Farmers' gazette, and Cheraw advertiser. (Cheraw, S.C.) 1839-1843, June 30, 1841, Image 1
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VOLUME VI CHLRAW,SOUTH-CAROLINA^WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1841. }
By M. MAC LEAN.
' .
Tames :?Published weekly at three dollars a
year; with an addition, when not paid within
three month*, of twenty per eent per annum.
. Two new subscriber* may take the paper at
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Foar subscribers, not receiving their papers
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A year'* subscription always due in advance.
Papers not discontinued to solvent subscribers
In arrears.
Advertisements net exeqeding 16 lines inserted
* on* dollar tha first time, and fifty cents each
ubsequent time. For insertions at interval* of
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if the intervals are longer. Payment due in
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of insertions is not marked on the copy, the
advertisement will be inserted, and charged til
ordered out.
CT The postage must be paid on letters to the
editor on the business of the office,
agggr.. r.. ajnnzTTj'nil
AQU&V
From the Western Farmer.
ox.
Mount Pleasant, March, 16,1841.
To Mm. : Dear Sir.?Mr. Gill
has just handed me yours of the 10th, and
I feel unspeakable pleasure in answering
yon. I am always willing and ready to
give that information necessity to the
advancement and final prosperity of the
ilk business in this country. After be.
^ ing engaged in the silk business for the
last 40 years, in London, Economy, Pa.,
* and Mt. Pleasant, in all its various branch.
esi standings and bearings, I flatter my.
elf my remarks may be taken as facts,
founded oo a long and chequered experi.
enoe. After the pertinent and judicious
remarks made, by G. W. Gill upon silk
raising, and published in the Western
Farmer and Gardener, I should betray
weakness were I to add any thing relative
to that department. Still, as a pioneer
in the silk business, I have many opponents
to combat with, and much prejudice
to remove, that stand as barriers to its
'more extended operations. Many good
but mistaken gentleman have said to me.
M What is the use of raising silk in this
?> > novar ml if wavp n? in
CUUUll J I no vaII uo?wi ? ? v> v ...
Fnoce and England." I would invite
those gentlemen to come to Mt. Pleasant
and see six looms in operation on plain
aiIk, flowering silks, silk velvet, &c., dec.
From this place I would entreat them to
take a trip to George Rapp's establish,
tnent, Economy, Pa., where my son su.
perintends, and behold what an eminence
they have arrived at. Neither France
nor Eogland can surpass their machinery
01 silk fabrics. About four years back 1
put in action for them 2looms, silk velvet,
and hat plush: now they have 6 ; and 18
months back there pas not a loom in Mt.
Pleasant, and now 6. Surely this must
convince the most perverse and obstinate
mind, of the practicability of weaving up
our own raising. What has been done
here and at Economy, can be done almost
anywhere in the Union. We have lately
purchased a considerable quantity of reel*
ed silk from G-G. Stockly, Esq., Cleaveland,
Ohio; his production speaks volumes
^ of praise upon his exertions. We have
purchased considerable quantities from
various parts, but his exceeds all. For
30 years in England, I have had pass
through my hands 200 to 250 lbs of silk
weekly. (I appeal for the truth of this to
w- A p? rPr.m Q
Vf 111* V/rmi^C| v/iiiviuiiaiiiy * vii* ?
k Bengal single, to a Piedmont; and I do
not hesitate in giving the preference to
the Cleveland produce. Upon the whole,
from what we have raised ourselves and
bought of others, I am constrained to give j
the decided preference to the American
silk; and when the worms are fed upon
the Italian or Multicaulis mulberries, the
silk excels all I have seen from France,
China, Italy or Piedmont, in scent and
brilliancy. I am aware the loss of scent
er fragrance in England, may be accounted
for by the length of voyage and the
silk oftentimes exposed to the saline air :
but the brilliancy I believe is peculiar to
American alone. This ought to be a
great encouragement to those who have
commenced, to persevere, and an inducement
to others to begin, knowing ultim
ately it will be a source of wealth to this
country ; and if our state legislatures will
give ibe silk raisers their smiles and enoouragement,
and Congress will afford its
parental protection, we have nought to
fear from any foreign competitor, or competitors.
