Chapter CXLVI. to establish certain Post Roads, and for other purposes
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Chap. CXLVI.— An Act to establish certain Post Roads, and for other purposes. March 3, 1853. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United tales of America in Congress assembled*, That the following be established as post roads, namely: *In Maine*.—From Bristol, via Newcastle, to Pemaquid.Maine. From Waldoboro’, via South Waldoboro’ and Friendship, to Cushing, in Lincoln county. From Dexter, via West Dover, Dover South Mills, and Dover, to Foxcroft. From Presque Isle to Number Eleven, Range Five, (Aroostook.
) From the depot of the Atlantic and Saint Lawrence Railroad, in Oxford via Otisfield and Casco, to Naples. From Waterboro’ Centre, via Limerick and Limington, to Standish. From Brooks, via Munroe, Ellingwood Corner in Frankfort, and Hampden, to Bangor. *In New Hampshire*.—From the Station House at Berlin Falls, passingNew Hampshire. up the Androscoggin River, via Berlin, Milan, Dummer, and Cambridge, to Errol, in Coos county. From Portsmouth, via Rye, to Rye Beach. *In Massachusetts*.—From Chester village, Hampden county, viaMassachusetts.
Ringville, to Worthington, in Hampshire county. From Great Barrington, to Alford, in Berkshire county. From Great Barrington, via North Egremont, to Alford, in Berkshire county. *In Vermont*.—From Swanton, via Highgate, Franklin, East Franklin,Vermont. West Berkshire, to Richford. From Waterford to Littleton, New Hampshire. From Steven’s Village to Lower Waterford. From Barnet to Waterford Lower Village. From Barton, by Barton Landing, down the Barton river, to West Derby, thence along the west shore of Lake Memp[hr]emagog to the Canada line. *In Rhode Island*.—From Pautuxett to Warwick Neck.Rhode Island. *In Connecticut*.—From Southbridge, Massachusetts, to Stafford Depot,Connecticut. in Connecticut.
From Rockville, via Tolland, West Willington, Willington Centre, Moose Meadow, Westford, North Ashford, West Woodstock, Village Corners, Dudley, to Webster, Massachusetts. From Voluntown Centre to the Sterling post-office, in the centre of Sterling. *In New York*.—From Little Falls, via Salisbury Four Corners, toNew York. Graysville, in Herkimer county. From Rough and Ready, via West Union, Joshua Slayter’s, in Troupsburgh, and Brookfield post-office, to Westfield post-office, in Tioga county, Pennsylvania.
From Naples, Ontario county, via Riker Hollow to Prattsburg, in Steuben county. From Poughkeepsie, via La Grangeville, Crouse’s Store, in Union Vale, and Wait’s Tavern, to South Dover. From Three Mile Bay to Point Peninsula, Jefferson county. From Panama, via Steadman’s and Mayville, to Westfield, in Chautauque county. From Owego, via Tioga and Barton, to Waverly, in Tioga county. From Silver Creek, via Forestville and Charlotte Centre, to Gerry, in Chautauque county. From Clayville, in Oneida county, via Babcock Hill, to West Winfield, in Herkimer county.
From Little Falls to Graysville. 250 *In New Jersey*.—From Hope to Columbia.New Jersey. *In Pennsylvania*.—From Spring House Tavern, to Sumneytown, inPennsylvania. Montgomery county. From Franklin, in Venango county, through Cranberry and Pinegrove townships, via Clinton Furnace post-office, to Tylersburg, in Clarion county. From Agnew’s Mills to Cass, in Venango county. From Pittsburg, via Etna, Dorseyville, Porter’s Store, Carnahan’s and Norris and Riddle’s, to Saxonburg, in Butler county.
From Safe Harbor, in Lancaster county, to Martic Forge. From Shippensville, Clarion county, via Emlenton, to Buller, Butler county. From Shippensville, Clarion county, via Eden, Jefferson, Lamartine, Agnew’s Mills, Emlenton, and North Hope, to Butler, in Butler county. From Slate Lick, via Worthington, Armstrong county, to Cowansville. From Warren, via Frewsburg, Jamestown, and Delanti, New York, to Dunkirk, New York. From Robisonville, Pennsylvania, to Cumberland, Maryland. From the borough of Indiana, to Smicksburg, Indiana county.
