The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-11-23
FELEGRAPHIC NEWS
The Postmaster Generals Re-
port.

Washington, 2l.-Postmastes Genera
James, in his annual report, gives re-
view Of the rapid developments Of th 9
west, and the ten ptation to extend mail
facilities beyond their needs at lavish
cost. In 1851, what was practically q
branch posteEice department had to be
established in San Francisco, the
advertisement and letting Of mail routes
had to be delegated to q special agent
of the department clothed with extra
ordinary powers for this purpose. The
great distance from the seat Of Govern
ment and the delay in communicating
with the departments agents incident to
voyage, crippled the efforts of
government in establishing mail
service. Private enterprise, al
ways alert to seize an opportun-
ity which promises large returns upon
small Investments, was equal to this oc-
cssion and express mails of California
were the result. Miners depended
largely upon private express COM
panies not only for their ne
cessary supplies, but as q safe
medium Of transmitting their &C
cumulations to friends or place Of
safety. It was but natural that the
general Office Of the express company at
SanFrancisco should become the address
of all adventures who Hooked
to the golden chores of the Pa
ci6c. The express company readily
undertook the task of delivering
letters thus sccumulsting at their Office,
because 1t was very profitable. They
could charge what they pleased; this WAS
the origin of what is known as Wells
FArgo's postal service in California,
an institution which the peo-
pie have become so accustomed to that,
Notwithstanding the ackno Eledged efici-
ency Of government service, they still
very largely pstronize it. The build
ing Of the Panama Railroad did
not decrease the cost Of trans
portation of mails to California.
That company had a monopoly Of trans
porting across the Isthmus and regulated
its own charges. For several years gov
eminent was at the mercy of the railroad
company. Then followed other mail
routes by way Of Tehuantepec and
across Mexico. Adventures and schem-
ers swarmed about the corridors Of the
Capitol and labored session after session
in Congress for special contracts. Great
overland routes were established, and
vast sums were annually drawn from the
treasury for this costly branch Of the
service. He describes the expensive
routes established by the department.
Contractors who grew rich at the expense
of government, found it comparatively
easy, and probably very profitable to
defy the postmaster general, disposed to
economic. and by degree bring back the
department to the honest business basis
upon which our fathers had established
it. It became the fashion to go to Con-
gress, and lobby through bills establish
ing routes and prescribing pay for such
and such service thereon. If tie depart
ment attempted to hold contractors to
to the strict performance Of their con-
tracts, and exact penalties for non-per-
torrance of service, they resorted tc
Congress for relief, and se!com failed to
obtain it. In this, as in every other case,
the departure once made from q wise
practice, and every species of extrav-
agance necessarily follows. It is not
immediate evil that is to be feared the
most but the train of other and still
greater resultant evils. The con-
ditions Of the department in 1860 had
become alarming. The deficit was SIO,-
652y 542. 50, and this enormous deficiency
WAS in spite of late but honest effort,
which was made toward the clcsa of
Buchanan's administration, to reform
existing abuses, and curb lavish expendi-
lures. A long history of corruption and
moral obliquity OF officials follows. He
says minute investigation instigated by
President Garfield, is now proceeding.
He thinks the cost Of railway mail SER
vice can be greatly reduced. I desire to
call attention to the fact that numerous
petitions have been received from the
Pacific Coast, from New York, and east
ern states. asking for more speedy and
frequent service between the two sections.
In my opinion, the service should be ex-
tended SO as to accord better with the
volume of business transacted. The time
between New York and San Francisco
has recently been reduced twenty-four
hours by the action of the Pennsylvania
Railway Company in establishing the
Chicago limited express, which leaves
New York at am. and arrives at Chi
csgo the following day at 10 am, in time
to make the overland connection. An
effort will be made to have the mail ar
rive In San Francisco at 8. NJ, instead
Of l 80 pm, as at present, and depart ut
6 pm. instead of pm. Much other in
matter follows.