The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-03

weather suddony turns cold freezing sic rail
way, does sometimes furnish obstruction that may
require days to overcome. II were asked whore
should expect the most difficulty from snow in the whole
country from the Atlantic to tho Pacific, should say the
first ten miles from the Atlantic ports. ! cannot
say this for the Pacific ports for there seldom
and when Il does fan it disappears in short time
ishah shefe'ore, assume that this route 70 entirety
practicable 70 far regards the cold and SHOWS, and
pass on 10 more detailed view Of its characerscs and
Of hs relation to other routes. will present as good
route for cmgrants by the ordinary conveyances OF the
country The distance from St. Paul and the western
end OF Lake Superior 10 the shores OF Pugets Sound in
round numbers, 800 miles. Well the difficulties
which have pr sented IN the way Of a railroad
nterfered with the carrying of the mails this route
he entire year think, CIR, that not only ought the mails
% be carried over this route the entire year, but in
United number Of days. The service ought to DC
dered on this road in wagons in eighteen days, which
would be only 100 miles q day.
Is II not astonishing, Mr. President, that have 20 90
nto Siberia to get facts to establish this conclusion OF
mine. ! trust, sir, that because they are so far
Russia in the matter of her enterprises for carrying
he mails is ahead OF any Power in the word and she
give lessons that it will be well for profit by.
Our Consul at the Amoor, Mr. Collins has given ns the
facts Of the great postal service Of Russia Moscow
rkoutsk, in Eastern Siberia Tho distance is 500,
but ,426 miles. On this route established two hun
dred and ten stations, with postmaster and the
sary relays of horses each station The contractors are
obliged 10 carry the mails twice week, and they are
also obliged 70 transport passengers the route at
certain rates Of travoo wit, at eight miles hour in
winter six and twothirds in summer and five and
The time required TO carry the mails the entire
route is from twenty i've to thirty day distance the
average oil from liz TO l37 miles per day, while the 60
vcrnmen courers go the route in from dfteen
twenty days. or ut an average OF oa Ill TO 228 miles per
day That mail route is between the fifty second and
fifty eighth parallels and the thermometer in winter Oh
large portion of it is habi.ualiy below At Mos
the eastern terminus OF the route the average of the
thermometer s 5 degrees and at Tobosk degrees above
zero while at Tonsk II is three degrees koats
one degree below The average temperatures for
January for the three latter places were respectively
three, FIVE and six degrees below Mr. Collins him
auln O. qrly
spring. making such rates of travel these lie travelled
from Veck dinsk TO Cheah, 800 miles, forty. 1--we
hours and from lrkoutsk to kyacka 387 miles, forty
eight hours But he mentions another fact signifi
cant STILL On this distance Of 3, ,i26 miles between the
parallels of 52 deg. and IS deg. the thermometer on
below zero, he found 500 cities villages and towns
showing coDclusiyely that the cold presented
no difficulty in the way Of the occupation Of the country
This has all been done by imperial edcts acting
nation Of sersdono simply in obedience the idea of
reverence To authority. What will not the genius and
enterprise Of freemen and citizens do any of our
overland routes when the government comes for.
ward and establishes its mail service, and the con
tractor is not haInpered by petty aud cxactng re
strictons, and people left free, each man
to out his fortune and his homer The Gar Of Rus
sa Establishes his route and in part builds up his towns
ana villages and cities with his prisoners Of State the
refuse of his jaiis whereas in case /. will he the
very flower and substance of people who viii apply
the energies OF reomen and Of sovcregns the building
up of routes have therefore right 10 assume IN
the light OF the experience Of the great mail service
Siberia, that there will be no difficulty our compare
lively speaking, much milder and shorter route.
On motion Of Nix. HIRAM BARNEY, a OF thanks was
rendered Mr. Stevens for his admirable lecture, and
quest made that he deliver again IN this city The
meeting then adjourned.