parliament, the Postmaster-General is
authorized and empowered "to require of every railway company that they
shall convey the mail at such times as he may deem proper; and the amount
paid for such services is settled by a subsequent arbitration." Railroad
service is performed in New Hampshire for a fraction over 4 cents per
mile. The average in New England is 10-1/2 cents per mile. The average price
of passenger fares, for short distances or long, is but 3 cents per mile.
There can be no doubt that it is within the constitutional and proper
prerogative of congress to take the use of a railroad for the public
service, leaving the just compensation to be awarded by arbitration.
Neither can it be doubted that enlightened arbitration would greatly
reduce the price from what is now paid.

COMPARATIVE COST OF OTHER TRANSPORTATION WITH LETTER POSTAGE. The
following table shows the cost of passage from Boston to the places named,
and the cost of transportation of parcels of usual weight by Express, with
the price per half ounce at the same rates.

The average weight of passengers with their baggage is set at 230 pounds.
This would be equal to the weight of 7360 letters, at half an ounce each,
the postage on which, at two cents, would be $147.20, irrespective of
distance.

From Boston Passenger Per half oz. Express Per half oz.
Fare. Mills. Freight. Mills.
230 pounds.
To New York, $4.00 5-10ths $1.50 2-10ths
To Philadelphia, 7.00 9-10ths 3.50 5-10ths
To Baltimore, 10.00 1 3-10ths 5.50 7-10ths
To Cincinnati, 25.00 3 2-10ths 10.50 1 4-10ths
To St. Louis, 35.00 4 7-10ths 12.00 1 6-10ths
To New Orleans, 45.00 6 1-10th 14.00 1 9-10ths
To Liverpool, 120.00 16 3-10ths 7.20 9-10ths
per Cunard Steamers

Rowland Hill discovered that the cost of transporting a letter from London
to Edinburgh was 1-36th of a penny; and the Parliamentary Committee
ascertained by a different calculation, that this was the average cost per
letter of all the mails in England.

PENNY PAPERS. The establishment of penny papers in this country is a very
striking illustration of the principles here involved. It is now just
fiftee