The weekly Butte record., 1866-05-19
The Press on the Situation.

1t appears, notwithstanding the letter Of
Gen. BIDwELL to Mr. RICE to the contrary,
that Gen. WooD has received the contract for
carrying the mail, weekly, between Oroville
and Susanvie by stage, at $4,000 per annum.
He will run his stages tri weekly over the
route, and will give BrpwELL, MULLEN and
his brother in laws sheep ranch line, all they
can do with the money they have swindled out
of the Government, to keep up with him, and
land passengers at Susanvie as soon as he
does. There is just about that proportionate
difference between the two routes-S3 900
from Orove to Susanville, and $4,000 from
Chico TO Susanvie. The former route has
been run for years; nothing could ever be sue
cessful on the latter until the monied power of
the Government was brought to bear upon it.
1t is useless swindle and foul nuisauce-a
"stench in the nostri!s' of the public money
wrung from the people, already overburdened
with taxes, and thrown to chronic government
bummers. Gen. WooD. having the contract
to deliver the mail from Orovie to SusanvilIe,
ntersects the Chico route at Big Meadows.
At this point BIDwELL has sheep ranch,
which he seems anxious to make a distributing
post Office. 1t was only this portion Of the
route from Susanville to Chico that was here.
tofore unsuppled with mail facilities, so that
the Government is really paying $4,000 per
annum for tri-weekly mail line between BID.
WELLS sheep ranch and his residence.
The modus operandt by which this was ef-
fected, is worthy OF note. Those interested in
perpetrating this swindle upon the Government,
caused it to be telegraphcd from Washington
to California, that the Chico and Idaho Stage
Company had been formed in Baltimore and
New York, with capital stock of 100000,
to run stages from Chico to Boise City. Upon
this report the contract for the mail was lob
bied through Then it transpired that no
such company had been organized, and that
MULLEN, one of the principal men in the per-
formauce mad obtained mail contract between
San Francisco and Oakland, and was 10 estab
llsh petty express business in connection
with this FIVE mile mail route. At least it was
so stated in the Sacramento Bee After the
Chico contract had been obtained. a company
was organized in San Francisco, with nomi
nal capital of 100000, to run stages over
! this route. 1t is remarkable coincidence
that $4,000 annually for four years. makes
very nearly the amount of this Companys cap
ital stock. Probably BIDwELL has become
responsible for the $4,000 annually iba, is
wanting 10 make up the amount. and the fair
presumption is, that there is DO. cent in the
company that is not furnished by UScLE SAM
and BIpwkLL. No capitalist would risk his
means in stage route without a terminus, and
neither would the Government have done so
had it not been deceived in the premises.
From Orovile to Chico, the mail service is
performed By Mr.. CoRsETr, of the Oroville
and Portland line. From Big Meadows BID
WELLS sheep ranch) TO Susanville, the route
is doubled 10 give preiex, for the necessity
of running TO Chico.
The Quincy Union, OF the l2ih inst, speaks
of the new mail arrangements and BIpwE1Ls s
action therein, as follows
| MAIL RovIEs--Gen. BIDwKIL has succeed.
ed in making Chico the headquarters of the
Susanvle. Humboldt and Idaho Mail route.
Chico should be proud Of the Geueral,-be is
great iu many things, and Chico is his "pet." !"
We congratulate the citizens of Chico on the
result OF her Congressman's scheme and at
the same time We sympaihize with the citizens
Of 0rayille, Humbng Valley, and all other