The Washington union., 1857-06-03
THE OVERLAND MAIL TO CALIFORNIA.

Yesterday was the day for opening the bids for
carrying the mail in stages spring wagons to Cali
fornia The contract has not yet been awarded and
indeed, may not be for some days to come. The
whole matter is of such vast Importance to the gov
ernment and to all the interests of tho country that
the Postmaster General from his characteristic eau
ton and Judgment, will examine thoroughly into the
nature of the bids and especially into the capabty
of the bidders to carry the contract, when awarded
to them into full and faithful execution. A, who is
wild and hazardous specuator, may be the lowest
bidder, and may be man of some means and be
willing to give guarantee that will carry out his
contracts but after all what real assurance is there
in this that the obligations of the contractor, mex
perienced, and without means perhaps will really
fulfil them? Why, such bidding and contract
ing with the Post Office Department is of con-
slant occurrence. Men without Judgment and
without experience bid low that, upon the
principle of awarding the contract to the lowest bid
der, the department is obliged to accept the bid.
The contract is made. The requisite security is
given. The party enters upon the duties of his con
tract and finds in month that it is utterly mposs
BILE to perform the service for the sum which he
0fere0 ana a5Teeu I'D take. w nat tnen! Inc con-
tract fails the service is not performed the public
suffer inconvenience; the department is annoyed J;
fines are imposed suits are brought; principal and
security prove good for nothing and after vexatons
and delays without number the contract has ut last
to be given to some with energy, judgment and
experience sufficient to perform it, for proper
pensation. Then the service is faithfully performed,
and the public have the benefit of it.
We doubt not for moment that in this case, the
Postmaster General WILL in the first instance aim to
put it into the hands of contractors whose well-es-
tablished judgment experience and ample means
viii enable them promptly to initiate this great en-
terprise, and faithfully and successfully to carry
it out We perceive from printed letter addressed
to the Postmaster General which has Just come to
our hands, that Butterfed Fargo, Holland and their
associates, who represent the great express COM
panies of the country, bidders for this contract
This letter is a condensed and welreasoned argrl-
ment, and conclusive to mind why the mail
should start from ST Louis, and pursue the middle
route to California. If we understand the letter. they
have also proposed to start branch of the mail from
Memphis to unite with that from ST. Louis at some
convenient point the route. This it seems to us,
is most important proposition, and will go far to
reconcile all conflicting interests and preferences as
to the point of starting. The letter shows too from
ncontestible data that the middle route is decidedly
the preferable one if it is not indeed the only prac-
ticable one. It lies between the extremes of heat
and cold; is never impeded by snow pursues, for
the most part the valleys through which water
courses flow; and is shorter considerably than any
other route. Having plenty of wood, water, and
good soil along these valleys and rivers settlements
would Immediately spring up throughout the whole
course Of the route, furnishing supplies to the
contractors and to the United States troops that
may be sent there to protect them, to keep in
check the Indians who dangerous to our remote
frontiers These settlements would rapidly stretch
themselves along until continuous population would
be spread from our Atlantic to our Pacific border.
The government will undoubtedly protect the en-
terprise by the military Benefts, manifold
and immense, are to flow from it If these express
companies can be got to embark their talents, theil
experience, and their capital in this great enterprise
there is at once to the government ant
the country that it will be carried out successfully
And that is what the great public require.