The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1867-02-09
ALL TOGETHER.

We have upon some points differed
NTH our cotempOraries Of Virginia and
Helena. There is one subject upon
vbicb we will probably all agree, and
which at the present time is worthy of
,,Dzideration. 1t is one in which our
rstrous. radicals, conservatives and Dem
orrats are equally interested. We refer
n the present postage law, which inn
Doses upon the residents of the Terrific
ries living between the western line of
Kansas and California an oppressive
rate of postage on all transient printed
matter, that almost amounts to an
fntsrdict. The following example may
serve IN illustrate the working of
she present law: On one of the large
papers the postage rate from New York
to San Francisco, a distance of about
six thousand miles, is two cents. From
s. Joe, Mo, 10 Denver, Colorado, dis
tance of five hundred and eighty-eight
miles it would be nine cents, making
the actual difference, counting distance
and rate, fOrty-tbreG times as much be
tween St. Joe and Denver as between
New York and San Francisco. Under
this law any transient newspapers.
books OF periodicals are required to be
prepaid, at letter rates, to or from these
Territories. Postmasters are instructed
not to forward matter not so stamped.
Notwithstanding these instructions,
which it is tair to presume are under
stood by all PostofIice officials, we were
informed that during the last winter
several huge rooms in St. Joe were filled
with mail-matter, thrown out there for
As the amount of mail overlooked in for
warding offices must be but small per
oqntage of that which is forwarded, some
idea may be formed of the amount
actually destined for the Territories.
The fault does not lie with the officials
Of the Post Office Department, they are
required to follow the instructions of the
law. and feel its disadvantages perhaps
more than any others. We have cited
one instance of the distinctions it makes
against US. Another is that foreign mail
is not subject to the same rates. If the
government makes treaties with foreign
powers, guaranteeing certain uniform
rate Of postage throughout the United
States on printed matter, should not
American publications have an equal
show for transient circulation? The
only argument in favor of the present
law is that under cheaper system, the
overland conveyance would be burdened
With mail matter that would not pay
carriage. Admitting this to be true, do
not all new mail routes require to be
sustained by the government for a time
before they become self supporting, and
would not its advantages more than
compensate for the additional expense
incurred. Our Territories, principally
peopled by miners. have an unsettled
class of population largely out of proper
uoR 10 those who have a settled place of
residence. This class are mostly new
eomers- Large numbers of newspapers
a'e mailed TO them by friends, which
'ney would reciprocate by returning pa
pers from the Territories Who that
mas any knowledge of the immense un-
developed wealth of Montana. doubts
mat the circulation in the States of our
territorial papers would have a good eff
ec' IN calling to at the attention of capi-
alists and labor If we publish the
And of papers we should, this transient
circulation, which would inevitably
-sfgely increase wss the rate reduced,
would be the best means of spreading
'nioFmation all over the Union, OF the
CHARACTER, resources and prospects of
ans region, and calling TO it the atten-
Won OF those who with themselves or
Nhelr money, would add to it's prosperity
'1u their OWE. The press of Colorado
are urging the repeal Of the present law,
40 our eKertiOns be added to theirs. In
mon there is strength. If we put our
-I'u'aers to the wheel and give a good
P-sa' and all together, we can send up
peHNon that will command the favor
sue consideration Of Congress. and Sc
,-rs success. What say you Messrs
Hsrd'd. Gazette. and Democrat!