Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-05-19
THE STAR ROUTE RING.
How Dorsey Run the Business and
the Way He Made it Pay

legal proceedings had been commenced
there, against Senator Dorsey, of Ar
kansas, now secretary Of the national
republican committee, for services
rendered to obtain an increase of mail
service and get additional pay therefor
on ''star routes" in Oregon. The an
nouncement attracted much attention
here, more so from the fact that it was
stated that the papers on which the
suit had been instituted at Denver, had
been received at Denver from a well
known attorney at Portland, and that
the claimant was a well known politi-
clan here on Oregonian street. The
history of it
FULLY INDENTIFIES EX-SENATOR DORSEY
WITH THE ''sTAR ROUTE" ROBBERY.
The claimant in the suit is Frank D.
Wilcox, who, though form merly con-
nected with politics in Arkansas, has
not appeared prominent in politics
here. He went to Arkansas from
Illinois, in 1869, and became
acquainted With S. w. Dorsey
there. He was secretary of
the state republican committee of Ar
kansas, though he never held office,
and bore a prominent part in the cleo
ton of Dorsey to the senate. Desiring
to get out of politics, he left Arkansas
and came to Oregon in 1877. When
Dorsey began to operate in "star
routes" in Oregon he remembered that
Wilcox had come to this state, and as
his relations with him had been of the
most intimate kind he fixed upon VIII
COX as
THE MAN TO HELP HIM
work up to higher figures on the mail
routes in which he had become inter
ested. Dorsey first telegraphed to
parties in Portland to learn if Wilcox
was there. Having ascertained that
he was, he wrote him stating what
service he wanted performed, and di-
rected him to go to Eugene City, giving
instructions at the same time how to
get up petitions, have them signed, and
make sub-contracts for carrying the
mails. The petitions were to be for
warded to Washington to be used in
getting the service and pay increased.
For the service required Wilcox was to
receive S. a day and expenses. Before
starting for Eugene City he had
THE FOLLOWING TELEGRAM:
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 26, 1879.
+. r. ViLc0r:
"All my other letters written to Eu-
gene City. Have telegraphed money.
Inquire at telegraph Office. Go i'm
mediately. S. w. DORSEY
The money being received for ex-
penses, Wilcox went to Eugene City,
where he received Dorsey's other let
ters, with memoranda directing him
how to proceed The route Dorsey
first wished to operate on was out from
Eugene City, across the Cascade Noun
tains to Mitchell, in Eastern Oregon,
by way of Prinevale. The route is al
most wholly unnecessary, as it passes
through a nearly uninhabited country,
and small centers of population on the
east of the Cascade range are supplied
by other routes.
DORSEY DREW UP IN HIS OWN HAND
and forwarded to Wilcox the following
form of petition on which signatures
were to be obtained, which was for
warded to the pOstmaster-general:
The undersigned citizens of Bridge
Greek, Oregon, beg to earnestly recon-
mend to your favorable consid Grafton
an increase of mail service between
Eugene City and this place to a daily
line, and ask that the speed be greatly
increased. This route supplies a large
and rapidly increasing population, and
is the sole means Of conveying intelli-
gecne, to a great portion of Southern
Oregon. We believe the public inter
est will be greatly subserved by the
early increase of this service, and we
earnestly recommend it,"
TO THIS DORSEY ADDED THE FOLLOWING
WORDS:
instruction to Wilcox: OF course
you want the wording as we'll as the
handwriting of each person to be as
different as possible"
Dorsey next proceeded to instruct
Wilcox how to sublet a route, as the
following telegram shows:
WASHINGTON, April %, 1879.
To F. r. WiIc0r, Eugene City:
"Make contract for Bridge Creek
route for speed Il miles an hour, three
trips week, no subcontract to be filed 3,
but
PAYMENT To BE GUARANTEED BY Me PER-
SONALLY
Make same contract on LoOking-Glas
route IS. w. DORSEY"
Following was the next telegram, re-
ceived by Wilcox:
WASHINGTON, d. c., April %, 1869.
To F. r. IFiIcor:
"Make no compromise with sub-con-
tractors Must be absolutely new con-
tract, with amount specially stated.
Telegraph fully upon closing contract" "
rs. w. DORSEY"
Fearing that Wilcox would not fully
understand, Dorsey, at a late hour on
the same day, telegraphed as follows:
WASHINGTON, D. c., april %, 1879.
To F. r. JFiLcor:
"a new contract becomes necessary
because the old firm has been dissolved
and the business passes into new
hands. Must have new contract or
no pay. Contract on Bridge Creek
route for three, six and seven times,
on a schedule of four miles an hour;
Telegraph me fully before closing any
contract. Deal with responsible men"
rs. w. DORSEY"
There the old trick is manifest. The
old firm is dissolved,-that is,
THE STRAW BIDDER
was pushed out Of the way, and the
ring was now making its next move.
Here is the next telegram:
WASHINGTON, May 3, 1879.
"Io F. r. TEiLcor:
II have no interest in star routes ex-
cept Bridge Creek and Looking Glass
Contract on Bridge Creek one, three,
six. and seven times a week. on a