California Farmer and Journal of Useful Sciences, Volume 12, Number 15, 18 November 1859 — The First Mail up the Sacramento. [ARTICLE]

The First Mail up the Sacramento.

Souk month-: since we noticed an article in some of our city papers giving an account of tbe first mad that was carried up the Sacramento river, and if we recollect rightly, the writer stated that Captain Swain had $(100 for carrying tbe mail to Sacramento. Such was not tbe fact in tha case. Tbe first mail that was carried up that river was carried under a contract made with Major Allen, Mail Agent, with &'mmofW, Ilutchins <\ Co., at that time one of the most wealthy and Influential firms of this city, who afterwards started the famous propeller steamer McKim, which coined money for a while. The first mail was carried on board the schooner "John I>nnlap," Captain Swain, on the 26th of July, L 849. The price paid was $(808 a trip (once a week). The freight ami passengerlist on that trip amounted to between $(1,000 and $7,000. We can well remember those days. Soon after, August 3d, we made a trip up tbe river on the same schooner. Captain Macy was her commander then, and he afterwards took command of the steamer McKim. At this date. August 3d, we were making OUTjtrst trip up this famous river and leading a band of eleven men to the mines, ('apt. Roland GelttOQ was then stationed on board the store-ship at the I.evie. From thence we went to the mines to ''dig gold," and shortly afterwards, about one month, we commenced carrying an express mail bag from Mormon Island to San Francisco and back, as our business led us to make frequent trips up and down the river. So we can well remember tlie facts relative to tbe mails of those diys, and can also claim to be tbe "I'ioneer Kxpress Carrier" up that river, and to the miners on the North and South Forks of tbe American Kiver. At that time a letter cost something; the diked States postage was forty cents n single and eighty cents a double letter, and the express charges were one dollar per single letter and two dollars for a double letter. This charge may seem incredibly great fur carrying a letter twenty-five or thirty miles above Sacramento, but it only cost from $100 to SlftO to go to San Francisco and return. <Jreat prices and great profits make great times, but it was not of a durable kind, and has passed away.