The Kanzas news., 1858-02-27
How the Government is Willingly
SwiHdfad

SW1G0tS0.
s"The contract made by the Government with
Russell Major, for the transportation of stores to
Utah, was of most extraordinary nature For
carrying barrel of -four from Leavenworth to
Salt Lake City the price is SO But if eut off on
the route, not only the trains to be paid for by
the Government, but all the freight also is to be
paid for as if it had been delivered at Salt Lake
This, you see, is giving the contractors premium
for suffering their trains to be cut or
We extract the above information from
Washington letter of the eth tiit.
The newspapers have stated that these
contractors, Russell d Major, are to receive
the enormous sum of 81, ,75o, 600 for trans
porting the necessary provisions for the
new army from LeasenWorth to Salt Lake
City.
It's no wonder the contract amounts to the
enormous sum of Is millions, when the
contractors get, for transporting a single
barrel of -four 1876 pounds) $42l and it
is moreover no wonder, Why IS millions of
appropriations fall short of paying the ex
penses of the Government, when favorites
are rewarded in this way e"
Billy Russell and Tom Major, be it re-
membered, are great pets of the present Ad-
Observation-Disclosures Ruffians of the choic-
est stamp, and who are wont to nod assent,
if the "powers that be" say black is white,
or white is black.
Billy is Vermonter, born in the town of
Sibley and when he was boy his eyes
would fash fire at the sight of silver dol
lar, and since he has grown 10 be man his
desire to be possessor of ''de monish' has
in no wise abated. Billy, with his oily,
Yankee tongue, could in flash convince
the present Secretary of War--a verdanti
Virginian-that a barrel of flour would act
ually cost him nearly S42 to transport it to
Salt Lake City and leave him only about
ten per cent. profit on the job! Billy him
self has so often-when his interest was at
stake-been convinced that white was act
ually black, that he has learnt the science
of convincing others !; and we have no doubt
that Mr.. Secretary Floyd actually believes
that he is getting his army stores transport
ed ''dog cheap" but Vermont Billy will,
when his contract for delivery is completed,
as easily convince the Secretary that he
Billy has in his pocket half million dol
lars surplus-earned without consideration.
The Government officials say they can't
ssstir peg without Billy Russell. and Bill
ly SAYS he can't stir peg without Tom
Major and when they pull together, Billy
says they are the strongest team in the
NoFIu, ~ tidHoPOii alAn1 oCOiCSs ANU SSe
paid three prices for doing it!
Some time since. Billy and Tom disa-
greed, and they dissolved partnership; but
Billy soon found that transporting army
stores was no 20, without Major for he,
being Methodist minister, had the happy
mack of keeping their numerous teamsters
in subiection while they were crossing the
plains with their 5000 oxen and 500 wagons.
Tom is raw-boned Kentuckian from the
Green river diggin's-a kind of half horse.
half alligator chap, on week days, but as
mild as a lamb on Sundays, and his place
(when the train is on the march, is at the
head of the teamsters and on Sundays he
halts the train to spend the Sabbath, keeps
the whisky out of sight, puts on black
straight t-collared coat and white crayat, sleeks
his hair down with bears oil, and then
mounts wagon and-preaches to the team
sters, the army escort, and to the Indians,
if there be any.
Russell L. Major, as We have said, are
strong team Billy being sprightly Yer
mont colt, and Tom Kentucky draft horse
Billy managing the finances. and Tom
doing the driving, whipping and preaching;
and the Government-to wit: We, the peo-
ple-paying for their labors the snug little
sum of 81 1,75O, 900. Economical Govern
ment this, verify. They should admit May
or Fernando Wood to the partnership, and
then we might characterize it the eminent
house of Russell, Major & Wood.-Mis-
souri, Democrat.