Let them try their worst, or do
their best, they never can compete with
us. I am happy to find you are about
cammeucing this season; I wish you, sir,
success and prosperity, and have no doubt
of it ; for success is sure if conducted in
a proper manner.
We purahase cocoons to any amount,
provided the crysalis is killed by
suffocation, either by camphor, carbonated
?frnm I. nr Riilnhtir : the latter
KM r - , - ?
^ I prefer, as sulphur is congenial to silk,
and it is done much quicker and cheaper,
?-great injury has been done to good
cpooons by baking them and steaming ;
the former draws out the staple from the
silk?the latter causes it to flake off when
reeling. This ought to be universally
known. Cocoons perforated by the miller,
and doubled and indented, are useless
to us,?-reeled silk we also buy; but the
article we want for satins, velvet, &c.,
dbc., must have exceed from 8 to 10 fibres.
AH our own silk we reel, we never
suffer more than 6 to 8, for one thread ;
for this kind of silk we give the Phila.
""" " * 1? ? A
price?from $5, DO to Jfo. uu per jd, io i
oz.?Cocooqs, u before named, 84. 00 '
per bushel; if flossed, the measure struct
off; if not, piled up in the form of a cone
Wahave not (yet concluded as Tespect
having an agent in Cincinnati, but as w<
thing of increasing the number of loom;
shortly, we shall establish something o
the kind you name. But this need no
be any hindrance, as we are constant!}
receiving from all parts, cocoons packe(
in flour barrels, directed to John Bayne
Esq., Portland, near, Warren, Jeffersoi
Co., O., for G. W. Gill. Portland is 01
the river bank, 7 miles from Mt. Pleasant
Mr. Gill's wagons go to that place everj
day, and bring home what's there. Whei
you first start probably you may not b<
able to reel so fine as I have described
Should the silk be fuller, we will purchasi
it, say $4. 50 to $5. 50 as the silk ma}
turn out,?we have no eggs to spare, a
we intend this season to raise 2 million
I* itmn w/irm aril I sin li
01 worms?mc smgic vivji nunu, ??< vu.j
produce 1 crop, but the two crop worms
2 crops prebabiy 3; but the latter cjop i
not of ranch account.?I strongly recora
mend Dennis's Silk Manual to your no
tice ; it is the most coincise and judici
ous treaties I have seen ; the price is 2'
cts. We expect some on for sale shortly
The space for worms is entirely discretion
al, as some worms are much larger thai
others ; but there is nothing lost by giving
plenty of room : keep them clean, wel
ventilated, and never touch them witi
the hand if possible. I recommend th<
Burlington feeding frame above all others
Thus, sir, I have endeavored to answe
your inquiries ; any further informatioi
you need; dont be backward to write. ]
have upon the average 8 letters to answei
every week, from Nashville to Maryland
Every state almost, seems alive to the sill
business. Any remarks you may see cal
culated to encourage and stimulate, or th<
whole if you please, is at your disposal t<
publish in the Western Farmer; my res
pects to those gentleman the Editors.
Yours, JOHN FOX.
From the Western Farmer & Gardener
CATALPA POSTS.
Mt. Carmel, 111., March 8,1841.
General Harrison some years ago, fron
his residence on the Wabash, had enter
tained a high opinion of the vast impor
tance to the farmers of Ohio and Ken
an/1 nf fh? crrpnt West ircnorallv
,WV-J? O o V
growing the Catalpa or Catawba tree foi
post and rail fences: his remarks wen
published in a Cincinnatti paper. Mr
Jetferson, in his notes on Virginia, or ir
some other, published forty or fifty year
ago, states that this tree was a native o
the Wabash valley. In 1816, *17, ]
found them here; but no one, not appri
zed of the fact, would take them at firs
to be the Catalpa or Catawba tree, a
growing wild they look like the Linn.?
