that effect; and if it did, there does not seem to be any other punishment consonant to the general policy of our laws, adequate to the prevention of such crimes. The public gaols of the United States are not calculated for penitentiary employments; and even if they were, such punishment seems too trivial, compared with the crime. From the number of respectable, but unfortunate debtors, with which the public gaols are crowded, imprisonment has almost ceased to be a scandal. To prevent crimes so easily committed, and so injurious to the public interest, as those under consideration, no punishment promises to be so efficient as the one proposed. Those who have hitherto violated this part of the law, have been young men, having some education, and respectable connexions, to whom the punishment proposed would be more terrible in itself and consequences, than death; and from which they would have no hope to escape, through the humanity of those entrusted with the execution of the laws; and from thence, it is believed, it would have a much more powerful effect in preventing the commission of those crimes, which is the object of the law. Sec. 15. This section also substitutes corporal punishment for the punishment by death, in the case of robbing the mail; and extends the punishment to stealing of the mail, which was too feebly provided for before. It is doubtless an object to render correspondence as safe as possible: the security of it is of great importance to Government, and essential to an extensive commerce; on these accounts, it has been deemed necessary to increase the punishment for stealing the mail, and to extend penalties to other abuses. Sec. 16. This section is copied from the 18th section of the former act, and relates to the advertising of letters, and the disposing of those which may become dead. Sec. 17. This section relates to free letters, and comprises a list of all public officers who are now entitled to receive and send their letters free. Sec. 18. This section provides a penalty for the abuse of the privilege of franking. That abuse has been carried so far in England that several acts and regulations have been found necessary to be made to prevent it, and, in this country, its frequency already demands provision Sec. 19, relates to printers' exchange papers, and is the same as the 21st section of the former act. Sec. 20. This section relates to newspapers, and comprises the 22d section of 1794 and the 6th section of the act of 1797. No other regulation to ensure the safety of the carriage of newspapers than what was before provided has yet been hit upon. Indeed, the failures which have been hitherto complained of have generally happened in cases where the papers were to be conveyed a great distance in the mail; and the failure is to be attributed to the damp state in which the papers are too frequently put up, the rains and wet they may meet with in their passage, and the jolting they receive in the carriage. By these means the wrappers become defaced or worn out, and no new direction can be given them, as the papers themselves hardly ever have a particular direction. If printers were to give every paper a particular direction, when the packets become worn out and broken, the Postmasters could repack and direct them: of this several printers have been informed, but they do not choose to take the trouble. In some cases, when a long rain occurs, even that could not be done, as many of the papers are so much damaged and defaced as to become illegible. Letters having proper directions, being more compact, and wrote on finer paper, are not so subject to injury, and rarely, if ever, fail from that cause. It is not believed that the safety and regularity with which letters pass in the mail is at all owing to any greater care in the Postmasters or the carriers of the mail. The portmanteaus and bags used in both cases are made of leather, lined with oil cloth, and secured by locks; both letters and papers are first put into painted bags, and then into the portmanteau: it does not seem that other precautions can properly be used for saving those newspapers from wet and from wear, which are carried on horseback, than are already taken. The papers, in many cases, are omitted or misdirected by the printers; one of them particularly, who has been the most clamorous on that subject, has had that business done very negligently, and has often attributed miscarriages to the Post Office, when they arose wholly from his own inattention. No material alteration is therefore proposed in this section, except that of authorizing the Postmaster General to require those who receive newspapers to pay the amount of one quarter's postage in advance. In many parts of the United States, there is very little copper coin, so that it is almost impossible to make so small change as a cent, or a cent and a half, and it is very troublesome also to make such change, where it can be done, at larger offices; the trouble of charging each is also as much as the postages are worth, and it is still more to collect them when they are credited; so that some Postmasters complain that they do not receive fifty per cent. of the postages, and others have resigned on that account. The amount of one quarter's postages on a weekly paper, if not sent out of the State, is only thirteen cents-so small that it is presumed no person would complain of any hardship in the regulation. Sec. 21. This section provides for the compensation of Postmasters, and is copied from the 5th section of the act passed in 1797. On an attentive consideration of this subject, it does not appear that any better arrangement can be made, or any satisfactory alteration. The rates of commission indeed appear large on the