National Republican., 1883-06-08
VAN wYCK's WIT.

The Nebraska Senator Grows Verbose and
Facetious Over n Northwestern Mail
Route.
The following spicy letter has been sent
TO the postmaster general by Senator Van
Wyck.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., June 6, 18s3.-Hon. WALTER
Q. GRESHAM, Postmaster General After your pa,
tient and courteous consideration of the mail
route from Fort Niobrara TO Deadwood, called
upon Mr.. Lyman, as you suggested, TO explain
that in the discussion of this matter last winter
in the senate, neither Senator Allison nor any
other senator claimed that more than two daily
lines were necessary to Deadwood, as there were
already two, one from Pierre on the Missouri, the
other from Sidney on the Union Pacific railway,
partment might avail itself OF the better routes In
preference, but not IN addition to the old Ones
which proposition no Que opposed.
Mr. Lyman desired should leave with the de-
parlm ent q written statement
Previous TO your administration, and during
the last session of congress, resolution was
adopted by the senate calling upon the postmaster
general for information as to why proposals had
been asked for daily service from Chamberlain, ON
Deadwood, OAK; IL they were new routes; dis
tanoe of each; II entirely through an Indian
country, and no whites residing therein except
those in the government service.
He answered that "postmasters at tho termini
of each route advised 1t that both were new
routes, distance OF each about 200 miles; that he
had no knowledge of any white people residing
| along the routes"
The matter was fully discussed in the senate.
referred TO the post Office committee by whom the
matter was considered, and they concluded the
repeal Of the law establishing the routes was not
necessary as the postmaster general would not
order the service now that the facts manifest.
Nothing further was heard of the matter until
the day before yesterday when l was informed
| that q contract was made for daily service rom
Fort 1Nibrara to Deadwood; first, because q por-
ton Of the Nebraska delegation had asked for It..
After the bitter and costly experience ofthe last
two years, first In the money stolen by fraudulent
| star route service, and the money now being taken
| IN reckless and extrayagant expenditure in their
| prosecution, all of which service was recon-
| mended and urged by members OF congress, and
of the defenses TO the indictment is that they
| were so recommended. We could not believe that
| the contract bureau would now seek shelter be-
| hind that excuse. There is no reason. and three
| fourths of the people of Nebraska Will SO state,
that any of their delegation In congress should
ask this, but this bureau is not censurablo acting
upon and alleging such reasons, when 1t has 30
dearly learned the weakness of such defense.
then desired TO know If any public necessity
| justified the lettlng2
II was admitted Deadwood needed no other
| facilities. 1t was not claimed that the Sioux ln-
| dlans, through whose lands this line runs, were
educated up TO the enjoyment of daily mail.
| The second reason urged was that one OF the del
ssaton seriously assured them mat & there @io was
| that many OF their neighbors and friends had
gone to Deadwood and would highly prize the
| advantages OF a daily mail.
Besides that, many more OF that population
would probably 40 to Deadwood when stage
ltne was opened through the wilderness, and those
ried by daily mail
II was not surprising that member Of the del
egation should attempt TO amuse them with such
fairy tales, also knowing this same member the
| Nebraska delegation had just as freely recon-
mended service or expedition on one or more OF
the routes now on trial, and appeared as a wit
ness on their behalf
But in fact, at present, the population In tina
portion Of Nebraska is sparse; we are hoping 4
VIII bo largely Increased that II Will come U
stay, and not further emgrate to Deadwood. i
all THAR mail matter went TO Deadwood 1t coulc
carried on S0FSe6aGk & foe & within h ,nr, TsdiS iS
net receipts from the various offices will not ex
coed $3.50 quarterly. However their business 4
south and east and not with Desdwood, and II
seems incredible that the contract Office which
few years ago was reorganized expressly to ferre
out delinquencies and punish Offenders, and pro
| tect the people from wanton deprcdations, SHOULD
80 soon have abated their zeal and revived th'
abuses they were supposed to abolish in new
and more dangerous form 6y believing ana aet
q route which was more unblushing fraud thai
those II had exposed. .1 4u-l .4fL 80
The few letters for Deadwood will not suffer b!
the delay in reaching there by rail via Pierre
The few settlers in that portion of Nebraska viii
smile ut the willingness OF this bureau, Its kindl.
solicitude for their convenience, by u daily, fou
horse stage line two hundred miles through III
dian iiaS. lands a. yearly np enxpsnse, q, & Of $1,000
the west is always based upon consideration Of tn
settler. That was the old star route cry. Tn
same generous consideration to the remaining
population in that state would bankrupt the treas
; ury in one year, The bureau must realize that IL
, proper excuse eau be found for this wrong, in tn
entreaty of q portion of the Nebraska delegation
IN the false statement of one of them, or thei
own ignorance Of facts, which they should hay
, known before assuming to act; With all their il
norance, they cannot be mistaken in the fact tina
this line was established almost exclusively 4
tho interest and for the benefit of the railway.
! II this aid to the said company would cheaper
by single farthing the transportation of grain
meat to the farmers Of Nebraska, some excus
would be afforded to that portion of tho delega
y ton referred to. By a strange aud grim coinc
! dence, this contract is let to John Il, Miner. no
and for TWO years on trial for star route fraud
with another star route defendant Mr.. Vailt
also now trial, security, and If this contra'
, is secured to him, the department should ask h
acquittal from the present indie tment with CON
plimens and thanks. Yours res pectfully,.
II VAN WyCK