That the high recommendation given bj
Gen. Harrison of the timber, is correct
I shall now state, that on yesterday pas
sing the farm of Mr. Samuel Rigg, living
three miles west of this, I was shown i
post fixed for a barn, and a roof formei
and covered ever; yet the post had sho
out limbs; all hut one was cut away
? i i i- r iL. .t i. _
Wtiicn iormen a snaae iur me smciv, a
well as a post to sustain the bam ! An
other man, about three miles from Mr
Rigg, had fixed a similar post for a gate
which has grown into a free, andnotraci
of the post is left! A tree, fallen acros
a creok near Vincinnes, has formed i
bridge for the French for 70 years!?Mr
Rigg informed me that his barn post ha<
lain exposed to the weather for severa
weeks before it was planted.
Discovering that the mere posts of th<
Catalpa, Catawba, or Warhoo, as it i
as it is called, takes root, I do most seri
ously recommend to the farmers of Ohi<
and Kentucky, to secure a sufficien
number of them to plant a grove ; whei
planted close they grow well; and as th<
eccrentric old man, Joe Craig of Ken
tucky, said of the black Locust, that wil
"last forever," far he had tried it "thre
times our Wabash Warhoo will out g
his Locusts as to durability ; for we hav
fouud logs, which from appearance ha
reposed for ages, yet sound, and goo
timber, lasting much longer than m
worthy yet eccentric old friend livedo
earth. But I have no doubt but he ha
reached a better region than Kentuck)
however highly that was extolled by hie
while living!
important discovery?how to rende
wood imperishable and incombust]
ble.
From the Gennesee Farmer.
Messrs. Editors :?A discovery of th
highest importance appears to have bee
made in France, by which the long-sough
prerervation of wood from ordinary deca}
combustion, &c., is finally achieved
This has been done by introducing int
the wood itself, through the agency c
vegetable life, the substances which cor
tribute to these important ends.
It has, indeed, been long known t
amateur botanists, that tho flowers c
house plants, &c., may be colored by th
introduction of coloring matter into th
organnization of the plants; and that th
flavors of fruits may sometimes be injure
or destroyed bv liquids poured upon th
ground, at the root of the tree, at the sea
son of their ripening, which are subse
c quently imbibed into tBe vegetable circa- at
. l&tion. But these isolated facts have tin
i hitherto remained with their possessors,
? without any useful suggestions having Mi
s been djawn from them, like a multitude m{
f of other scientific truths, which only re- fOI
t quire to be aplied to the arts, to produce c0
r the most important results of usefelness to ^
1 mankind. r ^
, The announcement of this discovery
i comes to us under circumstances Which
i leave little doubt of its truth. The dis- a?
. coverer having submitted his results to the
f Academy of Sciences, of Paris, a commisi
sion was named from that highly scien- th
? tific body, to investigate the subject, and fu1
. make a report thereon. In the hope of ab
s usefulness, I have made a translation of
/ this report, (omitting some portions, as ir- ?jf
s relvant to my purpose,) for your paper, *gr
i which I subjoin; deeming it highly im- jr(
j portant that experiments should be exten- ^
i, sively made, the ensuing summer, in con. cr
a forraity with the discoverers' process, as
. shown in the report. It would be no tri- .
? fling result to secure timber, in all situa- 1"
. tions, from decay, and our buildings from
5 conflagration, at a cost so trifling as to be pi
. within the reach of all. w
A physician of Bordeaux, Mon9. Bon- al
i cherie, has arrived at the all-important re- ta
r I suit of rendering the tissue of wood almost tl]
1 entirely unattackable by those causes of pt
i destruction to which it is ordinarily sub- ag
* subject; and at the same time his pro- w
. cesses render it much more suitable to the w
r various purposes to which it is applicable t-(
i in the arts.
t A commission to the Academy of Sci- C{
r ences, at Paris, having been named, to ^
* examine the subject, Mons. Dumas, in the C(
c name of the commission, made in Decern- g*(
ber last the following report, as the result c(
* of its investigations : u.