From Norristown, Montgomery county, via Fairview Village, Perkiomen Bridge, Schwenck’s Store, Pennsburg, Hereford, Lionville, Macungie, and Trixerstown, to Foglesville, in Lehigh county. From Hanover, via McSherrytown and Bunoughystown, to Gettysburg. From Slate Lick, Armstrong county, to White’s Eddy, on the Allegheny river. From Bristol, Bucks county, via Fallsington and Centreville, to Yardleyville, in same county. From Elkland, Tioga county, via Farmington, to Crooked Creek.
From Mansfield to Wellsburg, Tioga county. The Cleveland, Painesville, and Ashtabula railroad, in the State of Ohio, and, in continuation, that division of the railroad of the Franklin Canal Company which extends from the city of Erie, State of Pennsylvania, to the west line of the said State, be, and the same is hereby, declared a post route. The Safe Harbor route, in the county of Lancaster, State of Pennsylvania, be, and the same is hereby, extended by the way of Liberty Square post-office, to Buck post-office, in said county.
Virginia.*In Virginia*.—From Princeton to Wytheville, in Wythe county. From New Castle to the Tavern House of James Scott, in Craig county. From Logan Court-house, via Guyan River, to Guyandotte, in Cabell county. From Kent and McConkey’s store, in Montgomery county, up the south fork of Roanoke River, via Burnett’s Springs, to Simpson’s, in Floyd county. From Mercer Court-house to Princeton. From West Union, via Roash’s and Letart’s Falls to Moore’s Mills, in Jackson county.
From Luray to Valleysbitrg, in Page county. From New Creek Depot, on the Ohio and Baltimore Railroad, via Greenland, to Petersburg. From Aldie to Snickersville, in Loudon county. From Upshur Court-house, via Bcechtown, French Creek, Walkerville, Cunningham’s, thence to Alexander Skinner’s on Oil Creek, down Oil Creek to the little Kanawha River, to Gilmer Court-house. From Sistersville, via Middlebourne and Shirley, to New Salem. From Putnam Court-house, via Hurricane Bridge and Sycamore251 Grove, to intersect the route from Kanawha Court-house to Wayne Courthouse.
From Gordonsville, via the Turnpike road and Madison Court-house, to New Market, in Shenandoah county. From Capon Bridge to Hook’s Mills. From Kilmarnock to White Stone, in Lancaster county. From Mud Bridge, in Cabell county, to Boon county Court-house. *In Maryland*.—From Cumberland, via Pleasant Grove, Flint Stone,Maryland. Elbensville, to Robisonville, Pennsylvania. From Addison, in the State of Pennsylvania, via Shelbysport and Accident, to Oakland, on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. *In North Carolina*.—From Gourd Vine, via Morgan’s Mills andNorth Carolina.
Love’s Level, to Clear Creek post-office, in Cabarras county. From Gilchrist’s Bridge to Blue’s Bridge, Richmond county. From Albemarle to Swift Island post-office, Montgomery county. From Greensboro’ to Madison, in the county of Rockingham. *In South Carolina*.—From Little River, Horry district, to Whitesville,South Carolina. in North Carolina. From Conwaysboro’, via Lake Swamp and Floyd’s Mills, to Fair Bluff, Columbus county, North Carolina. From Lynche’s Lake, in Williamsburgh district, to Baker’s near Lynchburg, in Sumter district. *In Georgia*.—From Thomasville, via Eastwood, to Micosukee,Georgia.
Florida. From Thomasville to Bainbridge, in Decatur county. From Thomasville, via Monticello and Ancilla, in Jefferson county; Clifton and Cherry Lake, in Madison county; Belleville, Jenning’s, Jasper, and White Springs, in Hamilton county, to Alligator, in Columbia county, there connecting with the route already established between Tallahasse and Jacksonville. From Ellejay, Gilmer county, via David Westfield’s to Cleaveland, in Bradley county, Tennesse. From Eatonton to Monticello.
