Various

“ General Rusk, who framed the law under which the contract was made, also urged the advantages of this communication on the department; among others were Senators Gwin and Soulé. This communication must depend entirely on its merits, and by its advantages for the public welfare. If it cannot offer greater inducements to the government than the present routes, it cannot expect to succeed; but if it can be proved that this is the speediest route, the law seems not to be violated while offering facilities on the part of the government to test so important an object. ”

“ We have asked no remuneration from the government while pursuing this enterprise, but have gone to work, at our own expense, and proved the entire feasibility of this rapid communication, without the least hope or expectation that the department should in any way be subjected, either directly or indirectly, to an acknowledgment of responsibility for future remuneration. We desire to establish a great national highway from ocean to ocean, over a route in which there is a saving of 1,800 miles, between New Orleans and San Francisco ”

“ Having been engaged in mercantile business at Puebla for the last seven years, I am intimately acquainted with every mile of this road, having, from the nature of my business, been compelled often to travel over the whole route, and am therefore free to say that the whole distance can be travelled in stage-coaches without any impediment—this road being free from robbers—and will require only an expenditure of from $25,000 to $30,000, to make it equal to any stage route in the United States ”

“ Some of the parties believe that a government contract nationalizes the route, and gives it an importance superior to mere individual enterprise, and that the imperative necessity of “making time” insures more despatch. ”

“ The steamers belonging to these gentlemen were carrying the United States mail between that city and Vera Cruz. They had addressed you on the subject of a change in the days of departure from each port, so as to connect, by means of our line across Mexico, with the Panama steamers, at Acapulco, running to San Francisco; and thus supplying additional facilities for a more rapid and frequent transmission of intelligence to and from California. ”

“ Envy is no small feature to contend with; and we have had to combat against it, solely upon the ground that we have not been disposed to divide our interest with others. The late administration was made aware of these facts, and they received with great caution any information coming from doubtful sources.
I most respectfully ask that you will give an order, permitting me, as one of the contractors, to carry a mail over this route from California, leaving it optional with persons to send by this way, and to designate the same on the letter ”

“ The whole geological formation of Mexico is eccentric, and the soil generally composed of the debris of matter of volcanic origin. Such materials form the best roads, and with an exemption from frosts, dust, mud, and rain, except in the rainy seasons, and with no fences to obstruct the facilities for turnpike, road-making, and travelling, presented in this part of Mexico, are unequalled. ”

“ From the fact that the current of foreign travel has been turned towards the capital of Mexico, by the way of Jalapa and Perote, and also from the further fact that the very limited amount of American knowledge of Mexico is associated with the line of operations of the American army during the late war, less is publicly or correctly known of our lower, or more southern route, than of the upper or northern route. ”

“ We have, however, proved beyond a doubt that the transit can be made from sea to sea in from three to four days, and I hope you may offer us your liberal co-operation, without involving in the least a compromise of the public interest; it is no more than we have a right to expect from the department. ”

“ It should be remembered that this company are not encumbered with the necessity of enormous expenditures for making canals, building railroads and plank-roads, to develop their resources; they have only to expend under $50,000 to make one of the finest roads in the finest climate of North America, to travel smoothly and pleasantly, at the rate of seven and ten miles per hour, from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean. ”

“ The steamer Texas, which has been performing the Gulf service during the last summer, has carried a large amount of specie into New Orleans, (at the rate of one million and a quarter per annum;) and soon as the specie and express wagons of this company are fully at work, millions of dollars will flow into the New Orleans mint from the gold placers and silver mines of Mexico now being worked by American and Mexican combined skill. ”

“ The company depend upon appropriations by Congress for the means of remuneration; and as such appropriations can only be secured by proofs of the practicability of the through-route, as per schedule, they, together, ask your consideration of the efforts they have made, and the moneys they have expended, under inducements the Post Office Department held out to them, for such efforts and expenditures, by granting a through-service and arranging schedule for connexion ”

“ We shall also establish a weekly line of steamers from New Orleans to Vera Cruz, (one steamer is now running there, and another now building;) and with the use of the new envelopes, (when they appear,) we shall actually afford a weekly line from New Orleans to San Francisco; and if the steamers on the Pacific could be arranged, we could make a daily line to San Francisco in sixteen days. Our land route will be daily, in any case, on account of our Mexican facilities. ”

