The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-12-19
LETTERS FROM THE sOUTH-No. A..
Sr. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA,
November %, 1912.
Hon. CHARLES A. WIcKLirrE,
Postmaster General

Hon. CHARLES A. WIcKLrrrE,
Postmaster General
Sir SO far the transportation OF the great
Southern mail from Charleston to New Orleans is
concerned let US inquire what eec, and saving the
Government will probably flow from the proposed
connection between the Atlantic waters and those Of
the Mexican II is not my intention TO point out
to you what your Department is now compelled to
pay for the transportation Of the mail the present
route. will only say, the sum given is enormous
for the service rendered. and that your Department,
from necessity is compelled to submit in great mea-
sure to the heavy contracts the present route for
wan.,o better and cheaper
For much less sum than the Department now
pays for the transportation of the mail from Charles
ton to New Orleans, the mail could be sent daily
to New Orleans, by the route already designated,
if railroad constructed across the peninsula of
Florida If the mail should thus pass from Charles
ton to Savannah, and by steamboats, on the route de-
signa'ed, all the post offices on the seaboard from
thence to Jacksonville, on the st. Johns river,
in Florida, would be supplied with daily mail and
by the railroad through this country to Cedar Keys
or to navigable point the Suwannee river the
mails SO would Port Leon, St. Marks, and ITALIA
hassee, and from these points the mails could then be
SENT at small expense, 10 the adjoining counties in
Middle Florida, and to Decatur and Thomas, and
other counties in Georgia that adjoin Florida. The
steamboats, could touch at Apaachicola and st. Jo-
scph, and Franklin. Washington Jackson and w al.
ton counties in Vest Florida, could be supplied with
their mails by the boat that now carries the m Ill three
times q week to and from the town of Apalacbcola
on that river to the village at the junction of the
Flint and Chattahoochee rivers. The boats from the
Suwannce, or Cedar Keys, would take the mails to
Pensacola and to Mobile, and from thence 10 New
Orleans What would be the actual saving by the
proposed route can be best ascctaned the General
Post Office; but it is confidently believed that the
mail will be expedited at least twenty four hours
sooner than the present route from Charleston TO
New Orleans The attempt made by your Depart
ment last spring. at general meeting Of the officers
OF the principal railroads throughout the Union, to
GI on specified sum for the transportation of the
mail on each, proved unavailng These corporations
were unwilling to render this public service, for
a liberal compensation and confident of the power
and control they held any other mode of con-
the services to be rendered, your Department could
not consistent with its funds the public interest,
obtain such contracts many of the rail roads as
prudence and justice could sanction.
1t il therefore WISE prudent, and economical for the
United States, to commence system Of Improvement
wherever it is certain that the expenditure in convey
ing the mails would be reduced. This policy, il pur-
sued, WILL in reasonable time, place your Department
in great degree Independent ofmnny of the railroads.
and will prove to the Stockholders that far
from forcing the General Post Office into extravagant
contracts, they will be socitous TO enter into such
a. are fair and reasonable. This link in the mail
route as proposed from Charleston ~ New Orleans,