, 1879-12-29
Mail and Telegraph.
Mail Contracts.

New YORK, Dec. 1.-THE Times
Washington SPECIAL says of the Star mail
routes: In 1873, the department, after
advertisement, awarded to V. w. Parker
the route from Vinita, in Indian Terrific
ry, to Las Vegas, in New Mexico, dis.
tance OF 725 miles, the service to be per-
formed once week, and the distance to
be made. in ten days. The price was
$3.50 per annum, so that in 24O hours
the mail had to be carried at the rate OF
three miles per hour. This route was
sublet in July, 1878, to ]. W. Parker,
and on November 9, 1878, two trips a
week were ordered, and the pay was
raised to $12,66O per year. December
%, 1878, the speed was increased to four
and one-half miles per hour, or seven
days running time, and $34,s46 per an
NUN additional was allowed. Again, in
the same month, for serving the mail to
six small offices situated short distance
from the regular route, an extra amount
of $1.527 was allowed. Subsequently
the order of November 9th was changed,
and $15,715 a year instead of $12, $50
was allowed, and then the order of De-
cember 23d, allowing $S4, SAG was chang
ed, and S40,429 year was allowed for
increased speed. Again the distance was
claimed to be $40 miles instead of 725,
and more days running time wasallowed,
and the service was increased to seven
times week, and $S6,O52 additional al>
lowed per annum. Thus this contract
was worked up and nursed from $6,330,
bid at the regular competitive letting,
till it now costs about $150,0O0 year.
Another instance The next case is
that of the route from Rock Creek to
Echeta, Wyoming Territory, distance
of $40 miles, which was regularly let in
1878 to G. NJ. McDonough, the service
to be performed three times week. for
$11,767 per annum. The distance was
reduced in July. 1878, to 331 miles, to be
run in 100 hours, or one and eight-tcnths
miles per hour, and the price was made
.$10.500 year. McDonough failed and
his sureties were allowed to take his
place, but they too failed, whereupon
Patrick & Brown were given the contract
and an additional trip added, making
four trips per week, and $4,000 adds
tional was allowed, making $4,000 per
year. Then the rate of speed was in
creased from one and eight-tenths miles
per hour to three and sixt>tenths miles
per hour, the distance 10 be run in 95
hours, and $64,251 was allowed, making
the total cost $SS,751 per year. Patrick,
who is one of the firm of Patrick &
Brown, operating this route, is the same
person sent to Oregon: In 1876, by the
Tilden managers to buy the Electoral
vote OF Oregon. His partner, Brown,
was formally clerk in the Postofice De-
partment, and few years ago found it
convenient to visit Canada about the
time he was wanted as a witness by the
Congressional Committee.
In both of the cases mentioned above
the entire distance is through sparsely
settled country, great portion OF thai
in the Indian Territory being parallel
with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
Railroad, and all the important mail mats
ter, it is presumed, goes by the mail
route If these two cases are affair illus
tration of how Star routes are run. it is
not Surprising that such large defcien-
cy in the appropriation is required Tor
this branch of the mail service before
the end of the second quarter Of the
present fiscal year.