From Monticello to Indian Springs. From Blairsville, in the county of Union, via Young Cane, Stock Hill, Tekenetly, Carticay, (at William Fatham’s,) and Falling Rock, intersecting with route number three thousand three hundred and fifty three. From Butler, in Taylor county, via Wilcher’s Mills and Tazewell, to Buena Vista, in Marion county. From Rome to Centre, the county seat of Cherokee county, Alabama, along the road commonly called the River or Bluff road, via Thomas and Carroll’s Mills, to Oseola post-office, Howell’s store, and Centre, in lieu of the present mail route from Cedar Bluff to Cane Spring, Georgia. *In Alabama*.—From Fayette Court-house, via James Middleton’s andAlabama.
Joel Hawkins’s, to Moscow. From Troy, Pike county, via Elbar and Old Town, Coffee county, to Geneva. From Eufaula, via Otho, to Franklin. *In Mississippi*.—From Union Church to Pine Grove, in FranklinMississippi. county. From Aberdeen, via Houston, Greensboro’, Kilmichael, Ceralvo, Shongalo, Benton, and Franklin, to Yazoo city. From Ripley to Moore’s Cross Roads, Tennessee. From Pontotoc, via New Albany and Ripley, to La Grange in Tennessee. From Pontotoc, via Ripley, to La Grange, Tennessee.
From Aberdeen to Yazoo city. From Fulton to Thomson’s store, in Itawamba county, via the Cross Roads and Maxey’s Mill, to Fulton. 252 Louisiana.*In Louisiana*.—From mouth of Red River, via Cheneyville, Hineston, Huddleston, and Burr’s Ferry, to Huntsville, Texas. Ohio.*In Ohio*.—From Wooster, via Cooper, Cedar Valley, Congress, West Salem, Albionville, Homerville, Spencer, Penfield, and La Grange, to Elyria. From Elyria, via Laporte, Grafton Station, Grafton, Litchfield, Chatham Centre, Lodi, and Burbank, to Wooster.
From Wooster, via Ashland, to Mansfield. From Wooster, via Robinson’s Woollen Factory, Uniontown, and Lafayette, to Savannah, in Ashland county. From Canton, via North Industry, Sparta, Sandyville, Zoar, and Canal Dover, to New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas county. From Mount Gilead, via Burne’s Corners, Harmony township, to Sparta. From Strasburg, via Frieburg, to Paris. From Barlow’s Cross Roads, via Belpre and Veto post-office, to Centre Belpre, in Washington county. From Canaansville to North Union post-office, Washington county.
From Marysville, via Mount Victory, Kenton and Mount Washington, down Eagle Creek, to Findlay, Hancock county. From Lavona, via Lena, German Centre, in Fulton county, Lockport, and Pulaski, to Bryan, in Williams county. From Lancaster, via Clear Port and Middlefork, to Perry, in Hocking county. From Eagle, in Hancock county, to Lima, in Allen county. From Newark, via Thornville, Somerset, and Maxville, in Perry county; Logan and Plymouth, in Hocking county; McArthur and Charleston, in Vinton county;
Berlin and Jackson, in Jackson county; and Sciotoville to Portsmouth, in Scioto county. From Ripley, in Brown county, via Decatur, Eckmansville, and North Liberty, in Adams county, to Youngstown. Kentucky.*In Kentucky*.—From Paris to Flat Rock, in Bourbon county. From Star Furnace, via Amanda, Bellefonte and Buena Vista, to Ironton, Lawrence county, Ohio. From Grason, via Buffalo Furnace, Laurel Furnace, and Raccoon Furnace, to Greenupsburg. Tennessee.*In Tennessee*.—From Jones’s Cross Roads to New Canton, Hawkins county.
From Centreville, via Beardstown, Macedonia, and McCoy’s to Bull’s Landing, Perry county. From Jonesboro’, via Buffalo Ridge, to Gott’s Cross Roads, in Sullivan county. From Shady to Elizabethton, in Carter county. From Lexington, via W. H. Lessenberry’s, David T. Spain’s, South Carrol, Lavinia, Hope Hill, and Bluff Springs, to Trenton, in Gibson county. From Knoxville, by the most direct and practicable route, in the judgment of the Postmaster-General, to Danville, Kentucky.
