The Mail Pay on the Burlington Railroad

The Mail Pay on the Burlington Railroad by Anonymous unpacks the hidden economics and regulations that governed U.S. mail carriage on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Part historical report, part policy analysis, this nonfiction study presents statements of car space, station facilities, and the contractual framework compiled at the request of the Post Office Department. It traces the mail-contract system established in 1873, explains how the Post Office designated routes and how Congress set per-mile rates based on average daily weight, frequency and speed, and describes the separate “car pay” allowance tied to post office car length. Using contemporary figures—such as the 1909 nationwide payouts for weight and cars—the book highlights striking disparities in per-ton compensation between light and heavy routes and critiques the government’s wholesale pricing approach. Readers will find clear exposition of regulatory context, operational details of passenger trains carrying mail, and the fiscal implications for railroads and the postal service. Ideal for transportation and postal-history enthusiasts, policy researchers, and anyone curious about early federal contracting and the business of moving America’s mail.