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the original grant was to " indemnify him in attempting and
bringing to perfection an institution of great public utility,
and to encourage his further exertions . . . and that the speedy
and punctual conveyance of the mail principally depends upon
its support." I's All the privileges of the former act were to be
continued and Vanhorn was to enter into another bond. The
General Assembly reserved the right to reduce the established
rates if they were found unreasonable.
A similar exclusive privilege was given in 1790 to Robert
Hodgson and James Thompson over a route from Delaware,
via the great public road on the Eastern Shore, through Ches-
tertown to the Bay in Kent County, where a ferry could be
taken for Baltimore (to North Point). They were also given
a right, not exclusive, to run stages from North Point to Bal-
timore. This route was quite popular although delays were
often encountered in crossing the Bay.""
Both Vanhorn, and Hodgson and Thompson applied to the
General Assembly in 1793 for a further extension of their
privileges because ". . . the late fatal contagion prevalent in
Philadelphia " (yellow fever) necessitated a suspension of the
running of their stages to prevent the spread of the disease
into Maryland. The Baltimore Committee of Health recom-
mended_ Vanhorn " to the favour of this house, for his cheer-
ful and ready compliance with the measures adopted by them
. . . and have also recognized the sacrifice he made for the
general welfare." Under these circumstances, the General
Assembly thought it " reasonable to grant the prayer of the
petitioners . . . " Their privileges were extended to August
1794,15 but not renewed again.
Another stage line, which did not have exclusive -privileges,
applied to the General Assembly in 1806 for another form of
indirect aid. Since the route between Philadelphia and Balti-
more by way of " French-town " on the Elk River had become
an " object of great public import and utility," the proprietor
of the " French-town and New-castle Water and Land Stages "
e' Ibid. For Vanhorn's unsatisfactory performance as a U. S. mail carrier
see
O. W. Holmes. "Stagecoach and Mail from Colonial Days to 1820 " (Columbia
Univ. thesis), 1956, pp. 133-140.
e4 1bid., 1790 c. 28; Sioussat, p. 158.
86 Md. Sess., 1793 c 15.
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