Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-03-24
COLONEL BENTON AID THE MAIL
ROUTES ACROSS THE PLAINS.

few days ago, OF the complaints OF the people
of California, caused by the circuitous routes
| by which the mails were now conveyed to
them-routes which required that they should
! pay double hostages in many instances. We
mentioned, at the same time, that Congress
| had authorized three mail routes across the
continent-the northern route from Indepen-
dence by the Salt Lake to Sacramento THE
middle from Independence by Santa Fe and
Albuquerque to Woodville-and the southern
route from Texas by Ell Paso on to Los An
gelos.
These provisions, we thought, would, when
when carried out, test the practicabiity Of an
express mail across the continent, put at rest
the complaints of the California people, make
us better acquainted with the country between
the Mississippi valley and the Pacific coast,
and show where the great line of railroad COM
munication ought to be made. We believed
at the time that attempts had been, and would
continue to be made to produce delay in per-
fecting the mail service on the Southern route;
but we could not believe that such attempts
would be successful 1t was, therefore, with
great surprise, not unnixed with indignation,
that we read the following paragraph in the
Baltimore american of Wednesday:
"Colonel Benton writes to the st. Louis Demo
crat that he procured the insertion of clause
in the general post road bill, for direct route
between st. Louis and San Francisco by the
mouth of the Huerfano and the Little Salt Lake
to Stockton, on the San Joaquin river, in the
valley of San Joaquin, where it will connect
with the permanent steamboat navigation Of
the bay Of San Francisco, and also of the Sac
ramento river, and where it will also connect
with the Geographic system, and the whole post
road system Of California. This new mail
route will absorb several routes which are indie
pendent now, and supply their place by short
cross routes. Thus the Santa Fe mail can
branch off at some point on the Upper Arkansas
The Great Salt Lake mail can branch from
Little Salt Lake, only go miles over level
country and well made Mormon road, now in
use, and the present mail to Los Angeles and
Southern California can branch off at Las We
gas de Santa Clara. Colonel Benton says in
bis letter that he also procured the passage,
in another bill, Of an amendment granting pre-
emption in stations to all the mail contractors
in the territories through which his mail road
WOulQ pass, anu ILLS uc TeRuTuS rs u IuOSl ltn-
portant provision, for its effect will be to enable
the mail route to go into operation and be car
ried on |; it will make chain of stations across
the continent which will quickly become line
Of settlements and what is equally essential,
illegally recognizes the existence of the central
route to the Pacific, and virtually establishes ii
for the railrdy"
The letter of Colonel Benton referred to in
the foregoing extract, escaped us but we sup
pose that the Baltimore american represents
its contents accurately. We have no reason to
believe that Colonel Benton would misstate the
facts Of the case, and we are, therefore justified
in the conclusion that the Post Office Depart
ment, has in disregard Of the will of Congress
expressed in the authority to establish three
routes, suppressed two Of them or permitted
them to be absorbed at the instigation of Col
Benton. Ifthis has been done, a great outrage
has been committed by the Post Office Depart
ment-an outrage which demands a .rebuke
from every Southern man. We believe in fair
play, and we feel confident that the people Of
the South will be satisfied with fair play Thus
far the Government has not shown equal favor
TO the Pacific Railroad line of the South, and
it will be too much for ordinary patience, if
now the Post Office Department undertakes, in
defiance of the will of Congress, to enter the
field as the champion Of Colonel Benton's line,
and to make its championship effective by
abortion or otherwise.
The mere transportation Of letters and
papers is but small matter compared with
other matters connected with the carrying OF
the mail across the continent. Colonel Benton
| takes the right view of the subject when be
says that successful route will make chai,,
of stations across the continent ,ohich scill
quickly become a line Of settlements; nor does
he over-estimate the importance of such a
chain of stations and such line Of settlements
in fixing the position Of the railroad which is
to be built from the Mississippi valley to the
Pacific coast. We take the same view Of the
matter that he takes, and therefore we protest
against the suppression or absorption of the
southern route which Congress has authorized
We have no special disposition to thwart the
wishes Of Colonel Benton SO far as the putting
his own route under contract is concerned
| but we do oppose any movement which looks
towards that degree of undue and improper
favoritism which would be implied in any at
tempt Of the Postmaster General to refuse fair
play to the southern route II is the shortest
| quickest, aud most practicable line across the
continent. 1t will accommodate more people
than any other; and on behalf Of the citizens
Of the South, we demand that it be dealt with
fairly. We have much more to say on this
subject because We believe it TO be Of great
Importance, but we must suspend our remarks
tor the present.
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