Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-12-30
REPORT OF THE PosrMAsTER-eEYERAr.

Post Office Department,
18th December, 1894
Dir In obedience to resolution of
the senate Of the United States. adopted
at their last session, requiring thespost-
master general TO report to the senate,
al the present session, the most practi-
cable post route from New Orleans to
Washington city," 1 nave the honor to
state, that the route on which tue mail
has been transported for several years
past, from TINS city to New-orleans, is
BY way of Fredericksburg and Abing-
don, IN Virginia; Knoxville and McM,n-
will, in Tennessee; Huntsville, RushviIle,
and Pikeyiile, in Alabama; Columbus,
jackson, Fort Gibson, Nashin gton, Nat
chez,& Woodville, in Mississippi, thence
by ST. Francisvlile and Baton Rouge, to
New Orleans. This route is estimated
to be / $50 miles, and requires travel
of "a DAYS.
The military road, as it is called, from
Columbus, IN mississippi. to Madison
vile, in louisiana; is on nearly a d.
rect line from he former Orleans
and much nearer than the road by the
way OF Washington and Natchez. But
this road is represented to be So much
out of repair as to render the regular
transportation ofthe mail upon it i'm.
practicable. The bridges and cause
ways have fallen into decay, and in ma
ny parts, the entire space opened for
the road, mas become filled with young
growths of timber
Some years since, a contract was
made by this department, to transport
the mail TO New Orleans, from this city,
by Salisbury, in North Carolina; Spar
tanburg, in South Carolina; Athens aud
Fort Hawkins, in Georgia; and Fort
ctoddart, in Alabama, the distance being
computed at 1860 miles. But there
were SO many obstacles on this route.
arising from streams ofwater, and other
causes, that it was found impracticsble
TO perform the contract, and it was "a
bandoned.
There is similar route from Knox
vile, in Tennessee, by the way of
Kingston, in the same state F, Bennets-
vile, Cahawba, and St. Stephens, in Ala
bama, to New Orleans, which makes
The distance from Washington to that
place, ,222 miles. But the Instructions
on his route are known to be nearly as
great as on the route by the way of
Athens and Fort Hawkins
The post route to New Orleans, which
passes through the capitals of the south
ern states, is estimated at 1912 miles
This distance might De reduced to 1,l00
miles. If no greater deviations from a
directiline were made, than would be ne
cessary to obtain good ground for road
and to pass through Richmond, Raleigh,
Columbia, and N!lledgeville; and thence
by Coweta and St Stephens, to New
Orleans. A part Of the Alabama and
Mississippi mail, and the mail from the
south to New-Orleaus, is transported on
this route. But, in the winter and spring
seasons of the, year, the numerous
streams of wafer over which there are
neither bridges nor ferries, present in
surmountabIe Obstacles TO the regular
and rapid transmission Of the mail or
this route.
On direct line from Washington to
New-Oreans, The distance is 800 miles.
This line passes near Warrenton, Char
louisville, Lexington, Big Lick, and
Grayson courthouse, in Virginia; Ash
vile, in North c arolina; thence through
the Indian country, by Cahawba and st.
Stephens, IN Alabama, to Pearlton, near
Lake Borgne; thence TO Newt Orleans.
The northwestern part of North Ca
roiina, through which this line passes is
SO mountainous as to render devia-
ton to the south or north, in construct
ing a road, indispensable. A deviation
to the north, SO as TO avoid the noun
tains. will pass by or near Fortireringay,
Wythe court house. Christianburg, and
Abigdon, in Virginia; Knoxville in Ten
nessee; thence through the Tennessee
valley, by Cahawba, to New-Orleans,
on nearly a straight direction. This
route is estimated 1855 miles, including
ten per cent. for the variation from a
straight line. from Washington to Knox
vile; thence TO New-OrIeans, and is be-
lieved to be the nearest direction prsc-
ticable for post road from Washington
to New Orleans. The variation, so as
TO pass by Knoxville, would not increase
the distance more than six miles. A de-
Walton to the south so as 10 avoid the
principal mountains, would pass near
Salem. in North Carolina; GIeensville,
IN Snuih- Carolina. and AtLens. IN Geor-