Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-15
LUunluN9l ,
UTAH ROUTE

Report Of the postmaster 6emeraAs
[Contnued.l
UTAH ROUTE.
The routes between st Joseph, Missouri, and
Salt Lake City, and between Salt Lake and PA.
oerviIle. California have been so improved thst
the trips through from St Joseph to Placervills,
and back are performed once week in thirty eight
days each way.
For some months past this service has been per-
formed with remarkable regularity, iusomueh as to
merit special commentator.
Il has received from the people Of California the
varmest applause, and called forth public demon
strations of a most enthusiastic character
By act Of Congress of August 3. 1854. mail route
was established from Neosho, Missouri, TO Albu-
querdue New Mexico and on March g. 1855, q
route was established from Independence, by Albu-
guerque, to Stockton
These routes were advertised in December last At
the urgent solicitation Of citizens interested in that
section of the country. and contracts were entered
into with the lowest biddersfOr conveying mails from
/ Neoshe 10 Albuquerque, once month and back AZ
4 SI7 900 Der annum; and from Independence, BY
| Albuquerque, to stockton, once a month, at $50
Service commenced on the LIST Of October last,
and, although sufficient time has not elapsed to al
low Of reports 60 It's progress, there IS every rsss
son 20 believe that the contracts will be fulfilled,
and the mails conveyed to the satisfaction Of the
! Department. and the public.
THE EXPENSES OF THE DEPARTMENT
The expenses of the department, over aud above
its revenues, have regularly increased ever since
the reduction Of postsges.
II would. however, be obviously erroneous to sup
pose that this charge upon the Treasury IS to pro-
Qress in ratio proporti0nate to what it has been
for the lart few years. Our postal system is now
pxtanded over the whole country from ocean TO
The other There can be but little further expense
resulting from overland connection with California
and the other Pacific States and Territories. Ex>
.,vfu all al ho
Nothern Route from St. Paul, in Minnesota,
to Settle in Washington Territory DO other is
new thought Of as being likely 10 become, neces-
ssry The es innate for the transportation Of the
mails for he next fiscal year, lo09-6O, when COM
pleted: over and above the anticipated revenues,
may therefore be regarded as The maximum which
will probably be required for some tine to come.
Il however, Congress 10 its wisdom shall not be
willing 10 see such an amount made chargable to
the Treasury in future the following suggestion, as
to the means of keeping the expenses within the
revenues Of the Department respectfully submit
ted:
An act of Congress should be passed explanatory
of the act Of March 3, 1915, which makes it the
duty of the Postmaster General IN all future lettings
of contracts for The transportation of the mails, TO
let the same, in every case, 20 the lowest bidder
rendering sufficient guarantees for faithful perfOr-
nance without other reference TO the mode Of such
transportation thau may be necessary to provide for
the due CELEBRITY, certainly, and security Of such
transporta ion." Aud TO make the law more en-
phatc it should provide that the Postmaster General
shall not in any case whatever accept bid Tor mai
service having any reference to the conveyance OF
passengers or freight Of any kind other than regu-
lar mail matter.
The effect of such legislation would be to substi
tute stages with two horses on routes where four
horses coaches are now employed, while stages in
their turn would give place to the buggy, and, indeed,
oftentimes to horseback conveyance In the few
cases where fourhorse vehicles would be necessary,
on account of the large amount Of mail matter the
difference between the coast Of passenger coaches
and the palmer and cheaper wagon, sufficient for
conveying the mails, void be very considerable, and
So also, proportiOnate saving would result IN the
case of stages when changed to aPlainer and cheaper
conveyance Of equal capacity.
If the whote importation Of the mails were thus
arranged, by means Of what are commonly called
and Known as ''Star bids, it would accomplish a
reduction in the transportation account Of probably
one million af dollars per snnum.
The entire discohtinualce Of uT-hOrse and two
horse mail coaches would not necessarily follow for
wherever the number Of passengers would make 1t
pro6table contractors would still employ coach
service Whenever the travel on any route offers
no sueh iuducement, there exists no obligation on
the part of Government to pay an extra sum for
mail service in order to promote the convenience Of
travellers.
The rapid. extension If railroads has contributed
most largely to sWethe expenditures of the Depart
ment Wherever new road is opened 1t becomes
necessary to convey mails it, and almost invari
ably at rate of pay far above that on coach routes
while in mary instances, the latter must be oOntnu
ed or other service provided for the Offices which are
not reached by the railroad, thus doubling the e1-
pense. ...-. ..
A. example, it may stated that the railroad service between
Cumberland, Maryland and Wheeling Virginia including route
agents aud mail messengers COST per annum S44g9o
Service is also necessary the old stage route at
ro,., .....-...--........--...-.-.--5O,8a 5
Before he completion Of railroad the highest pay
for conveying he through mail on this route, per 100
Increase, per annum nearly 100 per cent, or s2as5
But lift be desied to relieve the Treasuary from
the reouisitons upon it for the service OF this De-
partment, it will be necessary not only to reduce
expenses by disconnecsirg The mails from the trans
poftation Of passengers and freight but TO increase
the revenue by The imposition Of rates of postage
approaching nearly the value or cost OF trans
poraon and delivery Of letter and printed matter
A move in this direction was made at the last
sion of Congress by the introduction Of bill in the
Senate having for is chief objects the raising Ofthe
three cent rate upon letters to FIVE cents, and the
abolition Of the discount allowed by law for the
! payment Of newspaper and pamphlet postage quar-
! terly yearly in advance.
lis believed that the effect Of this bill would be
to raise the revenue from hostages about 500 600
without taking into view the provision IL contains
in relation TO the transmission Of public Documents
| The immense masses Of heavy books and documents
sent through the mails 10 all parts Of the country
/ devoIye a very considerable expense upon the De-
partment for larger means Of transportation than
would be required for the ordinary nails This ex-
psBse It is true is compensated in part, by the an
/ mail appropFiation Of S700 600 from the Treasury
by the acts of March 3, l847, and March 3, 1851 /;
but this allowance is not believed to be one half Of
what such matter would amount 10 if charged vita
postage
The diseoutinuance or modification Of the frank
ing privilege having been suggested BY several Of
nv predecessors as a means Of increasing the reve-
nue. shall not now notice the subject fuI her than
TO present for consideration such modification Of
it as 1t appears to me be readily adopted without
subjeeting members Of Congress to the charge OF
postage on their personal or official correspondence
it is proposed that in lieu Of the ranking privilege
now allowed BY law to members Of Congress, the
Secretary Of the Senate aad the Clerk Of the House
or such other officer as may he designated for the
| purpose furnish the members with postage stamps
to be used on ali letters public documents and pack
eta transmitted By than in the mails, and keep ar