The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-05-15
THE MAIL DIFFICULTY.

statement of the difficulty about carrying the mails
the Charlotte S. c., the North Carolina and the Raj
CASTOR Railroads 1t will be that the P. o. De-
partment is not to blame for the interruption.
We don't desire to eensure any unnecessarily
we have no disposition to say do anything that
fleets unjustly the management of our Railroads
we have heretofore frequently commended the Presi-
dents of these Roads for good managemen-but in the
present difficulty think they wrong, and we do
not hesitate to say So and give The De-
partment is willing to continue the with the
Roads at 500 per mile for carrying mail day,
making pay of the c. & S. c. Road about S1I 900
per annum for mail service But the Presidents of
Roads want the Department to give them two mails
day and pay $3.50 per mile. The General says he
has not the privilege to comply with the demand, but
is willing to continue the old contract and if that is
not acceptable he will be compelled to other
modes of carriage. Now, the question is, ought the
presidents to refuse to carry mail at what is fair
compensation (being twice much as it would cost to
carry 1t by stages and thus great Inconvenience
to the public and injury to business. We much
IN favor of having two mails day as any man-it
would be great advantage to our busnesS-but we
do not think ought to be deprived of mail
cause can't get two. We think the people generally
will agree with about the matter If the Presidents
stop the mails again it will be runous to the business
the improperly of such But here is the Post
Master Generals letter:
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
May Sd, 1860 I
Sir: have had under consideration an offer made
by the Presidents of the Raleigh and CASTOR, North
Carolina, and Charlotte and South Carolina Railroad
Companies, to convey the mails said roads twice
daily, at compensation of $3.50 per mile, per annum
coupled with notice by them that unless they al
lowed that rateof pay, they will convey mails
frSt law 0f Ma In tiOD
Herewith have carefully considered communications
from nearly the entire delegation in Congress from
North Carolina, and of the Representatives from
South Carolina, recommending acceptance of that
offer.
By the 10Th section of the act of Congress of Bird
March, l845, it is made the duty of the Postmaster
General divide the Railroad into three classes
and the maximum rate of pay which he may allow, to
each class is fixed. The principle upon which that
classification has been made is follows. Routes
which the great mails between remote sections of the
country are conveyed, assigned to the first class
routes which important mills between points less
remote conveyed to the second class; and
side routes of minor importance, the third class.
The great mails not being conveyed the roads in
question: and there being necessity for placing them
thereon as they can be conveyed more expedtousy by
the roads Uia Wilmington, which they
ported there is ground for placing them under the
foregoing rules of classification in the first class With
out, therefore, changing the principle upon which the
classification has been made land which, it is believed
would be departure from the spirit if the letter
of the law there authority allowing those
roads the rate of compensation demanded The high
est rate which can be allowed them is 500 per mile
per annum (the rate allowed) with addition of
25 per cent half the service performed by them in
the night.
Any change in the principle of sfcation by which
those routes would be transferred the first class,
wonld likewise transfer thereto large portion of the
railroad routes in the second class and very great
increase the aggregate of the railroad service.
The common mistake of railroad companies, from
which results of the dissatisfaction with the clas
shcaon made by the Postotce Department., consist in
comparing the quality of the several roads, instead of
the Importance of the mail service thereon The latter
is the only view in which it can be regarded by the
Department That is the view which contemplated
by the second section of the of It'll july 1888 by
which the Postmaster General is restricted in his
gagemens with railroad companies to "25 per centum
and above what similar transportation would
in post coaches That view is enforced by the of
25h January, 1899 which limits the of pay be
allowed to railroad company under the second
ton of the act of 1888, and adds That nothing in this
act contained shall be construed in any way
impair the Limitations upon the power of the Postmas
General imposed by that secton; and is in sub
endorsed in the of Sd March, l845 by the
clause authorizing the Postmaster General separate
the letter from the newspaper mall &C., if he cannot
contract with railroad companies at the maximum rates
'or for what'he may deem reasonable and fair COM
pensatien" within the maximum rates. ''for the
vice to be performed"
There great commercial interests dependent on
the mails by the central through North Carolina
Raleigh, N. c., and Columbia, S. c., there is not
postofce touched by either of those roads, which
yields postal revenue amounting to 100 per
num-few, indeed, at which twice daily mails would be
desired, of advantage considerable portion of
the community The whole net proceeds of all the Of
fees those roads is barely per annum. and
excluding Columbia, (Which has twice daily mails by
the South Carolina raroad,) about $4,000 per an
while the additional compensation asked by those
roads amounts to $2l 900 per annum. These state
ments show that the opinion which has been advanced
that the increased expense proposed would be small in
proportion to the increase of mail facilities offered is
prope.ly deducible from the facts. The present
aggregate annual those routes is 200 which,
if increased so per cent demanded, would amount
to S64S0O per annum.
In late annual report the deliberate opinion of
the Department has been expressed that the rate of
allowed by law for railroad service is too
high, and a reduction of one-third recommended 1t
would be act of Inconsistency in the face of that
opinion, and without expression by Congress there
to add 80 per centum to the compensation the
routes in question.
1t almost superfuous to add, that in every
pect Of the the Postmaster General is precluded
from yielding the demand under consideration.
Should those Railroad Companies after being made
with this decision (Which will be done by
shifting copy hereof to the President of each road
refuse convey the mails their roads
The Department will feel that the responsibility for the
public Inconvenience and disadvantage which will re-
snt is wholly assumed by them. and that the only obi
CATION devoving it, will be to provide such subst
ute service the of the will admit of.
Very respectfully, your ob't servt,
(Signed.) - }. HOLT, Postmaster General.
Hon. L. OBJ BRaScH, House of Representatives, Wash
ington, d. c.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS papers in the State, ever
ready to catch up anything that will make little CAPT.
al for their party engaged in abusing the demo-