From Knoxville, via Marysville, Montvale Springs, to Anderson Court-house, South Carolina. From Knoxville, via Lyon’s store, Calloway’s and Gallagher’s, to Kingston. From Jasper to the point where the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad crosses the Tennessee. From Sweet Water to Madisonville. Indiana.*In Indiana*.—From Poland to Reelsville, in Putnam county. From Freeport, via Nicholas Kern’s and L. J. Reeve’s, to Pleasant View, in Shelby county. From Bowling Green to Brazil, in Clay county. 253 From Wabash, via Somerset, Xenia, and Jerome, to.
Tipton, in Tipton county. From Midway, on the Indianapolis and Lafayette railroad, via Jefferson and Frankfort, to Michigan town. From Point Commerce, via Middlebury, to Bowling Green. *In Illinois*.—From Murphysborough, via Carbondale, to Marion, inIllinois. Williamson county. From Pittsfield via Griggsville, to Naples, Scott county. *In Missouri*.—From Bloomington to Edina, in Knox county.Missouri. From Spanish Prairie to Iberia, in Miller county From Linneus to Kirksville, in Adair county.
From Linneus to Trenton. From Richmond, via Kingston, to Gallatin, Daviess county. From Hillsboro’ via Morse’s Mills, to Grubville, Jefferson county. *In Arkansas*.—From Carrollton to Rock Bridge, in Missouri.Arkansas. From Dover, via Borland, to Yellville. From Yellville, Marion county, eastwardly, via William S. Jones’s, at Bennett’s River, Fulton county, crossing the Big North fork of White River at Alvin Gordon’s Ferry. From Hurricane post-office, via James Bruton’s, to Dover, a distance of about eighteen miles.
From Danville to Felix Grundy Gaines’s. From Little Rock, via Springfield, to Clinton. From Fulton, in Hempstead county, to Rocky Comfort, in Sevier county. From Rock Port to Lost Creek. From Danville, via William Park’s, in Yell county, and Milton Gilbreath’s, to Felix Grundy Gaines’s. From Van Buren, via Joseph Brant’s, in Crawford county, and Lee C. Blackamore’s, to Fayetteville. From Murfreesboro’ to Adams, in Ouachita county. *In Michigan*.—From Manchester to Chelsea, in Washtenaw county.Michigan.
From Manchester to Grass Lake. From Bronson’s Prairie to Orland, Steuben county, Indiana. *In Florida*.—From Madison Court-house to Clay’s Landing.Florida. From Pensacola to the navy yard. From Oglethorpe via Cuthbert, Blakely, in Georgia, Woodville, in Alabama, to Mariana, distance about one hundred and twenty miles. From Monticello to Thomasville, Georgia. From Tampa to old Tampa Bay. From Madison Court-house via Charles Mills, Charles Ferry, and New Boston, by the most direct route, to Clay’s Landing.
From Apalachicola, Florida, to Bainbridge, in Georgia. From Pensacola, via Escambia, to Belleville, Alabama. From Tampa, via Thomas P. Kennedy’s store, via Jacob Summerlin’s store, to Fort Mellon. From Tampa to Old Fort Mellon. From Fort Dade to Springfield, on to Bay Port. *In Texas*.—From Brenham, via Long Point and Cameron, to Caldwell,Texas. in Burleson county. From Rock Island, in Austin county, to Brenham, in Washington county. From Coffeeville to Hopewell. From Sherman to Washita, in Grason county.
From Centreville to Corsicana. From Swartwout to Cold Springs. From Wheelock, via Marling, to Waco Village. From the mouth of Red river, in Louisiana, to Huntsville, Texas. From Marshall to Waco Village. 254 From Marshall, Harrison county, via Henderson, in Rush county, Tyler, in Smith county, Canton, in Vanzandt county, Cedar Grove, in Kaufman county, Millwood, in Colvin county, via McKenney, to Sherman, in Grason county. From Palestine, in Anderson county, to Athens, in Henderson county, via Kaufman, in Kaufman county, to Millwood, in Collin county, thence through the Searcy’s settlement to Bonham, in Fannin county.
From Houston, via Oyster Creek, to Big Creek. From Montgomery, the county seat of Montgomery, via Cold Spring, in Polk county, via Danville and Sparta, in Walker county, to Montgomery. From Georgetown, in Williamson, to “Gabriel Knob,” a new post-office now established in said county, to Hamilton, in Burnett county. From Shreveport, Louisiana, to Austin. From Washington, via Caldwell, to Cameron, in Cameron county. From Frontera to San Francisco, in California. From Matagorda, via Brazoria, Cedar Lake, and Sugar Land post-office, back to Matagorda.
