Mail Lettings

WASHINGTON, April 24. – At noon to-day was commenced the announcement of the decisions on the proposals for carrying the mails on the Pacific coast and in the West and Northwest, &c. A large number of bidders were in attendance at the Post Office Department. The proposals for the Pacific coast are very much higher than formerly, and those from Kentucky and Missouri are considerably advanced, owing doubtless to the military disturbances in those States, while in Indiana, Illinois, and other States, the rates are lower. In all the number of routes are about 2,500, averaging ten bids for each. The sum total of the offers for the entire lettings is about equal to that of four years ago for similar service.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 26, 1862, p. 3