“ Roads were improved, others made; coaches, harness, mules, and horses have been purchased, and a large portion of them are already on the route, ready to commence the carrying of the mails. In connexion with, and forming a portion of, this through-route, a mail service from New Orleans to Vera Cruz has been put into operation, the schedule for which was so arranged as to meet at Acapulco with the mail steamers on the Pacific, insuring a proper connexion on that end of the line. ”

“ The lower and shorter route presents the facilities of being six hours shorter to Puebla, and of having lower grades, and a climate unequalled for healthfulness, salubrity, and intertropical luxuriance of productions.
There are features about the roads of Mexico generally that distinguish them from our northern roads; they are not muddy, having no [20] frosts to produce periodic deterioration ”

“ In all this month and next month, the coaches, wagons, and literas will be in Mexico—portions of them being on their way now. By August 10 the mules and horses (1,000) will be down from Coahuila, and we then expect to make the regular transit across.
Although the contracts only require a bi-monthly mail, we are making all our arrangements for a daily line of transit across Mexico, feeling justified by the assurances we have from Mexico. ”

“ The postmasters of New Orleans, San Francisco, Monterey and San Diego, will be authorized to send a mail by the Vera Cruz and Acapulco line, containing letters or papers expressly directed to go by that line, when said communication is open, and you are prepared to carry a mail, with the express understanding that neither this department nor the government is to be in any way holden for any expenses attending such service ”

“ And for setting up or running an express to transmit letters or commercial intelligence in advance of the mail, or for transporting knowingly, or after being informed, any one engaged in transporting letters or mail matter in violation of the laws of the United States, a penalty of five hundred dollars may be exacted for each offence, and for each article so carried. ”

“ My future reputation and welfare is largely involved in the success of this project, and I sincerely beg that you will form no premature opinion on this subject against my interest. I do not, however, believe that you would do so, without an honest conviction of your judgment; but I do know that all enterprises must expect opposition from various causes. ”

“ Steamers were provided for the service on the Pacific ocean, and one of the undersigned proceeded to Mexico to take charge of the line between Vera Cruz and Acapulco. Horses, mules, harness, stages, wagons, and other materiel, were rapidly collected to furnish all that was required for the 384 miles of land conveyance across Mexico. At the same time a small letter mail was established, which commenced operations in July of the same year. ”

“ Carmick, viz: $69,750) for the gulf service, was not an approval in terms of the Pacific contract, and discharged the condition of approval contained in it. But inasmuch as the parties associated in the enterprise have no covert policy to pursue, and have not yet been able to carry the mails in contract schedule time between Acapulco and San Francisco, (although they have carried it repeatedly in six days, or two days less than schedule time, between New Orleans and Acapulco,) they have no disposition to raise issues or ask for unearned appropriations. ”

“ They also undertake, covenant, and agree with the United States, and do bind themselves, jointly and severally, as aforesaid, to be answerable for the person to whom the said contractors shall commit the care and transportation of the mail, and accountable to the United States for any damages which may be sustained by the United States through his unfaithfulness or want of care; and that the said contractors will discharge any carrier of said mail whenever required to do so by the Postmaster General ”

“ Blumenkron, (see Appendix A,) a gentleman intimately acquainted with the whole route from personal observation, it will be seen that the facilities for the transportation of mails and passengers across the republic is the work of but little effort and expense; and from the extracts of Colonel Ramsey’s letter, (see Appendix B,) it will be seen what has actually been done. ”

“ It is hereby also stipulated and agreed by the said contractors and their sureties, that in all cases there is to be a forfeiture of the pay of a trip when the trip is not performed, and of not more than three times the pay of a trip when the trip is not duly performed and no sufficient excuse for the failure is furnished ”

“ This rolling stock consists of the very best built Albany and Troy post-coaches, Concord (New Hampshire) passenger, baggage, express and specie wagons, and about 500 horses and mules, (at the last report 493.)
It is hoped the next advices from Colonel Ramsey will give information that this rolling stock is in operation. It is intended to increase the rolling stock with the increase of travel. The local travel and business in Mexico will alone pay a large interest on the investment ”