Weekly Trinity journal., 1864-02-06

The OVERLAND MAIL RoUTE.-Wilson Flint, oil
Sacramento. lately started for the East, overland
and is giving the public, through that excellent
daily, the San Francisco Evening Journal sketches
of his observations along the route. Mr.. fllnt
is a clever writer, possessed of fine descriptive
powers and we regret our inability in not being
able to give his letters in full, knowing full well
that thew cannot fail to be interesting to all CAL
ifornians.
He writes that all along the route from Viz
ginia City to Salt Lake, a distance of nearly six
hundred miles, the complicated machinery OF
that great enterprise is kept in the most thorough
and uninterrupt | working condition. sys-
tenn of individual responsibility seems to exist
from the station cooks to Superintendent. Food
is furnished at all the regular eating-statons by
the Company and is all that can be desired.
The chief complaint is that better time is not
made but this he thinks is more chargeable
to the contract than to the contractors. He
makes some suggestions in regard to the mode
of feeding stock which strikes as, being very
useful Thinks the barley should be ground and
hay cut fine and an occasional meal of carrots
or parsneps furnished the horses. At most OF
the stations there is an abundance OF manure,
and IL lie patches of land where any quantity OF
those vegetables could be raised at trihng cost.
In going over his daily route the horse necessa-
rily inhales a lage amount of alkali dust, which
is quite rs injurious to beast man, and Mr..
Flint believes frequent feed of green vegetables
would keep the system in great measure free
from alkali poisons.
The stages on that portion of the route of
the STYLE known in this State as California mud
wagons, well made, but in his opinion not adapt
ed to the route. They have double sett of cur
tains which, drawn close and fastened, protect
the traveller from rain, snow and wind. These
vehicles are kept in the neatest order, and the
horses show evidence of being well groom'1.
But different state of affairs exists that
portion of the route between Salt Lake and At
Gibson. With one two exceptions Mr.. Flint
says he did not see single employee who evinced
any interest in the efficiency of the service fur
ther than to get his allotted amount of green
backs when pay day came. Most of the stages
are old and worn out, q tenaciously holding to-
gether, a jingling of lose iron, creaking wood,
and ragged futtering canvas" The harnesses
are old and patched, and many-colored as
Joseph's coat.
At most of the stations there was scanty
supply of feed for animals, while the laborers
were only SuppHeu WIFI CoHccj HouI anu
bacon Speaking of the food, one of the drivers
re .larked to Mr.. Flint, - This is venerable hog
came to Salt Lake on the Cover ment trains du-
ring the Mormon war" The stock-tenders and
drivers on that portion of the route in az stion
seemed rather to desire than fear discha @e.-
The scantiness and miserable quality food
seemed to be the chief ground of complaint. -
Most of the animals used are small mules, and
they in poor condition. The canvas wagon cur
tains were ragged and gave no protection to the
passenger from snow and wind. One wagon
made the entire trip from Atchison to Denver
CITY, a distance of six hundred and fifty miles.
In regard to slow travel and delays the writer
says :. We were ten hours going from Laporte
to Latham, distance of thirty-hve miles. Wait
ed at Latham ten hours for the stage to come
down from Denver to connect for the East. Dec
10Th. were detained four hours and half AT
Fremont's Orchard for breakfast. Dec. 9TH,
were detained nine and half hours at Juesbnrg
Dec %, were detained at Craigs station six
hours. Dec. Odd, were ten hours going twenty
four miles, with two of the best horse teams on
the route and over a splendid road. The driver
was full of whisky, and had good supply in
the boot of the stage to fortifv against the dan
ger of getting sober between the stations.
| think the above is suffcien, to show the people
of the country why there is much delay and
irregulartv in the transmission of the mails be-
tive, the Atlantic and Pacific by the overland
route.