"The Academy has charged Messrs. ^
Arago, de Mibrsl, Poncelet, Gambey,
Audoin, Boussaingault, and myself, with w
the examination of the Memoir of Moos. w
. Boucherie, relative to the preservation
of wood, the following is the result of our 0j
labors: $
i "The Academy has Already examined, 0j
. with the most lively interest, the prepar- 0j
. ations of the author; and it has before w
. it, at this moment, pieces of these so re- ^
, markable that the task of its commission C(
r is thereby greatly abridgod. Mons. Bou:
oherie proposes to render wood much ^
, more durable, to preserve its elasticity, to m
i prevent the voriafions in volume which it ^
s experiences through the agencies of dry (j.
f and humid atmospheres, to diminish its Q|
r .nMk.ioti'kl.n-cia iet nomant iti tKnicitV ,i
| tUIUUU9l|INOII?W>t IV ... J J J.
. and its hardiness; and, finally, to com- ^
t municate to it various and durable colors r(
s and ociors. 1 a
"To assume that all these exigencies g|
/ have been satisfied, and that this has been w
, accomplished by methods, cheap, simple Q]
u and new; and consummated through the w
7 agency of substances that are common, tl
i and which bear but a low price, is to fix ^
j the attention of the Academy, in a few Q|
t words, upon the Important features of the ^
, subject we are charged to examine. (
s "For the purpose of penetrating an en- .
. tire tree with preservative, coloring, or
. other matter, the author has recourse to w
i, no mechanical, costly or complicated .
e means: he finds all the force of which he
ttl
s has need, in that process, within the q(
i tree itself,?the same force by which its
. own sap is elevated and distributed ^
i through its various parts. This, alone, c<
.1 suffices to convey from of the trunk to the
very leaves all the liquids which he .
? ^ ...? j :j?j "
e wishes 10 luirouuce, proviueu mai mcoc ^
s are maintained within certain limits of ^
. chemical concentration. If a tree he
0 felled, while in full sap and leaf, and the ^
t base of the trunk be at once plunged into ^
a a vat or reservoir containing the liquid
e which it is desired the timber shall im.
i. bibe, that liquid in the space of a few
1 days, will ascend to the very leaves, and ^
e penetrate every part of the tissue, except
o the heart of the tree, which in some .
II
e instances of great age and hardness, or ^
d imperfect vitality, resists the absorption,
d and is not penetrated,
y "It is not entirely necessary that the .
tree shall retain all its branches and leaves '!
SI
s during this process, although it is impor
r, tant that those of the extreme top should v
n remain uninjured. tl
"It is not important that the tree shall
remain standing during the operation, j|
r which would not always be convenient :
[. it may be felled, and its but submurged
in the liquid it' is destined to absorb,
when this will find its way to every part. ^
? "On the other hand, the tree may be '
u treated standing, if this he preferred ; for ^
it is only necessary that cavities be cut
L? >!. k? narhallv P
' Hear me uuiiuni^ ui tuc nuurv m.
' severed bv a saw, and thai the parts thus
J prepared be put in contact with the liquid ^
to ensure the desired result.
"This species of penetration, or ab.
0 sorption, which is effected in a few days. ^
,f without either difficulty or labor, is, as
e well be readily seen, wholly different
e from any means hitherto employed.? .
e Previous methods are well known to con- .
Ifi
d sist of forcing the ingredients into the
? pores of the wood, by powerful pressure .
- or of introducing them by the prolonged J
and imperfect action of liquids prepared 1
much cost, in huge vats, in which the ir
aber is kept suomerged. *
"The- new and ingenious process of
sns. Boucherie has placed at the com- it
md of industry an immense natural b<
ce, which enables it, without cost, to a
nduct into the most delicate vegetable di
sues all soluble substances which it may tl
desirable to deposite there. Is
"If the author has received, in a simple
d ready manner, the great problem *
lich he at first proposed, he has not tl
inifested less sagacity in his choice of t<
s substances which he has adopted for p
(filling all the indications announced a
ore. a
"To augment the duration and hardness
^rood, and to oppose its decay, either tl
y or humid, the crude pyrolignite of u
m is to be introduced into its tissue. 11
his substance is wisely chosen, because e
ude pyroligaeouj acid is produced in all J
e forests, in the process of maiiufactur- j
g charcoal; and it is easy to convert e
is into the pyrolignite of iron, by sim: f
y putting it, even when cold, in contact r
ith scraps of cold iron; and because, fc
so, that the liquid, thus prepared, conins
much creosote, which, independen.
