, 1880-04-26
The Letter-Express Matter.

Ine Letter-EXpress Matter.
The proposition of the Post Office
Commission-composed of officers of
the Department-to prohibit Wells,
Fargo g. Co. from carrying letters and
other mailable matter over the lines of
that great and broad-spresding Compa-
ny is received with unanimous disfavor
and strong antagonism throughout this
coast. It strikes, like a leveling, de-
stroying innovation, upon a system
popularized and become as an essential
arm to the business interests of this
entire section of the Republic through
upwards of thirty years of habitude
and daily dependence. The letter-ex-
press business began in California in
the early period when the tardy, unsafe
and uncertain conveyance of the mails
was utterly inadequate to the wants,
the requirements, and the abnormal,
unprecedented condition of the poru-
lation. In those days the express
method of letter-carrying was similar
to the process of the detective in ferret
ing out the object of his search-wsn-
der and change from camp to camp
throughout the mining regions as he
might, the miner was almost certain to
be hunted and found at last by the pa
tient and unceasing quest of the express
messenger who bore to him the letter
from home, longed for above all seel
| than the return to home itself, and
more precious than the richest "pock-
ct " he had ever " struck" of the covet-
ed ore. In those days, contrasted with
! the express, the mails were torpid as
we'll as tardy, and as between the postal
service and the service by the express
companies, it was just the difference
between waiting days and walking
miles to the postoffice and having the
express messenger come like herald
of quick dispatch to deliver the letter
in hand. And in the remote interior
| mining regions-in portions of this
State and Nevada and Oregon, in every
Territory on this coast, and in other
sections of the country-a similar con
dition this day prevails. An infallible
guide in the line of reform in every
business branch of the Government-&s
| the Post Office Department certainly
| is to a great extent-is the sentiment of
the disposition Of the people mostly
| interested in regard to it. Tested by
this common sense and accurate guide,
the proposition now unwisely broached
will be overwhelmingly condemned on
this coast, where the letter carrying
traffic of Wells, Fargo & Co. is mostly
performed. When it comes to the bed
rock and hard-pan business consldera
tions of dispatch, convenience, safety,
| surety and cost, the uniform or most
practiced methods of transacting any
branch of business may be unerringiy
accepted as the best in every respect.
Judged by this unfailing test, the supe-
riority and efficiency of Wells, Fargo +
Cos letter-c carrying process over that
of the mails cannot for moment be
reasonably questioned. No business
man will pay five cents for carrying a
letter, or twenty-five cents for carrying
a parcel, when another means of con-
veyance equally good will carry the
letter for three cents and the parcel for
ten cents. And in this very item of
preference for the express over the
mails. notwithstanding the higher cost,
is contained the substantial reason
which ought to prevail with the Post
Office Commission in the determination
of the matter-to the end that the ex-
press shall be left to pursue its accus-
toned letter-carryiing business untran
meled and uninterrupted by the Gov
ernment. But aside from this sufficient
reason, other reasons as potent Can be
urged in support of the express system
of letter-carrying. In many cases,
where it is not psssible to send postal
money orders, or drafts, or checks. and
unsafe to send money by mail, the ex-
press affords safe and expeditions
means of transmission. In dangerous,
sparsely settled regions, the express is
frequently the safety of the mail-coach
and passengers, because the express
messenger who accompanies the treas
ure box and letter bag serves also az an
armed guard over all. And in many Il
freshly-started camp, sprung into i'm
portance in very brief period, the pop
ulation are compelled to depend entire
ly upon the express for their communi-
cation with other communities, in the
matter of correspondence and news, for
want of mail facilities to reach and ac-
commodate them. Under no consider
alton, however. ought the proposed
order to be 1ssued-to prohibit the
carrying of letters and parcels by ex-
press. 1t would work a deprivation
and Inconvenience on the Pacific Coast
which Government officials have no
just cause or light to impose on any
considerable body of the people. Let
we'll enough alone.-.San Francisco
Daily Examiner.
AN AGRICULTURAL CREED.-The ag-
riculturiStS of Canada met in cO.ye,-