first hundred and three hundred dollars collected; but, when it is considered from what small sums the Postmaster's accounts arise, that a very large proportion of the mails do not amount to half a dollar; that every Postmaster has as well to pack, rate, and enter in his accounts, and, in a bill, the amounts of every mail, as to deliver the letters and receive the price; and that the commission is allowed only on half the postages of the letters that pass through his hands, and into his accounts: so that, instead of thirty, twenty-five, twenty, and eight, he in fact receives only fifteen, twelve and a half, ten, and four per cent. on the gross amount of postages contained in his accounts; it is really not an extravagant per centage. The rate cannot be estimated by the rate of profit of factors and commission merchants: for among them the sale of a single piece of goods, which occasions them no more trouble perhaps than the receiving, despatching, and accounting for, of a single mail, will produce more than many of the Post Offices in half a year. As the rates now stand, several of the Postmasters, who receive from three to twelve hundred dollars a year for their services, complain that the compensation is inadequate to the trouble. Although it does not seem necessary to increase the compensation at any Post Office, it is certainly, in many cases, but barely adequate to the labor required, and ought by no means to be reduced. The only alteration proposed in this section is an allowance of twenty cents to each Postmaster for every monthly return he shall make of the arrival and departure of the mails at his office. Postmasters at the two extremes of every route contracted for are required to keep a register of the arrivals and departures of the contractors, at their offices, which are to be returned to the General Post Office monthly. It is of great importance to have this duty regularly and properly performed, as, without such returns, it is impossible for the Postmaster General to know whether a contractor performs his contract. At the unproductive offices, where such extremes sometimes occur, little attention is paid to this duty; and, as the compensation they receive is of no consideration, they cannot be compelled to do it promptly; it is also a trouble not common to the Postmasters, and it therefore seems expedient to make that sinall allowance. Sec. 22. Difficulties have frequently occurred in suing bonds and delinquent Postmasters, from the manner which has, until lately, been adopted, in describing the person to whom the obligation is made. From that cause, it is now necessary to prosecute bonds made to a former Postmaster General, and to sue for debts arising in his time in the individual name of the person who acted as Postmaster General. It is therefore proposed to authorize the carrying on of such suits in the name of "the Postmaster General of the United States." The rules of the common law also require that the original accounts should be produced in support of suits for the recovery of balances; but the Post Office act directs them to be deposited in the Office of the Treasury, from whence they cannot be withdrawn; it therefore appears necessary that certified copies of Postmasters' accounts should be admitted as evidence in such cases, there being no other means by which their balances can be properly established. Sec. 23. A number of instances have occurred where those persons to whom the appointment of Postmaster has been tendered have immediately entered upon the duties of the office without giving a bond, and several months have elapsed before a proper person to do the business could be found and qualified. When these persons refuse or neglect to render their accounts, there is no means of compelling them, in some districts, but by a suit in equity, which is troublesome in its management, tedious, and expensive; and, in other districts, but by an action of account, which, by being seldom resorted to, is little less difficult. A penalty is therefore proposed in this section, and a form of action prescribed to do away those difficulties. Besides the instances above mentioned, other cases have occurred, where, the Postmaster having died, his clerk or assistant has conducted the Office for several months, either before the Postmaster General received information of it, or before he could appoint another in the place of the deceased. Sections 24, 25, 26, and 27, are copied from the former act, without alterations. Sec. 28. In some instances, from the great distance of the delinquent or criminal from the place appointed for holding the courts of the United States, it will amount to a double punishment in expense and loss of time to prosecute him before them; and it is desirable, particularly when the smaller offences or delinquencies occur, to prosecute at as little expense to the public and individuals as can be conveniently done. It would, for instance, be a severe punishment upon a ferryman at Pittsburg, who might incur a penalty of five or ten dollars by a wilful delay in crossing the mail, to bring him all the way from Pittsburg to Philadelphia for trial. On this account, it is proposed to authorize the Judiciary of the several States to try offences under this act. Sec. 29. This section is provided merely to accelerate the proceedings on suits: it is well known that, in some of the States, they are extremely dilatory. Sec. 30. This section only repeals the former acts, and provides for the prosecutions of offences under them.. JOS. HABERSHAM, Postmaster General. GENERAL POST OFFICE, PHILADELPHIA, January 8, 1799. 