Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-05-05
THE MAIL sERvICE-HoN. A. V. BROWN.


The duties of no department of the government
are so complicated and labOriOus as those Of tho
General Post Office, now presided over by our dis
tinguished foIlow-citizen, Hon. A. v. Brown. But
few men who have occupied the same position have
in so short time secured such general confidence
throughout the country in his ability and efficiency
The evils in connection with our postal system,
which have been so long accommodating and which
have been so generally complained Of, cannot be
remedied at once but viii take time and labor to
understand and rectify This is rapidly being done,
and although the mail service can never be entirely
free from negligence, accident and complaint we
have every assurance that it win soon be in better
condition than it has been for years. Some idea may
be formed of the complicated character of the mail
service from the following account of the letting
Of the contracts for the States of New England
and New York, given by the Washington correspon-
dent Of the Baltimore Sun: -..... 4.-.-.. f.
The most prominent feature Of government bust
ness Yesterday was in the General Postofhce, where
| announcement was publicly made of the decisions
of the Postmaster General on the proposals for mail
service in New York AID New England, in regular
course as well as various miscellaneous routes in
almost every other State and Territory which, with
| the growing condition Of the country, have been
duly authorized by Congress '
The Hon. Aaron V. Brown, the energetic head of
the department, presided, whilst the accepted pro-
posal and grade service on each route were DIS
tinctly read by William H. Dundas, Esq, the prin
cipal clerk and superintendent Of the Lettings
Ample opportunity was afforded throughout for
remark or interchange Of views with any disap
pointed competitor, but not single case Of this
kind occurred, there appearing general and hear
y concurrence in the entire action of the depart
ment. -aE ...1-
In the State Of New York there were 1900 pro-
pOsals; Maine SO; New Hampshire 455; Vermont
36l: Massachusetts BOB Rhode Island 46; COnnec-
tieut 2l3-3, 9S8, and the miscellaneous routes
2,120-total number 6I0S-which on 400 routes
which have been let gives an average of less than
five bids to each, and shows that the mail service
has lest much of the attraction Of former years.
The horse and coach service in the State Of New
York viii cost about $4,000 instead Of S130,000
as heretofore; Maine S64 1874 in lieu of S43, 356;
/ New Hampshire 81 1888 instead Of So 249; Yer
mont sd $50 instead of S13, All Massachusetts
! S26 $50 in lieu Of S23, 500; Rhode Island 81 899
instead of 81 $40; and in Connecticut SlS,766 in
stead of SIC 6O6-shOwing an advance of about 10
| per cent. in New York; AZ in Maine; II in New
/ Hampshire and Vermont; Is in Massachusetts;
over ! in Rhode Island and II in Connecticut or an
average in the New England States Of about 26 per
| cent.
Considering that good, reliable mail facilities are
Of the first Importance; that valuable improvements
/ have been made in the present lettings at many
/ points to meet the rapidly increasing business Of
/ the country; that the necessary oUtlays of mail
contractors for manual labor stock and subsistence
! have largely advanced within the last four years.
the department may claim credit for judicious man
agement in securing service upon terms. The starV-
! ing prices heretofore frequently proposed to and
/ paid by the department for mail service have
/ doubtless been the cause of countless failures
as well as thsruin of many worthy public servant