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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --MONDAY, MARCH 3, 1788.
Congress assembled. Present New Hampshire Massachusetts Connecticut New Jersey Pensylvania Virginia and South Carolina and from New York Mr . [Leonard] Gansevort and from Delaware Mr [Dyre] Kearny and from No . Carolina Mr . [James] White.
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[Report of Postmaster General on post from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh1]
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 61, pp. 323--324, read March 3, 1788. See February 27, 1788.]
General Post Office
March 3d . 1788
Upon the Motion for a Post from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, the Postmaster General begs leave to
Report;
That he apprehends there will not be a sufficiency of Postage received from the Letters and Packets passing between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to defray the Expence of such an Establishment, at present; but he is of Opinion that this will not long be the Case, as the Number of Emigrants to the Westward, already very great, will annually be much encreased:
That the Establishment of Government in the Territory of the United States Northwest of the River Ohio, seems to render a regular Mode of Intercourse between the Seat of Federal Government and that Country, necessary; and, considering that Individuals will contribute to its Support, the Mode of Communication by Post will be the least expensive, as well as most convenient to the Public;
That the Route proposed is rather circuitous; but York Town, and Carlisle, being County, as well as trading Towns, may be of sufficient Importance to demand Attention:
That your Postmaster General is of Opinion that it will be adviseable to employ Posts between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh; but as the Distance is great, and the Expence will be encreased by the Frequency of Communication, he begs leave to propose, that the Mail be sent but once in each Fortnight, throughout the whole Route,
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unless the Business can be done by Contract; in which Case the Contractor might be engaged, perhaps, to do it weekly.
Which is respectfully submitted.
Eben Hazard1
[Note 1: 1 March 3, 1788. According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 186, the following committee was appointed:
Mr. Jeremiah Wadsworth, Mr. Nathan Dane, Mr. Abraham Clark, Mr. William Irvine and Mr. Dyre Kearny, on resolutions of the legislature of Virginia respecting the settlement of claims for the western territory. According to the Despatch Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 185, IV, p. 28, these papers, dated January 7 and received (read) March 3, consisted of the report and resolutions of the Assembly of Virginia with letters N. 1 and 2 on the subject of Illinois accounts and papers marked A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, P. The committee reported May 5, 1788.]
His Excellency
The President of Congress.
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