7th CONGRESS.] No. 9. [1st SESSION. FURTHER PROVISION FOR TRANSPORTING THE MAIL. COMMUNICATED TO THE SENATE, MARCH 30, 1802. Mr. JACKSON, from the committee to whom was referred the resolution of the Senate, of the 12th of March, to inquire what further and more effectual means ought to be provided by law for carrying the mail of the United States, reported the following documents: SIR: SENATE ROOM, March 17th, 1802. A committee of the Senate, appointed to inquire what further and more effectual means ought to be provided, by law, for carrying the mail of the United States, request your information on the following points: 1st. Is there any part of the main post road on which the mail is carried in stages, established by, and at the expense of, the United States, and if so, on what part or district of the said road? 2d. What has been the expense of that establishment, and what the income or profit thereof, if any? 3d. Would it at present, or eventually, be profitable to the fund of the Post Office to establish mail stages from Portland, in Maine, to Louisville, in Georgia? 4th. Should that object not be attainable at the present period, or not be expedient, the committee request an estimate of you of the probable expense of establishing a line of mail stages from Petersburg, in Virginia, to Louisville, in Georgia, and the probable advantage, if any, which would accrue, eventually, to the funds of the Post Office from such an establishment. 5th. Whether it be necessary, at the present session, to provide any further means, by law, for the safe carrying the mail, and to regulate contracts made in relation to the same, by penalties or otherwise. By order of the committee. I have the honor to be, &c. JAMES JACKSON, Chairman. Hon. GIDEON GRANGER, Postmaster General U, S. GENERAL POST OFFICE, March 23, 1802. SIR: 66 I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, containing the following questions; and in obedience to the request of the committee of the Senate appointed to inquire what further and more effectual means ought to be provided, by law, for carrying the mail of the United States," transmit the replies herein contained. Question 1st. Is there any part of the main post road on which the mail is carried in stages, established by, and at the expense of, the United States, and if so, on what part or district of the said road? Answer. The mail is carried in stages established by the late Postmaster General, and at the expense of the United States, on the post road between the cities of Philadelphia and Baltimore. Question 2d. What has been the expense of that establishment, and what the income or profit thereof, if any? Answer. The transportation of the mail by this establishment commenced on the 2d day of May, 1799. The value of the forage and other property belonging to the public has not been ascertained. An exact estimate of the profits cannot be given. The balance of expenditures and receipts at this office, are $22,469 92, and form a charge against the establishment to that amount, $22,469 92 The lowest price for which any one could have been procured to transport the mail, per year, together with the offers made for the property on hand, may furnish a tolerably correct estimate of the actual profit resulting to the public from the establishment. The transportation of the mail for three years, computing up to the 2d day of May next, at $5,000 per year, the lowest price for which any one would carry it when the public carriages were established, The sum repeatedly offered for the public property on the road, exclusive of forage, by persons possessing the means of knowing the profits of the institution, and which it is believed is not the value of it, is To these may be added Cash in the hands of the agents more than sufficient to meet the demands against the establishment, at least The forage at various stands on the road, estimated at Deduct the above sum of Balance in favor of the establishment for the three first years, 15,000 00 16,000 00 1,400 00 1,100 00 $33,500 00 22,469 92 $11,030 08 For the last year and an half the fare of travellers has defrayed the expenses of the establishment, and the actual profit has been for that time equal to the whole expense of transporting the mail. It is proper to remark that the mail has been carried with unexampled regularity and despatch, within the body of a carriage, in a box prepared for that purpose, less liable to be chated and injured, and secured from robbery and inclement weather. Question 3d. Would it at present, or eventually, be profitable to the funds of the Post Office to establish mail stages from Portland, in Maine, to Louisville, in Georgia? And Question 4th. Should that object not be attainable at the present period, or not lie expedient, the committee request an estimate of you of the probable expense of establishing a line of mail stages from Petersburg, in Virginia, to Louisville, in Georgia, and the probable advantage, if any, which would accrue, eventually, to the funds of the Post Office from such an establishment. Answer. By increasing the security of the mail, ensuring the regularity of its arrival and departure, and transporting it with all possible expedition from one commercial city to another, the amount of postage will be increased. It is certain that mails will be conveyed by the public with more regularity, safety, and expedition, and with less injury than they will by individual contractors; with the latter it is a secondary object. The price allowed for transporting the mail bears but a small proportion to the fare of the passengers. It is believed that the establishment of mail stages between the places mentioned will be eventually profitable to the funds of the Post Office, and highly useful to the public. Whether it would at present be profitable or not must rest on conjecture. Experience