- ?. * a#* j, al_ _
f ot the salt ot iron, liseii possesses me
operty of hardening, and of guarding
gainst the attacks of decomposition, as '
eli as the destruction caused by insects,
ood and timber employed in construe* |
Dns and for other purposes. ;
? Authentic experiments tried in the
dlara of Bordeaux, upon hoops, prepared ]
f the author, have proved in the most ,
inclusive manner, the prolonged dura- j
on of wood, after subjection to his pro* |
jss. The ordinary hoops fell to powder, i
lonthe least application of force to <
lem, while these of the same age, which
id been subjected to his preparation,
ere as solid as upon the first day they
ere placed there.
"If he wishes to preserve the elasticity
F wood, and to render it less combustible,
te author has found in the employment
fchlorine with an earthy base, the means
F accomplishing these ends. Ever pre:cupied
with the thought that his disjveries,
to be most serviceable, must resive
universal practical application, the
ilhor has net contented himself with
te employment of the chlorate of calcim,
notwithstanding its great cheapness
it he has ann tlyzed the sea water from
te pits of the salt works, which is withit
value, and by so doing has obtained
terefrom all the qualities necessary to
is purpose. The different woods prepaid
by his saline solutions preserve their
exibility, even after several years' expoire
to the air; and thin sheets of this
ood were twisted into spirals, fi.st in
ne direction then in the contrary one,
ithout their suffering the slightest fracire
or injury of any kttod. Exposed to
le air these thin pieces were neither split i
r otherwise injured, however dry they i
scame; and, finally, they were so far inwnbustibly
as to be incapable of sustainig
or propagating conflagration.
"To those highly useful properties,
hich the constructions of ships, bridges,
wellings, &c., will readily appreciate,
nd turn to profit, the author has joined
thers, less important certainly, put still
ew, and not without interest, in the arts,
[e colors woods in clouds so varied and
asual as to promise much utility, by the
inployment of his metnod in ornamentig
the most ordinary woods, so as to fit
lem for the fabrication of furniture, and
>r other purposes of ornamental use.
"The specimens of this kind, now be>re
the Academy, relieve us from all delils
upon this head; and it therefore
ffinos fnr lift to 8SV I
JIIIVW ? J "That
the pyrolignite of iron, alone,
ives a very beautiful brown tint;
"That by causing tannin to be absorbd
by the tree, after the pyrolignite of
-on, the mass of the tree is rendered
lack, while some portions exhibit tints
fblue, black and gray;
"That by introducing, first, the pyrol.
piite of iron, and afterwards the prus.
late of potassa, a fine Prussian blue is
roduced;
"That by introducing, successively,
le acetate of lead and the chromate of
otassa, a lemon, or chromate of lead coir
is produced;
"That by introducing into the same
unk, the pyrolignite of iron, prussiate,
nd acetate of lead, and chromate of poissa,
the wood assumes a series of clouds
f blue, green, yellow and brown, wmcn
ollectively produce the most varied and
leasing effect.
"The colors and shades may be varied
Imost to infinity, according to taste or
incy : as chemistry is sufficiently rich,
1 agents of this nature, to satisfy the
ants, and even the caprices of the most
istidious.
"We have said nothing here, of the
omraunication of odors to woods, by
nprggnations of this kind, because this
i an application easily comprehended
ithout explanation; and also because
is too strictly limited to the demands of
ixury to be placed in the same soafe of
nportance with the valuable results
hich we have above enumerated.
"It is evident, from the bare announcetent
of these results, that they have not
sen, and could not be, the result of
ccidental discovery. The author has
educed them from simple ideas; and
ley are the fruit of long continued and
iborious studies and experiments.
The commission closed their labors
rith a recommendation that a copy of
neir report be transmitted to the minisjrs
of agriculture and commerce, of the
ublic works and the marine, of finances
no of war, which recommendation was
dopted by the Academy.
