this
controversy further. Both lines wsrs doing
well--far better than ever beforehand both in
their management are model enterprises.
Naval Reform.-After going to press, yes
terday, we received from the Navy Depart
ment the following synopsis of the action of
the Naval Reform Board, and that of the
President upon it
The report of the Board Of Naval Officers,
appointed under the "Act to promote the eff
cheney of the Navy" having been submitted
by the Secretary Of the Navy to the President,
has by him been approved, after careful ex
animation and reflection.
Ttco hundred and one officers have been
removed from "actiye service" and Of this
number torty-niase have been dropped from
the rolls" entirely.
OF the Captains. ......17 on leave of absence
Do lib on furlough pay.
Do .......g 3 dropped.
Of the Commanders. 81 leave pay.
Do .......12 furlough
Do ....... 6 dropped.
Of the Lieutenants. .18 leave pay
Do .......49 on furlough.