alone can determine the question. How far the European peace will check commercial enterprise and the necessity of correspondence and intercourse, cannot be calculated. Assuming as a principle that the regular growth of the country will equal the reduction of correspondence and intercourse to be calculated from the present state of Europe, of which you are competent judges, it is believed that, from Petersburg, in Virginia, to Portland, in Maine, the fare of passengers would defray the expense of supporting mail coaches, after they had been in operation one year, and I think it might with confidence be calculated upon after the second year; the mail would then be conveyed free from expense. The future expense of conveying that mail may be calculated at $25,000 yearly. On this part of the road stage carriages have been long in use, and no doubt now furnish a profit to the proprietors, exclusive of what they receive for transporting the mail. I have no acquaintance with the country between Petersburg and Louisville; from the best information I have been able to obtain, there appears to be very considerable intercourse between Petersburg and Fayetteville, a distance of one hundred and ninety-four miles. The roads are good, and the price of all articles necessary for an establishment of carriages, reasonable. The price now paid for transporting a mail three times a week between these towns is $6,120 yearly. The fare of passengers, it is calculated, will support the desired establishment after it has been in operation four years, and, it is to be hoped, in a much shorter time. Indeed, should the Government establish a line of carriages from Louisville to Raleigh, a private adventurer stands ready to complete the connexion, by running his stages between Petersburg and Raleigh. Raleigh is two hundred and ninety-five miles from this place and fifty-eight miles this side of Fayetteville. From Fayetteville to Louisville the prospect does not appear so flattering; the expenses of the establishment will be considerably greater, and the prospect of passengers is not so good; but the country is fast rising into importance. In the course of a few years it is probable the profits of the establishment would be equal to its support. Many of the people of South Carolina and Georgia visit the New England States in the summer months; a considerable proportion of these travellers would make use of the stages. The distance from Fayetteville to Louisville is computed at three hundred and four miles. For the transportation of a mail three times a week from Fayetteville to Augusta, and once a week from Augusta to Louisville, there is now paid to contractors $7,100. An arrangement of the main mail through the United States is taking place, for which an extra compensation must be made to the contractors. The capital required to erect a line from Portland to Louisville, that shall carry a mail six days in each week from Portland to Petersburg, and three days in a week from Petersburg to Louisville, is estimated at $95,309; this includes the first cost of horses, carriages, harness, and one month's forage. The expense of placing the property on various parts of the line may be computed at $3,000, and is to be added to that sum. To erect a line from Petersburg to Louisville, which shall carry a mail three days in each week, will, on the same estimate, require a capital of $25,547 16, to which may be added, for placing the property on the line, $1,200. To establish a line from Raleigh to Louisville, on the same principles and with the same estimate, will require a capital of $18,468 67, excluding the expense of placing the property on the line, which may be estimated at $800. The foregoing estimates are made from the expense actually incurred in establishing the line between Philadelphia and Baltimore. I believe they are eighteen or twenty per cent. higher than the actual expense through New England, and probably as much lower than the expense would be in South Carolina and Georgia. It is generally computed and agreed by persons acquainted with the business, that the fare of seven passengers will fully defray the expense of two lines of stages. Whenever we can calculate on four passengers one way and three back, daily, daily mails may be run without any expense to the Government; wherever half that number of passengers may be relied on, three mails in a week may be run on the same principles. To support the establishment between Petersburg and Louisville would require something more than ten passengers a week passing each way. The mail has become the channel of remittance for the commercial interest of the country, and, in some measure, for the Government: its contents cannot be too well secured and guarded; while carried on horseback or in sulkies, it is exposed to robberies both by the carriers and by others. It has been once robbed in Georgia and once in South Carolina, since the first of December last. When transported in mail coaches the passengers guard the carrier from attack, and the public from the evils of the carrier's dishonesty. The transportation of the mail in stage coaches is considered at this office of such importance as to justify an extra allowance of at least twenty per cent. to aid an infant establishment. To furnish for your use all the information in my power to communicate, I herewith transmit a statement of the present and probable future expense of transporting the public mail on the whole route from Portland to Louisville, marked A; a statement of the duration of existing contracts for the transportation of that mail, marked B; a statement of the expense of establishing mail coaches, and distinguishing the expense between the different principal towns, marked C; a list of questions proposed to sundry gentlemen of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, (with the necessary changes to adapt the inquiries to the roads in each State) marked D, toge ther with several answers to the same, marked E; such further answers as may be received shall be transmitted. Question 5. Whether it be necessary, at the present session, to provide any further means by law, for the safe carriage of the mail, and to regulate contracts made in relation to the same by penalties or otherwise? Answer 1. The main mail of the United States, after the fifteenth day of next month, is to be transported with increased expedition. It would much facilitate its progress if all other carriages for the transportation of passengers were compelled to give the road to the mail coaches. 