The Washington union., 1857-06-13
From the Albany Ailrs and Argu
THE OVERLAND MAIL CONTRACT.

We from the Washington Union that the proposals
for carrying the mail overland California under the
law Of the last session of Congress have been opened
the Post Office Department but decision has yet been
made There propositions for two routes. The north
cry starts from two points Louis and Memphis
and passes southwcsery uniting convenient place
through Missouri, Kansas the Indian territory and the
northern portion of Texas far south the 35th parallel
and, crossing the mountains nearly that parallel bears
norhwesterly to San Francisco st. Louis is about 3S5
degrees and San Francisco 81 north latitude The other
route far adviscdo of the propositions starts
from New oreans perhaps with duplicate point OF de-
parure from vicksbirg ard PASSES through Texas, the
Gadsden Purchase portion of New Mexico by way FL
Paso to San Diego the Pacific and thence San Fran
cisco
The contractors who propose for the northern, or
rather central route are .John Butterfeld, William G.
Fargo Alex Holland and associates representing it is
understood the great EXPRESS companies OF the country
and imbodying undoubcd pecuniary responsibility en-
egy and experience for the successful performance of the
service We have not it stated who propose for the
southern route.
We have heretofore spoken Of the principle which
ought to govern the selection of the starting point the
Mississippi 1t does not admit of debate that St. Louis
would best accommodate the whole countrythc South
well the North 1t is accessible by the railroad lines
of both sections of the Unio and when we add branch
line could be better located to the business interests
of the nation at large The starting points Of the south
route would render it almost useless to the North
| and, indeed, to Maryland Virginia. and Kentucky Of
the South being out of the range of their railroads
and not conveniently accessible to mail matter or pas
senge We take it that the latter to be material ce-
ments in the support of this mail line and that
leading object Of the law in requiring the service to be
performed in good horse coaches spring wagons
suitable for the conveyance of passengers was to afford
transit and lay the foundations for great highway for
our citizens soil between our Atlantic and
Pacific possessions So far passengers concerned the
starting points of the central route are incomparaby
preferable to those Of the southern indeed the ad-
vantages Of the latter both to mails and passengers
would be confined to small portion of people, while
those Of the latter may be fairly said to be open to the
nation at large. Located the central route this
land mail and passenger line small perhaps in its begin
nings will, feel quite certain, rapidly grow in i'm
portance into great transit way the continent
Located the southern route could not feel confident
of its success 1t would be like locating railroad away
from the natural current of travel and transportation,
/ and attempt to coerce both to flow to it.
On the question Of feasibility, the evidence seems to be
decidedly in favor Of the central Supplies of
and pasuage will be abundant and the country favor
able for the formation of settlements, which WILL in
few years. furnish provisions and forage. The southern
route is said to be deficient in all these respects Indeed
the only serious objection likely to be urged against the
feasibility of the central route is its exposure to the
of winter This in the latitude Of thrtyve degrees is
not believed to be formidable and think looking at
the whole case, the Post Office Department will deem the
central route in prachcaby, preferable to the other
and viii not find this any embaassments in the
way Of yielding to the imperative considerations in refer
ence to the eastern ternini to which have alluded
The administration, do not doubt in disposing of
this subject will be governed by the broad national
which have thus far characterized its action and WILL by
It's decision lay the foundation for grand national
land communication to the Pacific.