The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-10-21

sandy foundation, which b liable al all ues 10 ash
aud freqaent bs<.rhes are made il By heavy rains
about two years breach Of this kind made
by heavy rain which caused serious aeeideni
from the darkness q The night, the engineer could
not perceive TIC damage whlch had been doDc 10 the
track the consequences that the engns aud ten
der were preoiPi:sied into The cavity thus made,
which caused tie death Of the engineer and passen
ger; seeondly--tie stock ia the country through
which the railroad passes hare great propensity 10
select The track Of The road for their beds al night
las il Is an embsnkmeni and much more dry than the
earth contiguous 10 it and in light nights the
train constantly stopped 10 prevent the danger Of
running upon them, when, II the darkness Of tie night
obscured them frenl tie vision Of the engineer, many
serious disasters might by s.striei performance
on this route during such periods
On a close exsAination Of tie let Of mail failures
transmitted TO me, perceive that the usual number,
which took place upon route No. 1894, from Madi-
10 Columbus, Georgia, were oecasioned by diff
eulties iruiy insurmountabe, namely, extremely hot
weather, during which period ] passed ever this
route and had opportunity Of witnessing the great
difficulty in transporting the mail upon at that time.
However, ! do nj think the contractors upon the
route in question are much wanting IN energy and
attention TO the line. tsliert the Department or
myself will not have cause 10 complain Of mail fail
ures upon lhis portion Of the great mail line, except
in cases Of high water and regret to inform you
that many Of The important bridges upon said route
have been swept Cd by heavy rains during the past
summer, and that we have gloomy prospect before
Us, for the inhabitants Of that country regard II as
almost nil 10 work The roads much less restore old
diapidated bridges
With regard 10 route No. SAFE, ] have made two
reports 10 the Contract Office for the Post Office De-
partment, Wgirg Tie vast importance OF abandoning
the Rail Road portion Of ii (Which is mere apology
for Rail Road aud TO continue the mail direct on
in ,tsges, from Tuskegee TO Montgomery, Ala. TIN,
hs. been ordered If this is done, my impression Is
that it will never be necessary for Postmaster to
report mail failure upon tins section Of The great
line, viz: from Columbus Geo, 10 Montgomery,
Ala. See NY reports 10 the Contrac, Office on tins
sIbject.)
The mail service upon route No. j4sJ, from Mont
gomery 10 Mobile Ala, is wei performed, and am
inclined to believe that shall not have much cause
10 comp plain Of mail failures upon this link OF the
great Northern and Southern line, although great
portion OF said route is almost impossible during the
winter season, from tie badness Of The road and the
many small streams which intersect It. " Last but
not least ] come to route No, -, from Mobile,
Ala by s,esmboasito New Orleans La, which is
entitled TO other comment than that Of The high
est praise. The service upon tins route, which ter
inmates this vast and important mail line, inging
as it were immediate contact, the North with the
South, is performed in style and with such regua-
rty to fleet great credit upon the contractor and
the Post Office Department
] remain, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant
l.: G. ALEXANDER,
Special Agent p. o. Department.
P. 5. do not wish you TO understand me as speak
ing spoogetcsiy IN behalf of the contractors for The
different mail routes, which embrace the great North
and Southern line, but merely TO represent TO the
Ds partment matters they really are.
Your obt serTt,
l., G.. ALEXANDER
Special Agent P. o. Department.