New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-05
THE PANAMA RAILROAD AND THE POST
OFFICE DEPARTMENT.

We have before Us the correspondence submitted
TO Congress on Saturday between the Postmaster
General and the Panama Railroad Company in rela
ton to the charge for carrying the mails between AS
pinwal and Panama The first letter, dated Feb ID,
1855 is from the Hon. James Campbell, in which he
refuses to pay than ten cents pound Tor the con
veyhrce Of the mails across the lsthmus-that being
tie regular price Of transportation according 10 the
Parama Railroad Companys tariff OF rates.
Mr.. Spies Secretary OF the Company, in answer re-
piled that he would lay the matter before The Drec-
tos ct their next meeting but that until authorized by
them lie could not agree to any variation 10 the rate
David Hoaolsy, President of the Company, al
dressed a letter to Mr. Campbell on the 23d of Feb
rary which he called attention to the fact that the
charge of cents per h freight carried across the
Irlmus does not include the expense and responsible
ties Of putting the goods on board Of vessels in the
Bay If Panama, nor Of conveying them nom SHIP to
Shore IL cents being ch Urged for the performance Of
that duty. Moreover, the Company is unwilling that
the iited States Mail should be considered in the
ight Of mere merchandise. Mr.. Hoadley considers
Tie pise in which tie Company i. engaged to be
purely national and he therefore thinks that II de-
stry &c the sympathy and reward of the Government
Tie ut 1t letter IL from Mr.. Campbell dated March
90, 1865, to Mr. Ward, the United States Consul at
Anana requesting the latter to furhsh al iniormatioh
On he same day Mr. Campbell writes to Mr. Hoadly
tlat be Is wiling TO pay eighteen cents per ID, but 10
moe.
MIR Vosdv answers this letter on the 3lst, and hopes
that Mr. Campbell will Withdraw his letter OF the 29th
for the purpose of negotiating oontracs io' ''"'
specific annual compens atioo for the service
On April Mr.. Campbell replied that he was not
yrtal.d TO enter INTO q permanent CONTRACT Vi Tue
nature referred to by Mr.. Hoady.
Mr. " ard writes from Panama, Apnl 10, that the
five cLts difference between the railroad charge ana
the TRANSFORMATION prices not mercy for the trans
IortatOn from the railroad to the ship, but iot inc
responsibility incurred by the care OF the baggage IRON
Newlok TO San Francisco ~,
Hoady hat after that date lie will not allow more than
eighteen cents pound. -
On the nth Of September Mr. Campbell notified Dir.
Hosoly that be had made an order recognizing inc
service Of the Company in transporting the mai De
TIVE en- AspiI wall and Panams, from Apnl u " Juy
inclusise az the rate Of eighteen cents pei pound
MIR. H. adly on the 9th of October, states that tae
Company has decided that it could not, justice 10
ifse accede Ia the reduction of ra'ts aud ha mere
was Therefore, balance of $4,000 IS due the Com-
Pony foi the quarter ending June 3. ,
Mr.. CAM bell wiltte, Oct. IL, that, as me Comp
has greatly reduced its charges IN Transporting otnol
kincs Ct freight there is reason Why they no'
90 the sume with regard to the mails - ~
November Is, Mr Campbell write, Mr.. W M u
Aspnv all that be hes received proportion RON M
A. On behalf Of the Panama Company to coa'ract iof
the nveyauce Of the mas across the istnnus Oh rd
for three years at the rate OF Sl2oO0o per anu
Dir. Can pbe has authority to contract ir thls ser
VICE without fi-t inviting proposals. and giving Sky
Gays rotice by acvertisomnt
Nr. Campbell writes Mr.. A. Hoffman, Secretary oil
the Panama Co.. Feb. l.. 1856, that his attention h's
been directed to letter addressed by Mr. H., Oh tue
g,h Of February, the L. s. treasurer, gaming MS
attention to alleged unsettled bsance oil SIS 20
Dire the Panama Co., on account oil uansponaIon y,
mails. Mr. {. nrders the clam unrea-ohaoto' oao
II ALL not be recognized by the Department
Mr. WhtewIigtt Presf ent pro TEN. OF the Panama
Co, says the .0;a of February that Tie company
VII not take less than &c. per ID. lie cans s'tenAon
to the fact that Great Britain and other cOuhie' are
Ia'iIg 81 that rate.
Or tie 5th Of April, Messrs. Vim II. A-Pnwa1 ana
Henry Chauncey writes Mr. Campbell taa' ro nli'eer
GeLtrs Hall sg,eed with the Company 10 pay &c per
ID. The mail, carried at that rate 10, tn'eo "
tour year. curing which u ne the Company had been
compelled to undergo conaije. able expense Ia niue
Lire &c. Now TO Sever the rosf was co npleted ana
the Company could ofer superior sdvsbtsges IN Poa'
of time, Dispatch &c. The ComPan! tnereiore cor
sid, it, cliIm to be Just and v.d. Atthe ssme time
i had gwen Mr.. Campbell every opportunity oil max
ne contract on fixed terms.
CO TIE 10th Of April, lej6, Sir. Campbell addressed
letter 10 Messr. Appwail q Chauncey, IN WINCH lie
states that prior Dec. 1851, the malls were car
ned acTc<s The Isthmus under a-rans nj WIZ
Ne"-Gienada at d fraction over seventeen ceuS PER
TcuDa. BY the ten porary arrar gement OF OcDoer'
ISL, tho Pansma Company was aHo~ed t~enty-t~o
cents pei pound that being the MAXIMUM pnoe au-
ttonztd by law. No such contract was signed oy
+. N. Hall, as be had authority TO make .D! con
tact without trS advertising. AT that tune Tue
amount Of MOL matter -msll and The diihcuy %
transporting grpa compared To what II Is a. pre- e.-
Tbs increase OF the mail, however, involve ute s
dctoI &. expense to the Company, wbIe u ~o
have been otLerwise had the means vi uahrPo NJ
conth ued the saur. In February, IL ,, ~uu
Campbell learned the reduction OF frrshi ana Ian,
to ter cn's Per pound be deemed u bis 9uy ,se mail
iimaI reduction the rate OF car! $3.50 .ooyr
kr. {. views tbe cone-Po'1.tp INN, chargs
Taking forty cents D. pound a. The uiAAn ~ -
- W o,.pa,s sar carrying freight from Ne~
Yc,I H. Ssn P,sne,co, b. elbows hs' tne '""e~