New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-11
STAR ROUTE DISCLOSURES.
Mr.. DORSEY AND OREGON CONTRACTS.

CELLED.
PORTLAND. Oregon, May 1O.-The telegrams from
Denver Col, which have been published, giving in
formation that legal proceedings had been COM
menced against Senator Dorsey, of Arkansas, for
services rendered TO obtain an increase Of mail
service and get additional pay therefor on the star
Routes in Oregon, attracted much attention here.
The Orogoniaa set on foot to-day an inquiry
and got 70 the bottom Of the Transaction, and the
history Of il fully Identifies ex-senator Dorsey with
the Star Route business The claimant in the suit is
Francis r. Wilcox, who, though formerly connected
with politics in Arkansas, has not appeared prom
incntly in politics here. He went TO Arkansas from
! Illinois IN SEQ, and became acquainted with Mr..
| Dorsey there. He was the secretary OF tho state
Republican Committee of Arkansas, though he never
held other Office and bore prominent, part in the
election of Dorsey TO the Senate. Desiring 10 get
out Of politics. he left Arkansas and came 10 Oregon
/ in 1877. When Dorsey began to operate in Star
/ Routes IN Oregon he remembered that Wilcox had
come 10 this state and his relations with him had
beer of The intimate kind he fixed upon Wilcox
rs the man TO help him work mp to higher figures tho
mail routes in which he had become interested.
/ Dorsey first telegraphed to persons in Portland to
/ learn if Wilcox was there. Having asceuained that
b. was he wrote him stating what service no
wanted performed and directed him 10 90 to Eugene
/ City. giving him instructions at the same time how
10 lci up lcllllohss hlbc iucHt elEtu rhu-
contracts for carrying the mails. The petitions were
70 be forwarded 70 Washington TO be used lin getting
service and the pay increased for the service rs
quired. Wilcox was to receive s. a day and his ex-
penscs Before starting for Eugene City he received
the following telegram:
WASHINGTON. j. c., April 2G 1879.
| All my other letters written TO Eugene City. Hayo
! tele gTaphed Office. 60 Immediately. : W. DORSEY.
Money being received for expenses Wilcox went to
Eugene City where he received Dorsey other letters,
with memoranda directing him how To proceed.
The route Dorsey first wished to operate on was
from Eugene City across the Cascade Mountains, 20
Mitchell, in Eastern Oregon, by the way Of Pine
Vale The routc is almost wholly unnecessary, as it
passes through nearly unlnhabited country and tho
small centres of population on il, east Of the
Cascade range, are supplied by other routes
Dorsey drew up with his own hand and forwarded
to Wilcox the following form Of petition, which
signatures 10 be obtained and forwarded 10 The
/ Postmaster-G General:
We the undersigned citizens of Bridge Creek Oregon,
/ beg earnestly to recommend Ia your ayOraslo
/ consideration An increase of mail service %
iTSS" Inc, and aes hat the speed be greatly IN
creased This route supplies a large and rapidly n.
beier The p9iif interest viii DE greatly snbseryed bS
early Increase Of this service and We earnestly rec
| onncnd IL.
To this Dorsey added the following words Of in
/ stwction to Wilcox:
OF course you want the wording ne well as the band
writing, of each person TO be ar different as possDl@
Dorsey next proceeded 10 instruct Wilcox how to
sub-let routes. the following telegram shows
wAsnINGToS Apsl %, 1873.
Make contract foF bridge Greek route. speed Of
four and one half miles an hour three trip week no
su-contrct 20 De hled, but payment 20 ne aranteed
by me- personally. Make the same contract tue Look
ngclass route. Send result TO :. ". Dofsey.
The following was the next telegram received by
Wilcox: 900
Make no conpromises with sub-contrac;ors must be
! absolutely new contracts with amount. especially
stated. Telegraph fully upon closing contract,
Fearing that Wilcox would not fully understand.
Dorsey at a later hour Of the same day tclegraphed
as follows; ...-.,o.. ,.-o
New contract becomes necessary because the old firm
c W. coreis or NO S5 MaEe contract on Bridge
Greek route Tor three Fix and seven trips on hedne Ok
route fclcsTapi ne fully before closing 1l contract.
Deal with responsible men ;. ". DORSEY.
Here the old trick is apparent. The old firm Is
dissolved that is, the stnwblder is pushed out Of
the way. and the ring was now making ito next
move Here is the next telegram:
WAsnINGToS, D. c., MAY 3, 1879.
II interest In the star Route except the Bridge
Creek and Iookinggas- contracts. ON Bridge creek,
one, three six and seven times week on cneduie or
G6 The Depalt,nrnt demands folr miles an hour speed.
and Won must make contract covering that speed
| more Do not leave out the following Three times,
- 900 xix times $4,000 seven times, slooOO Iele-
ersph me iully before you close the contract
The following is the last telegram sent 10 Wilcox
| at Eugene City:
WASHINGTON. May 3, 1879.
| nrc,nnle you understand you must make contracts
before you Try to se mp papers for inereas' u p,.rv
Asa rosnlt of these operations by Dorsey in the
Oregon mail contracts he got the compensation fof
carving the route from Eugene City 10 Bridge
Creek increased from -, ,46s 10 S2l 400 The con
tract stands in the Department as received from
Eugene City to Mitchell, and in the name Of J. N.
| Peck brother-in law of 5. W. Dorsey The Look.
| ingglass route frequently referred 10 in the
above dispatches was expedited" under Dor
sey's management from $500 10 9l3.475
year. The next purpose was TO get the route
in Washington Territory expedited Ims
was the route from Waula to Pleasant Grove,
on the Upper Yakima Under directions from Dor
sey Wilcox went 10 Wallula an errand similar to
that which he had performed at Eugene City, whore
Dorsey telegraphed him as follows:
| WAsunGToS, June 10, 1879.
Sys X Won done anythng with the waua and Pleasant
| Grove rOutei Answer
To this Wilcox returned the following:
wALLuLl, W. T., June 10. 1s7a
Uop. 8 W. DORSEY, l.l2I Isi. Washington d e.:
Have been the route from Walula 10 Pleasant
Sg S o9 9s % % S5e 81 GOO Se dT tSyce STe' sqa
shall dot F. WILCOX.
| To this the following answer was returned:
WAsHNGIoS, ID. C., June ii, 1879.
You may give y ls0o SOC @ one trip; 5000 three tr1pSi
- '0O i0r SIX ''p' F'O00 i0' seven w. Dorsey
Wilcox replied on the same day
Your figures impossible. Mine Of yesterday lowest
| a. l,DD