At a subsequent sitting of the Academy*
hat body received notice from the raipiters
of war and finance, that they had
ecommended the method of Dr. Boucbrie
to the special attention of the comnissioners
of engineers,, the artillery, and
he woodsand forests. This shows the j
mportance that is attached to the discovtry,
by public functionaries, and by the
irst scientific men of thi9, or any age,
esiding upon the spot where its results
lave been witnessed and investigated.
R. W. HASKINS.
Buffalo, March 22,1841.
To the President of the Agricultural
? Qmith Cnmlirtn ?
OVSJCiy UJ uuutu vw vtnw
Gentlemen?I ask your attention to
he folloiring resolution, adopted by the
State Agricultural Society, at its last
neeting, held at Columbia:
That the District and Parish Societies
>e invited to present to this Society, at its
innual meeting, an essay or memoir on
the subject to which their notice may res.
pectively be drawn by the President whose
business it shall be to designate the topics
on which information is needed."
There is, perhaps, no member of the
confederacy more dependent on agriculture
than South-Carolina, and none
where that important branch of industry
is more neglected. Of the States composing
the Union, twenty have deemed it
necessary to aid the cause of the husbanman
by legislative enactments. SouthCarolina
Has so far steadily refused to
lend even the influence of her name to
the upholding of that pursuit on which
her wealth and prosperity so intimately
depend. On this exigency, .when, too
the moral and political elements have assumed
a sombre hue, it becomes the southern
tiller of the soil to arouse from his
lethargy, and to direct his efforts to th<
devising of means best calculated to promote
the true interest of his vacation.?
Accurato knowledge concerning the defects
of our agricultural practices, and
the remedies that are accessable and cer
tain, is what is now mainly wanted.?
In furtherance of this object, and the bet
ter to attain the end substantially aimed
at by the Society I now respectfully submit
theselection of the topics for the essayi
to your better judgement, in the confident
hope that subjects may be chosen, adapted
to localities, as will afford light
enough to guide us to the goal of usefu!
and profitable labour.
It is conceded that there exist ruinoui
errors in management, and great neglect
of means and facilities for agricultural improvement.
The fault is too common
for the planter to look exclusively to the
annual income from his crops, witnoui
taking into the estimate at the year's end
whether his plantation, regarded as i
permanent investmentof capital, has beer
improved or deteriorated.
Learned or obstuse dessertations or
husbandry, although they would assist ir
bringing about correct opinions on man)
points perhaps assential to our calling
are not, at this time, the surest means fai
accomplishing our purpose. Plain practi
cal essays alone, the necessity of the oc
casoin, imperatively requires. Iftheser
vice designated in the above resolation be
faithfully performed, I scarcely need saj
to you, that an impulse will be given t(
agriculture, in this State, of vast and per
manent utility. May I add, that this u
a cause in which all can embark. Here
there are no collission of interestor of opin
ion to overcome, and no motives at variance
with private feelings, or public in
nentives to action.
I have the honnortobe, very respeatfully
Your obedient servant,
WHITEMARSH B. SEABROOK,
President S. A. S. of So. Ca.
Edisto Island; June 14,1841.
Editors of papers, friendly to the object
of this circular, are requested to give it ar
insertion.
Report of the Postmaster General
rt* Mav 9Q. 1841
/"Wt JL/C^/UI W/H/fM} wvj ..
Sir: The arrangement of business at
and the manner of returns to, the Gener
al Post Office, forbid a detailed report o
its operations at the approaching sessioi
of Congress* I have, however, felt it mj
duty, at this time, to call public attentior
to the present state of its finances, so fai
as I have yet been able to learn their con
dition.
When first entering upon myofficia
duties, my attention was forced to the
constant demands for payment beyonc
the ability of the Depurtment to dis
charge; and with a view to ascertain, a*
nearly as might be, its undisputed liabilities
and probable means, on the 27th da\
of March last 8 letter was addressed to
the Auditor of the Treasury for the Post
Office Department, requesting from him
information oq those subjects. A copy
of which letter, marked A, is herewith
submitted. Such statements have not
b$en furnished, for reasons clearly set
fortn in a letter from the Auditor, dated
the 26th day^nf May instant; of which a
copy is hereto appended, Marked B.
