, 1857-12-04
ne Nan ssvics 10 Puget Sound, and


b6. Capt DALt, from San Francisco. failed
10 gnn up to this place. as per contract, on
hef Last "trip. or to connect with the Con
siilufioa. but leaving her mails at Port
Townsend aud returning. they were brought
up by the last named steamer, but as ne
cessary consequence, one 'reek behind heeOH-
trad fiwS
Since the commencement Of the mail ser
vice from San FrauciscO to Olympia, by the
Pm. S. S. Co, we have heard but one
uDceasing round Of just complaint concern
ing the manner in which the agents Of that
company are PrsfendiNg to perform their
contract and our duty as journalists led
us 70 enquire 10 such places, aud from such
sources as We knew to be reliable, and
which, added TO our own observations,
would place our readers in possession Of
facts. from which they could judge whether
This continued faulthnding was grOundless
or not
The Pacific Mail Steamship Company
ehtered into contract with the govern
menk Of the United States, (which we pub
Iished some months since. for the delivery
Ofthe mails at Port Townsend and Olympia,
semi.monthly, IN first class steamers, for the
sum Of $l22, 500 per annum and the gov
ethment, Of course, stipulated in that con.
tract, that those mails should be.delivered
with ssecHriiy and osierity" Thus far, then,
how have they falilled this part Of their
contract 1trO trips Of the four already
made, the CclHaJia delivered the mails at
oRr' Posi-oafre. after visiting Portland, and
Experiencing the usual delays on the river.
ERs snoseaiag tsrO trips, the mails were left
At Port Townsend. and reached this place
Is above, by the Constitution. on her return
from her own weekly service on the sound
LIN one instance, causing delay Of four
days, even after their arrival at Port Town
send, and in the other Of tlro.
The4ast mails from San Francisco we're
brought Up by the Republic to Port Town
send and from what we know Of her pas
sage. viz ;--aine days to the last naned
place -and from what we have heard Of
her condition. there was neither security
nor celsrityR in her Transmission Of them.
The performance Of their contract IN this
maansy. We regard as positive outrage
upon the government as well as the public
and in the name Of the citizens Of the Ter.
ritOEy. We most sOlsrnnly protest against
this wanton breach Of faith Of the agent,
of the company with the Postmaster Gen.
eral.
The treatment extended to our business
community ia the matter Of passage ant
freight, demonstrates very conclusiVely thai
our citizens are regarded BY them as ''out
side barbariahs,1 and that it is only neees
sary to demand from them whatever price
they pltase,to be quietly aequiescsd 10. Al
an evidence Of the truth Of this, We viii
state, that passengers are taken on board
atPoFilands brought round to Port Town.
send. and conveyed thence to San Francis
CO for $50, while the unfortunate who
takes passage at Port Townsend for San
Francisco is made to pay the modest sum
Of S75-at the same time our Oregon
friends are called upon for $40 for theil
passage from Portland 10 Port Tocnssna
aioneF We had hoped for better thingi
from this mail service, and deeply regre
the necessity which calls from us structures
Of severity concerning their contract, but
our readers can see from the foregoing, and
what may follow. the benefits we are likely
10 receive from our ocean mail communities
ton with San Francisco, managed in the
loose and reckless manner ii has thus faI
been carried on.
Butagain is the Republic FIRST class
steamer % is she safe vessel, and sea-wOr-
thyI Is she a vessel Of such character
as EopId be competent Of being converted
into q vesselof war, in accordance with the
contract Of the company with the govern
menti These are questions Of vital iwpor
tance to our people. 10 the Post-ofice De
.partment. and to the general government.
Let them be answered by the associations
Of ship carpenters" and Ship caulkers" Of
San Francisco. Alta meeting of these as
sOeiatiOns on the 18th ult., in discussing
the merits and demerits of the different
ocean steamers in the service of the P. NJ
S. IS. Co, iu connection with others, va
rionsly employed on the Pacific coast, the
following verdict was agreed upon concern
ing
. The Republic pumps defective and uSelfss when
she struck six years ago, and the vessel leaky and
fr.a 1aflr