Iowa.*In Iowa*.—From Newton, via Timber Creek, to Marietta, Marshall county. From Columbus city, in Louisa county, to Yatton, in Washington county. From Sabula, via Sterling, to Maquoketa, in Jackson county. From West Union, in Fayette county, via Clermont, to McGregor’s Landing, in Clayton county. From Monona, via Smithfield and Rossville, to Lansing. From Monona to Columbus. From Prairie du Chien, via Paint Rock, Rossville, and Smith’s Mill, to Moneek. From Copper Harbor to Ontonagon, Lake Superior.
From Drakesville, via Unionville, Chariton, Douglas, and Lewis, to Kane. From Marietta to the county seat of Hardin county. From Colesburgh, via Yankee Settlement, Strawberry Point, and Westfield, to West Union. From New London, in Henry county, via Pleasant Grove, Dodgeville, Yellow Springs, and Kossuth, to Hickory Point, in Des Moines county. From Fort Madison, via Denmark, Parrish, Danville, Pleasant Grove township, in Des Moines county, to Rising Sun, Louisa county. From Independence to Cedar Falls.
From Boonsboro’ to Dakotah. From Monona, via Hardin and Makee, to Lansing. From Fort Des Moines, via Lewis, to Council Bluff. From Hawk Eye, via Black Eye, to Muscatine. From Muscatine to Columbus City. From Delhi, via Quasqueton, to Fort Des Moines. From Delhi, via Independence, to Cedar Rapids. From Delhi, via Colesburgh, to Garnaville. From Delhi, via Hartwick and Erin, to Quasqueton. From Iowa City, via Old Man’s Creek and Millersburgh, to Montezuma. From Sabula, via Maquoketa and Thomas Green’s, in Jones county, to Anamosa.
From Dubuque, via Benton and Shulsburgh, to Janesville, Wisconsin. From Dubuque to Dyersville. Wisconsin.*In Wisconsin*.—From Lancaster, via Beetown and Charlotte, in Grant county, to Wyocena. From Highland, via Richland City and Sextonville, to Richland Centre, in Richland county. 255 From Fotosi, via Rockville, Ellenboro’, Clifton, Mifflin, and Linden, to Mineral Point, in Iowa county. From Warsaw to Shawno, on Wolfe River. From Prairie du Chien, via Lacosse, Lewis’s Mills, Douglas’ Mills, Eau Gallet’s Mills, Rush River Settlement, Prescott, and Point Douglas, to Saint Paul’s, Minnesota Territory.
From Cassville, via Beetown, Lancaster, New California, and Mifflin, to Mineral Point, in Iowa county. From La Crosse, in the county of La Crosse, to Onalaska. From Prairie du Chien, via Boydstown, Richland Creek, and Richmond, to Muscoda. From Portage City, in Columbia county, via Beaver Creek, Crooked Lake, Buena Vista, and Plover, to Stevens’s Point, in Portage county. *In Oregon Territory*.—From Salem, via Doke’s Ferry, to Lafayette.Oregon Territory. The mail route from Panama to Astoria is hereby extended to Fort Stilacoom and Olympias, on Puget’s Sound.
Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted*, That the Postmaster-General beMail between Bainbridge and Apalachicola. authorized and required to establish a mail between Bainbridge and Apalachicola. Sec. 3. *And be it further enacted*, That all railroads and parts ofAll railroads made post roads. railroads which are now or hereafter may be in operation, be, and the same are hereby, declared to be post-roads; and the Postmaster-General may contract for carrying the mails thereon according to existing laws.
