Hill, Frederic to Rogers, Baron Blachford Frederic 1 January 1868, CO 60:34, no. 54, 212.

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Public Offices document
Hill, Frederic to Rogers, Frederic 1 January 1868, CO 60:34, no. 54, 212.

Abstract

Public Offices document. Minutes (7), Enclosures (untranscribed) (1), Other documents (1).

Hill transmits a letter from the postmaster general of the United States, which states that steamship services only extend from San Francisco to Portland and that a small vessel runs regularly between Portland and Vancouvers Island. Minutes by Rogers and Buckingham discuss the viability of using the steamship connections between Vancouver Island, Portland, and San Francisco for despatches and the state of the postal service in British Columbia. Buckingham’s minute instructs Cox to delay an inquiry until the question of mail service with British Columbia is answered. The included document discusses the mail routes to British Columbia and the prices for sending mail to British Columbia.

Hill to Rogers (Permanent Under-Secretary)

General Post Office

1 January 1868

Sir,

Having laid before the Postmaster General your letter of the 20th ultimo, I am directed by His Grace to transmit to you, for the information of the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, a copy of the reply which was received from the Postmaster General of the United States to the letter written fromthis

this Office on the 18th of June last enquiring whether arrangements could be made for conveying mails to and from British Columbia by means of the United States mail steamers which sail from San Francisco.

From this reply it will be seen that the only steamship service in operation north of San Francisco is that to Portland, Oregon.

It is stated that a small vessel runs regularly betweenPortland

Portland and Vancouvers Island, but of this the Governor of British Columbia must be well aware.

I am,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant
F. Hill

Minutes by CO staff

Mr Elliot
This does not advance us at all. But Postal communication will be considered with the General Financial question.

CC 2/1

Sir F. Rogers

TFE 2/1

I must say that I think the P.O. might as well have given us this infn 4 months ago.

The statement contained in this letter of Mr Blackfan is directly at variance with that contained in Gov Seymour's dph No 135—par. 4, and I think it shd be sent out at once to Mr S. with the observation, that it appeared from this letter that, unless the arrangements explained in it had been altered, arrangements mt readily be made for a regular communication with England.

At the same time the course of communication is far from satisfactory for important Govt dphes.

FR 6/1

Yes. But ascertain what is the distance Vancouver to Portland.

B&C 20/1

The distance by sea is about 200 miles—but the Steamer that used to run has stopped. The present communication from Portland is by Steamer up the Columbia & Cowlitz Rivers to Monticello—thence 90 miles by Land to Olympia from whence there is a weekly Steamer to Victoria. The latter route takes about 3 days but nothing I am informed can be worse tha[n] the 90 miles of road.

CC 21/1

Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)

Joseph H. Blackfan, Chief Clerk to U.S. Postmaster General, to Postmaster General, London, 26 July 1867, discussing postal routes and charges on mail destined for British Columbia and Vancouver Island.