The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-12-20
The Mails,

We had occasion, few days since, to men
ton, in general terms, the gross neglect
which characterizes the execution of the
mail service between Dubuque and st. Paul
We are compelled, at this writing to be more
particular.
We have authority for stating that it is the
custom of those in charge of the line to
throw off mail bags at any point on the
route where a passenger can be secured to
take place of an amount of mail matter equal
to his bulk and weight. In fact, even at Du-
buqe the Postmaster and his clerks have al
most to fight the important mail bags on board
the coach; and in some instances the drl
vers have conquered, and started their teams
from the post-ofice without the mail matter
which they were positively and properly In
formed must go.
All through Iowa, up to the Minnesota
line, the drivers have it about their own way.
There is no check to their negligence and i'm
proper conduct in regard to the mails; and
Walkers other hirelings Whereabouts who
act in the capacity of agents, are reported to
be accessories to the drivers abuses. "Pas'
sengers in preference to mail bags is the
watch word, and overheard 60 the bags te
make room for passengers at every station
This side of the Iowa line, our informants
report better state of things-a desirable
determination to forward the mails whenever
they come along.
We are surprised that the Times finds
fault with our notice in regard to these abu
ses. 1t is true, we made no discrimination
in favor of the St. Paul agents, because W.
made no charge about the receipt and TO"
acarding of the mails at this point, which W.
presume is nearly all Capt. George or any ont
else here has to do with the matter. When
ever Capt. George or his drivers neglect theil
public duty so far as to unload and store thu
mail bags at the Winslow House instead o
delivering them at the Post-Ofice, "a cir
cumstance not likely to happen, however,.
they will be very apt to hear from us in prop
er terms. We were alluding to gross viola
tons of Mr.. Walkers contract on the route
and not to any misdemeanor at the St. Pau
extreme.
1t is idle to abuse tho Post Office Depart
ment for derilections ON the part of con
tractor who has ever been notorious for neg
lecting his public duty when he could make
dollar thereby. We have certainty, from
the observation we have made, that the st
Paul Office is always on hand to receive mails
and we believe the way-bills will show, when
ever they accidentally get here, that they
are regularly forwarded from Dubuque OF
contract days. The blame therefore attaches
solely to the contractor and his agents OF
the route, for the present arrangement o
the whole business of Minnesota by these
perplexing mail failures. There is no excuse
The roads are in prime winter ORDER the
running good; the streams all frozen or bridg
ed, and the facilities ten times as great al
the way through for making regular trips as
they were two years ago, when Mr.. Walkers
broom was new one, and consequently
sweeped clean. faa, a.
1t is the duty of Minnesota to "cry aloud
and spare not" in regard to this NATTER
Walker should either be compelled to do his
duty or be black-balled at Washington.