2. Cases exist where a mail contractor is wholly negligent of his duty, and the benefits of the institution nearly lost. The Postmaster General has no express authority to declare the contract violated, and place the mail in other hands: such authority would be useful if it was fairly exercised. 3. The revenue of the Department would receive a considerable increase by preventing the travellers in the mail carriages from carrying letters, by compelling them to call at the first Post Office on the road and deliver the letter to the Postmaster, to be forwarded in the mail, or pay to that officer the postage of such letter from the place where received to the place of destination. 4. The law ought, in my opinion, to prohibit contractors from entrusting the mail to negroes, or people of color. By the laws of several of the States they are not allowed as witnesses except against persons of their color. People disposed to rob the mail will not be equally prevented by the fear of conviction. There are also political considerations which, at this time, will evince the propriety of such restriction. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, GIDEON GRANGER. Hon. JAMES JACKSON Esq. Chairman of the Committee of the Senate on the Post Office Establishment. Statement of the annual expense of carrying the mail of the United States, from Portland, Maine, to Louisville, Georgia. Statement of the duration of the existing contracts from Portland, Maine, to Louisville, Georgia. Contract-Portland and Portsmouth, N. H. from October 1st, 1801, to September 30th, 1803. 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 Portsmouth and Boston, Ms. from October 1st, 1800, to September 30th, 1804. Baltimore and Georgetown, D. C. from October 1st, 1800, to September 30th, 1804. Estimate of the expense of establishing a line of Stages from Portland, Maine, to Louisville, Georgia, calculated on the actual expense of establishing the present public line from Philadelphia to Baltimore. The actual sum expended in establishment of the public mail stage from Philadelphia to Baltimore, the distance of one hundred and three miles, for horses, carriages, and harness, was $10,567 37 In the above estimate sixty horses are allowed for the distance of one hundred and three miles on the double lines, and thirty for the same distance on the single lines; it will consequently require five hundred and fifteen horses to convey the mail on the above routes; each horse, estimated at $132 40, is Seven carriages are allowed in the estimate for one hundred and three miles on the double lines, and for two hundred and six on the single lines, which will require sixty in all, each carriage and harness, estimated at $376 74, is 68,186 00 22,604 12 $90,790 12 SIR: GENERAL POST OFFICE, March 21, 1802. If consistent with your convenience I pray you to give me an answer in writing to the following queries, to-morrow morning: 1. Can firm able horses be procured in North Carolina, fit for mail carriages, and near the main post road? 2. If they can, at what average price? 3. Can feed for horses be procured, and at what price in time of peace, and with what distance of transportation? 4. Will horses from New England bear your climate and feed, and remain serviceable, or does the change injure them? 5. What is the make of the ground, the nature of the soil, the state of the roads, the degree of settlement, and the water embarrassments to travelling between Petersburg and Fayetteville? 6. The last question as it respects the country from Fayetteville to the seat of government in North Carolina. 7. Are there convenient houses of entertainment on this road, if so, at what distances? 8. If not, are there proper persons, well circumstanced in point of character, ability, and distances, who would undertake the labor of keeping good houses of entertainment? *Calculating for increase, and making it three times weekly in lieu of once. 9. Is it a road of great travel, is the travel increasing? is the country advancing in a rapid degree in population and improvements? 10. Are there any carriage builders and wheelwrights residing in any of the towns on this road, if any, in what towns? 11. If there are no such mechanics, what encouragement does any of your towns furnish for good, steady workmen, and what towns will furnish most encouragement? 12. Are good oak, white wood, walnut, ash, and sycamore timbers to be procured at such places, and at what price? 13. What is the average price of rents, fuel, meat, and bread corn, at such places? 14. Are mechanics esteemed and cherished, or are they neglected? 15. What is the average price of bar iron per ton on that road, and at different places? Is it plenty or scarce? 16. Are there plenty of blacksmiths residing along on the road; what is their price for horse shoeing? 