It was also important to learn, without
delay, what were the pressing liabilities
and what the active funds of the Department.
For this purpose, directions were
given to the chief clerk to state the
amount due to contractors anterior ,to and
for the quarter ending the 31st December/ ,
1840, so far as they haobeen reported by
the Auditor, and also the amount in de?
posite, subject to draft, for the discharge
of such arrearages. His report is here*
with submitted, marked C.
By an examination of that statement,
it will be seen that there was due and unpaid
to contractors, of ascertained balances,
on the first day of January last,
the sum of four hundred and forty-seven
thousand arid seventy-nine dollars, ($447,.
079,) a considerable portion of which has
been paid from the revenues of the quarter
ending on the 3lst March. A report #
from the Auditor upon all the outstanding
contracts will undoubtedly increase
this amount of indebtedness to a total
exceeding half a million of dollars* In
addition to which, heavy demand* are
frequently made on the Department
upon unliquidated claims. Of such demands,
no notice can be taken at this
time, nor is it proper that an opinion as to
their justice should be now expressed.
Under these circumstances, two questions
naturally present themselves; How
the n?nnrtmAnt to be sustained under
1 its present embarrassments? and, What
are its financial hopes for the future?
As no estimates, upon which can be
' based an answer to the first inquiry, can
be presented until a full statement of
the balances due from postmasters shall
( have been reported by the Auditor, it is
( passed, with the single remark, that, alr
though it can hardly be doubted that a
large aggregate sum will be found due,
. it is to be feared that, from the small
. amount of most of such separate balances,
i scattered throughout this wide-spread
t nation, the want of responsibility in mfcny
of these offcers and many of their seeuri'
ties, and the lapse of time since these
' balances accrued, but an inconsiderable
part of the amount actually due will ever
be received. It therefore remains for
Congress to determine whether the
i amount now due to contractors shall be
paid, from the National Treasury, or
, whether this Department shall struggle
l on with its present embarrassments, con.
suming its daily accruing revenues in
t the partial payment of old debts, and still
I leaving large balances which it has not
the ability to discharge,
i Notwithstanding the heavy increased
t expenditure consequent upon the act of
' 7th July, 1838, and although, instead of
1 the supposed g adual increase of revenue,
' the receipts for the quarter ending 31st
| March last present, as compared with the
corresponding quarter of the year before,
1 a diminution of more than 6 per cent,
still the Department would probably find
, sufficient relief in its future operations
, from the decrease of prices which, it may
r be calculated, will be hereafter demanded
, upon most of the routes, were it not for
r the continually increasing exactions ia
. other branches of the service.
To present this subject in its most in
telligible form, the First Assistant Post5
master General has prepared a tabular
r view of recent proposals, that comparison
} may be made between the amount ot
present bids and the sums now paid for
mail service upon the same routes.?
This table is hereto annexed, marked D.
On examination of this statement, it
will be seen that, in some cases, the
amount demanded by railroad companies
for transportation of the mails is more
than two hundred per cent, higher than
is paid for coach service, upon roads
' j:<?
forming connecting link? oeiween an.
ferent railroad companies, upon the same
9 main route, and that too where the night
1 service upon the railroads is less than that
, performed in coaches. Such demands
l deserve more consideration from the fact
* that, whilst at the recent lettings in
New York and in the six Eastern Statfes
, the accepted service by coaches and oth.
er modes of conveyance has been secured
f at an average saving of twenty.two per
i cent, upon the contracts of 1837, there
r are but few instances where the demands
i of incorporated companies have not been
r increased in such manner as imposed
. upon me the necessity of suspending the
contracts. Nor is the extravagant price.
i demanded for mail transportation upon,
? railroads the only manner in which thqse. *
I incorporations affect the revenue of this
. Department. The facilities secured byi
this mode of conveyance for seoding let.
. ters by private hands very serioudjr di
minishthe reccidts of the offices upoo