The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-29
THE MAILS FROM DETROIT TO WASH
INGTON

BY all the agents of the Department the
roads are represented as being almost impassa
BILE, so that with every exertion on the part of
the vgiant and spirited contractors, Messrs Neil,
Moore & Co. and others, it has been impossible
to maintain the connection unbroken. OF the
difficulties in the way of executing at this sea-
son, and such q season, contract throughout
that line, in less than seven days, any one may
be convinced who will run his eye along the
map, beginning at Detroit and following the
routes around the head of Lake Erie through
Michigan, and SO on by Toledo and Lower San
dusky to Cleveland, in Ohio, on the opposite
margin Of the Lake two hundred miles from
Detroit thence across the State of Ohio to
Beaver in Pennsylvania, and thence to Pitts
burgh, more than three hundred miles all
through deep rich clay soil aoithoM turnpike
roads!
Aware of the importance Of this route, and
anticipating delays the Postmaster General had
directed to it the attention of vigilant agent,
who advised the Department from TOLEDO, that
with the utmost exertion on the part Of the con
tractors, the mails must be from twenty to
twenty -four hours behind and these circum-
stances account for all the delays which have
occurred, except recent continuous one for
more than a aoeek Turning his attention to
this, the Head of the Department has dscov
cred and promptly removed the cause of it
leaving nothing in the way, it is believed, but
obstacles, for the time, insurmountable in their
nature but which, with the advance Of the
season, must soon disappear, and such as in
the mean time canno. cause serious detention
The officer referred to in the following letter
has been superseded Their letters on file
evince, as we understand, on the part of Messrs.
Neil, Moore & Co., their wonted vigilance. 1t
is doubtless the wish, as well as the policy of
the Postmaster General to give credit, rather
than to censure. when he can.
WASHINGTON D. C. March 23d, 1912.
SIR: | have yours of this morning, informing me
Of the complaints of Members of Congress and others
relative to the detention and irregularity with vi ch
the Detroit mail has been received in this city
wrote you sometime since from Toledo, Ohio, rea-
tive to the very bad condition of the roads, and adj
vsed you there would be failures and detentions in the
arrival of the Northwestern mails but from letter
received from Andrew Palmer P. NJ at Toledo,
Ohio, which you will find enclosed, and the post
script yours of this morning, am satisfied that the
Detroit matter detained at that office for the pur-
pose of transmitting it in steamboats,.
You are aware that Detroit is distributing Office
during the summer months or that portion of TIE year
when the Lakes are navigable but when navigation
is INSTRUCTED by ice and before it is resumed, To
ledo Ohio is the distributing office for that section OF
country North and Vest. On the 9th instant, the
steamer General Scott, left Detroit for Buffalo, and
the late Postmaster at Detroit being anxious to OBJ
tain the commission fees, for some other Cause
made up a Lake steamboat mail for this boat and,
presume from the expectancy of anothers arrival,
withheld the mails from the 9Th to the 18th or l4th
instant. The General Scott is the only boat that has
left Detroit for Buffalo up to the 10Th instant You
will perceive, from Mr. Pamer's letter that no mat
ter from Detroit, or points North and West of that
place was received at his Office for distribution the
week preceding the 10th instant. From the above
facts am satisfied that the Postmaster at Detroit is
wholly to blame for the irregularities and detentons
complained Of
(Signed) G. G. NOTATION,
SPIT. Agt. p. o. Opt.
This accounts for the delay OF the Detroit
newspaper mail at New York, complained of in
the Commercial Advertiser of the 10Th instant