Sec. 4. *And be it further enacted*, That the Auditor of the TreasuryCompensation of postmaster at Richmond and Cleveland. for the Post-Office Department be, and he is hereby, authorized to allow the postmaster at Richmond, Virginia, and the postmaster at Cleveland, Ohio, the same commission on all mailable matter distributed at their respective offices, as is allowed by law to the postmasters of the other distributing offices; such allowance to date from the first day of June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
Sec. 5. *And be it further enacted*, That hereafter, as the office ofPresident to appoint the Assistant Postmaster-Generals. Assistant Postmaster-General, or either of them, shall be vacated, the appointment of his successor shall be made by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Sec. 6. *And be it further enacted*, That from and after the first ofCompensation of deputy postmasters.*Ante*, p. 142.1854, ch. 61. April next, in place of the compensation now allowed deputy postmasters, the Postmaster-General be, and is hereby, authorized to allow them commissions at the following rates, on the postage collected at their respective offices, in each quarter of the year, and in due proportion for any period less than a quarter, viz.: on any sum not exceeding one hundred dollars, fifty per cent., but any postmaster at whose office the mail is to arrive regularly between the hours of nine o’clock at night and five o’clock in the morning, may be allowed sixty per cent, on the first hundred dollars; on every sum over and above one hundred dollars, but not exceeding four hundred dollars, forty per cent.; on every sum over and above four hundred dollars, but not exceeding twenty-four hundred dollars, thirty-five per cent; on every sum exceeding twenty-four hundred dollars, fifteen per cent.
And on the amount of postages on letters and packages received at a distributing office for distribution, the postmaster at such distributing office may be allowed ten per cent. Every postmaster whose compensation shall not exceed five hundred dollars in one quarter, shall be allowed one cent for every free letter delivered out of his office, excepting such as are for the postmaster himself. But the special allowance now made by law to the postmaster at New Orleans and Washington city shall not otherwise be either increased or diminished.
Each postmaster who shall be required to keep a register of the arrival and departure of the mails, shall be allowed ten cents for each monthly return which he makes to the256THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS. Sess. II. Ch. 147. 1853. Postmaster-General. Each postmaster may be allowed two mills for delivering from his office to a subscriber each newspaper not chargeable Proviso.with postage: *Provided*, That the commissions and allowances hereby authorized shall be subject to the provisions of the forty-first section of 1825, ch. 64.the act entitled “An act to reduce into one the several acts establishing and regulating the Post-Office Department,” approved March the third, eighteen hundred and twenty-five.
Sec. 7. *And be it further enacted*, That any person who shall forgePenalty for forging, &c., stamps or envelopes. or counterfeit any postage stamp, printed or impressed upon any letter envelope, authorized by the eighth section of an act entitled “An act to establish certain post roads, and for other purposes,” approved August thirty-first, eighteen hundred and fifty-two, or by any other act; or who shall counterfeit any die, plate, or engraving therefor; or who shall make or print, or knowingly use or sell, or have in his possession with intent to use or sell, any such false, forged, or counterfeited die, plate, engraving, or stamped envelope; or who shall make or knowingly use, or sell, or have in his possession with intent to use or sell, any paper bearing the water mark of such letter envelopes, or any fraudulent imitation thereof; or who shall make or print, or authorize or procure to be made or printed, any stamped or printed letter envelope of the kind provided by the Postmaster-General under the authority aforesaid, without the especial direction of the Post-Office Department; or who, after such letter envelopes have been prepared or printed, shall, with intent to defraud the revenues of the Post-Office Department, deliver any such letter envelopes to any person or persons other than such as shall be authorized to receive the same by instrument of writing duly executed under the hand of the Postmaster-General and the seal of the Post-Office Department, shall, on conviction .thereof, be deemed guilty of felony, and be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding five years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Sec. 8. *And be it further enacted*, That it shall be the duty of everyStamped envelopes to be defaced when deposited. postmaster to cause to be defaced, in such manner as the Postmaster-General may direct, all letter envelopes with postage stamps thereon, which may be deposited in his office for conveyance in the mail; and if any postmaster sending such envelopes in the mail shall omit to deface the same, it shall be the duty of the postmaster to whose office such envelopes shall be sent for delivery, to deface them, and report the delinquent Penalty for using &c. envelopes twice.postmaster to the Postmaster-General.
And if any person shall use or attempt to use, for the conveyance of any letter or other mailable matter or thing, over any post road of the United States, either by mail or otherwise, any such stamped letter envelope which has been before used for a like purpose, such person shall be liable to a penalty of fifty dollars, to be recovered in the name of the United States, in any court having competent jurisdiction. Approved, March 3, 1853.