17. If there are not, what encouragements are there for good workmen, and in what estimation are they held? 18. Are there sufficient manufacturers of leather, saddlers, harness makers, and the like, in any, or all of the towns, and what is the price of a plain harness for a pair of horses? 19. If not, what encouragement is there for manufacturers and workmen of these kinds? 20. As far as you can form an estimate, what are the feelings and disposition of the people respecting mail coaches; would they be countenanced or not? 21. In your opinion could a coach, passing every second day, each way, calculate on three passengers each trip; if not, how many? By attending to these queries you may promote the public interest, as well as confer a favor on your friend, G. G. SIR: I can say nothing as to the road between Fayetteville, in North Carolina, Columbia, in South Carolina, and between Columbia and Augusta, in Georgia, having never travelled between any of those places; my information is altogether confined from Augusta to Louisville. It cannot be supposed that, in every case, the answers to the great variety of things presented in your queries can be perfectly correct, but I believe the most material parts are so. Answers to the Queries. 1st. Horses, such as you describe, can be purchased. 2d. The price from one hundred and fifty to two hundred dollars. 3d. Corn, fifty to seventy-five cents per bushel; fodder from seventy-five cents to one dollar a hundred; in times of scarcity, one dollar and twenty-five cents. 4th. Horses south of Maryland are to be preferred. 5th. Twenty-five miles sandy, the road good, no water embarrassments, bridges over all the principal water courses. 6th. Convenient houses of public entertainment; the furthest apart do not exceed ten miles, and several within five miles. 7th. Answered. 8th. The road is much travelled, and the country rapidly increasing in population and improvement. 9th. Several good carriage builders and wheelwrights in Augusta, two in Louisville, and wheelwrights living on and near the road. 10th. Answered. 11th. Plenty of excellent timber such as you have described, except whitewood; no such wood in Georgia, without it be what is called white oak, or white poplar; price from ten to fifteen dollars per thousand feet. 12th. A tolerable good building for two hundred dollars per year; fuel, from two to three dollars a cord in Augusta and Louisville; beef, six cents per lb.; mutton, twelve and a half cents; bread corn, seven and a half cents, above the average price of Indian corn; wheat, four dollars a cwt. 13th. Mechanics are esteemed and cherished. 14th. Bar iron can be furnished at one hundred and fifty dollars per ton at Augusta and Louisville, and on the road it is plenty. 15th. Plenty of blacksmiths on the road; shoeing the horse round, one dollar. 16th. Answered. 17th. Manufacturers of leather, saddlers, harness makers, and the like, in Augusta, and makers of some, and menders of all, in Louisville; price of plain stout harness, for a pair of horses, from thirty to forty dollars. 18th. Answered. 19th. Would be countenanced. 20th. A coach at first cannot calculate on three passengers every second day; but I think I may venture to say that, in a short time, it would be supplied with passengers at each trip; the intercourse is daily increasing, between Augusta, a considerably commercial place, and the seat of government, Louisville; independent of that consideration Louisville is situated in the centre of a rich and thick settled country. If my answers to your inquiries will in the least promote the general interest, I am happy that you have afforded me the opportunity in doing so. SIR: With regard, yours, JOHN MILLEDGE. WASHINGTON, Monday morning, March 22, 1802. With pleasure and readiness I comply with your request, in offering you such information as in my power, in reply to your queries of yesterday, which are herein transcribed, and answered in the order you have stated them: First and second query.-Can firm, able horses be had in North Carolina, fit for mail carriages, and near the main post road, and at what average price? Strong able horses are to be procured, at a short notice, in any of the towns along the post road in North Carolina, viz: Warrenton, Louisburg, Raleigh, and Fayetteville, at about $100 or $110. In the Spring and Fall large numbers of horses are brought into the lower parts of North Carolina, from Tennessee and Kentucky, and generally sell at that price. Third query.-Can feed for horses be provided in time of peace, at what price, and with what distance of transportation? Corn and oats are to be had in abundance on and near the road, and generally fodder or hay. Provender abounds most on the rivers, where the lands are generally more fertile, viz: Roanoke, where corn commonly sells at from one and a half to two and a half dollars per barrel; fodder and hay generally seventy-five cents per hundred weight; oats two-thirds the price of corn. Tar river, Neuse, Crabtree, and Cape Fear river, afford grain at nearly the same prices generally. At the intermediate places of Warrenton, Louisburg, Raleigh, Fayetteville, and on the road between these towns, I presume grain could be had for the same price. From Fayetteville southward. grain has risen in price latterly, owing to the general culture of cotton; though, on the road from Fayetteville to Columbia, in South Carolina, there are several rivers and water courses, on which provender can be procured, viz: Raft Swamp, Drowning creek, Little Pedee, Great Pedee, where every necessary abounds; Lynches creek, Congaree, at Camden, &c. About the same prices would procure any quantity of provender at any point on this route, from Roanoke to Columbia, in my opinion; and I am perfectly acquainted with the road, and the whole country contiguous to it. |