New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-18
SENDING LETTERS BY EXIRESS.
EXPLANATION OF THE PRACTICE OF WELLS FARGO
co.

EXPLANATION OF THE PRACTICE OF WELLS, FARGO
co.
Relative to the report of the committee APP
pointed by the POstmaster-General to examine the
letter express business OF Wells Fargo Co.. which
strongly condemns the practice, II. Il. Parsons, the
agent and assistant secretary OF Wells, Fargo Co. IN
New-Yors, said Tuesday n TRIBUNE reporter:
"Wels Fargo & Co. use in the letter business regu-
lar Government stamped envelopes. As the company
pays the Government full price for the envelopes ana
delivers the correspondence committed TO without ex
pense 10 the Government, instead OF the business be-
ing at variance with the post Office service 1t Is an aux
fiary and assistant The letter business of Wells Fargo
& Co. sprang from the necessity for postal communica-
ton not furnished by the General Government; in new
and sparsey settled regions and it LIS been the
OF facilitating communication with otherwise nacces-
sble localities. Thus it has contributed TO the
public good and helped to open up the coun-
try As the facilities OF the Government pos
tai service have extended. the need Of the
service supplied by the company has diminished, so
that since 1870 the carriage has fallen off 81
per cent The carriage of postage paid letters by Wells
Fargo e. Co. began with the settlement OF the Pachc
Coast thirty years ago. and has been continued ever
since To large extent for long time It the only
means Of communication the pioneers had, and II still
remains great convenience. The average number OF
eters now carried is about 100000 year-mainy TO
the Pacific Coast. For the stamped envelopes used
$50 OCO year pad. which is net income To the Gov
eminent no commission Is pad Tor the sale
Of The stamps and there Is no expense OF car
rying and delivering The commission on that
amount Of stamps If sold by pOstmasers would
itself IS, 900 year. Many pay us the adj
vance prce-I cents Tor each enveopc-because they
think correspondence hands is more certain OF
and quick transit than IN the maIls. But IN
the revenue of tic Government ia not diminished
great many letters carried by the company for the
Chinese both IN San Francisco and NewYOrk. The ad-
dress iswrtten IN Chinese characterSOnly China
man many thousands Is able to write Engilsh-aud
translated into English by Chinese clerks In employ
This great benefit the Chinese facility
| is furnished by the Post Office Department.
II may be that inc carriage of the cOmpany's own
business correspondence by the hands OF It's own
employees is in!ractOn OF the law alleged the
reporf but practice generally In vogue IN
various kinds OF business throughout the country. Tho
carriage OF official letters, reports, etc. for the Western
Union telegraph Co npany-refcrred 10 ia the rep0r T.
was discontinued some months ago upon an inimutiOn
from the Government that the practice was objection
able Wells Fargo Co. willing TO discontinue the
carr age of the Central Pacific Railroads official report
as soon as the practice prohibited on other lines IL
claims the right, however long as other lines are
| freely permitted 10 do So .
Mr. Parsons said In conclusion that IL the Postmaster
General should refuse the company the privilege or car
rying letters effort would bo at made u get
bill through Congress Such BILL he Thought, would be
easily passed. the facilities furnished by the letter ex
press business strongly favored by all the meuber
| from California, Nevada, Arizona and other Western
| States and Territories.