Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-11
make contracts before you try to get up
papers for the increase.
s, w. DORSEY.
Result of These Operations

papers for the increase.
Result of These Operations
by Dorsey in Oregon in the mail contracts
he got compensation fJr carrying the
route from Eugene City to Bridge Greek
Increased from g, ,46S to S2l 400. The
contract stands in the department as
received from Eugene City to
Mitchell, and is to the name
of ]. M. Peck brother-in law
OF s. W. Dorsey, Looking Glass
route referred to 80 frequently in the
above dispatches, was expedited under
Dorsey's management from 81, 500 10
s13,775 a year. The next question was
TO get the route in Washington Terri
tory expedited. This was the route
from Wallawalla TO Pleasant Grove, on
the Upper Yakemema. Under direction
from dorsey, Wilcox went to Walla'
walla on an errand similar TO that which
he had performed at Eugene City, where
Dorsey telegraphed him as follows:
WASHINGTON, d. c., June 10, ~.
r. X. WIlcor, Waliqtr1ltd:
Have you done anything with the
Wallawalla and Pleasant Grove routes'
Answer.
TO this Wilcox returned the follow
ing:
WALLuLLA, w. T., June 10, 1879.
Hon. s. W. Dorsey, / street, Washington,
ID. C.:
Ihaye been over the route from Wal
lula to Pleasant Grove. Your figures
are impossible TO the West. Said bid
81 500 for two trips, sll 900 for six trips
and Sl2 800 for seven trips. What shall
do? +. X. WILCOX.
To this the following answer was re-
turned:
WASHINGTON, D. &, June II, 1879.
+, X. Wileor:
You may givs sl,SO0 for one trip,
5000 for three trips, $S,400 for six trips
ami $1,000 for seven trips.
s. w. DORSEY.
Wilcox replied on the same day:
"Your figures are impossible. Mine
of Yesterday are the lowest can get.
The contract was closed at Sll 900 for
six trips, though Dorsey telegraphed
Wilcox that he was interested only in
the Bridge Creek and Looking Glass
routes. In the Oregon statements 1t Is
probably TO be understood only as
notice TO Wilcox that these were the
only routes that he Wilcox was to
work upon, for the greatest swindle OF
all is i'm the route from Dallas to Baker
CITY via Canon City, which was,
however, under the manipulations OF a
ring, increased to the service OF
six times week, which is
wholly unnecessary, and the
paw was raised from SS,2SS
TO S72,520. J. NJ. Peck also has another
expedited route, viz From Canon City
to Camp McCermitt, most of way
through country without population
and incapable OF sustaining any. This
route was expedited from s2,SSS to
$2l,5O0.
]. W. Dorsey has a contract on the
route from Dallas to Lake View, in
Southern Oregon, which route also was
expedited from S3,0SS to $40, 800. II is
probable, therefore, that Wilcox has
charge OF only small part of the busi-
ness OF the Dorsey ring in Oregon.
The OregOnidn OF to morrow will say
of the developments in the Star Route
frauds: Ex-senator Dorsey will hardly
ask the Postmaster General now TO write
a letter generating him. George A.
Steele, who has been nominated for
Postmaster of Portland, was specia!
agent of the Postoffice Department for
Oregon, Washington and Idaho at the
time when the Star service was 80
largely expedited and the pay on many
routes so Intensely and
Fraudulently Increased.
He knew all about these transactions, as
he had his attention called to them, and
especially to the route from Dallas to
Baker City via Canon City, which route
was expedited from s., ,2SS to 81, ,520. 1t
would be a pertinent inquiry to learn
what was the nature OF his
reports to the Department on
there routes, and what accommodation
he made. Did he help the contractors
to work up these routes and get their
enormous increase OF pay, or did he ex.
pose its iniquities to the Department?
Just now, since he expects to be post.
master of Portland, these are pertinent
INQUIRIES. We venture the opinion,
ami that without special hazard, that as
a post official he threw no obstacles in
the way OF expedring contractors. The
suit was begun at Denver for the reason
that the plaintiff was able to get service
on Dorsey there. Wilcox is still in Ore
gon. The attorney who sent the claim
from Portland to Denver to be sued, is
]. X. Woodward. formerly county
Judge OF this, Multuamay, county. The
original documents printed above are
here in the custody OF the agent OF the
Associated Press.