Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-12-13

m the Wilmington, IN. CO. Daily Herald, 18th inst
A NEW. AND THE SHORTEST ROUTE FOR
THE PACIFIC MAILS-ON AN AIR LINE
Z FROM CUBA TO WASHINGTON
From the Correspondence of the Journal Of Commese
WAsHINeroN, March 2.
It is understood that the Committee on Post offf-
ces and Post Roads of the House of Representatives
will soon report the bil some time ago referred to
that Committee, on the motion of Mr.. Churchwell,
of Tennessee, and commonly known by his name.
This bill authorizes the Postmaster General to make
contracts for the transportation Of the mail between
principle, as foliows:-
The first section of the bill makes it the duty of
the Postmaster General to conclude contract for
the transportation of the mails of the United States
between New Orleans and San Francisco, twice .
month, each way, and to allow and pay for the ser
vice. monthly, according to scale thereto attached.
Mr.. Churchwell's bill is admirably calculated to
promote and encourage all enterprises now in con-
temptation for lines of communication with the
Pacific, by the Nicaragua, Tehuantepec, and the
Ramsay routes and by whatever may be selected for
the railroad across our own territory.
The mail between San Francisco and New York
is now carried in about twenty-five days, at an ex-
pense of nearly million of dollars year. Can it
not be done in less time, for less money? This bill
offers to pay half million to contractors who will
do it in nineteen days. Thus weeks time would
be saved by such contract, and pay reduced one
third But, if arrangements can be made, as is pro-
bable, to transport the mail between New Orleans
and San Francisco in thirteen days, the bill will
allow an advance of third upon the amount now
paid. The principle of the bill is to establish rate
of compensation according to the scale of contract
time in which the mails are to be conveyed. When
the bill shall come before the House for discussion,
Colonel Churchwel will present such practical views
and facts in its support will, doubt the
adoption Of the scheme experiment. Let the
offer be made according to the principle proposed,
giving time of course to contractors to prepare for
the competition, and there can scarcely be doubt
that men will be found who will at least take chance
for the heaviest purse named to wit-the s., $780,
900 for the time of ten days.
We cut the above from the New York journal of
Commerce, and must say that VIC are surprised that
SO astute man as we have always thought Mr.
Churchwell to be, should single out New Orleans
the point where the great California mails should
rive and depart from. We should almost as soon
have thought of naming Galveston in Texas. Not
but that we consider New Orleans as the great city
of the Southwest, and SO it must ever continue to
be but every knows it has less interests or COM
munication with California than almost any city of
its size in the Union; and this is also true of the
country around it, in every direction for some hun.
dreds of miles. This is SO we'll known that it needs
no argument to make it plain to every man in or
out Of Congress.
should be place the mails which come by sea, to
the point where the bulk of the Correspondence is
directed, but more particularly to bring it to WASH
ington in direct line possible; because it is
OF the first importance that the dispatches and news
should be in the possession of the heads Of the De-
partments, and before Congress- at the earliest pos
sibe moment. 1t is fact that will not be denied,
that than three-fourths, perhaps nine-tenths,
of all the matter which fills these mails is directed
to, and received from, tract of country which may
be included in an e!psis, of which Washington City
and Portland in Maine the extreme points and it
would seem to be an object for this mail to proceed
to and FROM to exactly bisect this territory.
We propose to show how it can be done so as not
only to accommodate this area and the great com.
mercial cities included in it, but to reach the seat of
Government in the shortest possible time. To &C.
compsh all this it will he necessary to put the point
of departure and reception in one of the Southern
Atlantic States.
And we further propose to show, that Whining
ton, North Carolina, is by far the most advantage
Gus point that can there be selected, because.
First 1t lies in direct line between Washington
and the Gulf and is connected with the Potomac by
the straightest and most level line of Rail Road in
the country, and capable of the highest degree of
speed with the greatest safety.
Secondly. For the reason that this must be the
shortest route. This most important fact, can be
verified by looking at the map of the United States,
and drawing line from point in the Gulf near the
most North-westerly point to Cuba land near which
all the steamers must pass) to Washington, which
will intersect Wilmington and Richmond, and in fact,
follow very near the line of Rail Road before men
toned. With slight defecticn it be continued
on through Baltimore and Philadelphia to New
York, and so to Boston and Portland. This is q
great and important fact, and should commend it.
sci ( to the Government and people.
Thirdly. The advantages Of having the Mails and
passengers landed at Southern port over North
one, is of the greatest importance to the conve-
nience andscomfort of passengers, as well as to the
safety of the Nails 1t should attract the attention
also of the owners of Steamships, because they arc
we'll aware of the great risks from the gales well
as of the dangers of weathering Cape Look Out,
and still more of Hatteras. In fact the difficulties
and risks of a winters voyage from the Gulf to
New York, are nearly all to be encountered North
of Cape Fear!
Fourthly. 1t is known that exertions now ma.
king to establish Steamship line from Washington
Havana land the two projects be made to com.
bine, as it is very necessary that the Cuba Mail
should also go in the most direc: line to Washington
and on to the large commercial cities Of the North
where most of its contents are Destined
We come now to show how and by what means
we can transmit this Mail in the shortest possible
time from and to San Francisco and Washington.
After some considerable inquiry and reflection, we
have come to the conclusion the Nicaragua route is
the the most to be preferred for the great Mail
transit, because it is some five hundred miles nearer
on either sea than that by the lsthmus and lies
more directly along our own coast and furnishes an
opportunity to connect with New Orleans and Ia
vana-a matter Of much consequence. We shall
therefore make schedule for that route although
so far as our own port is concerned, the Isthmus
and Tehunantepec lines would be as advisable and
our argument equally as strong; but by the first
named we are now prepared to show that the Mails
via Wilmington can be delivered in Washington in
seventeen Q7) days. The present time for an ord-
nary steamer from San Fancisco to San Juan del
Sud Tor St. John of the South) the Pacific, is ten
days. A gentlemen now at our side has just passed