Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1846-02-11
CAPITAL REPORTER.
IOWA CITY, IOWA.
"Wednesday. February N. lS4G.
MnfI Facilities.

Below we publish the joint resolutions
adopted by the Legislature at its recent
session, asking for additional mail facilities
generally, and particularly, for the estab-
lishment Of a tri-yeekly mail from Keo.
kuk. via Iowa City, to Dubuque, and for
another from Knoxville, ILL.,, via Bloom
:ngton, TO Iowa City, 10 be carried in four
horse post coaches. ..,
We have frequently alluded to the
inadequacy Of our mail facilities, and it is
therefore, unnecessary at this time to 60
into detail of our wants. We conf
IDENTIFY hope the P. M. General will see
this matter in the same light that we
view it, and will consequently determine
that it is for the interest of the General
Government to furnish us with such ia
cilitiss for communication by mail, and for
the dissemination Of intelligence, as
will leave no cause for complaint.
There is probably no one thing which
contributes more to retard the advance
naent Of this country, than the privations
resulting from the deficiencies above al.
luded to; and should the P O. Department
see fit to furnish us with such mail facili-
ties as the wants Of the country demand,
we do not hesitate to say that the Govern
ment would find itself more than compen-
stated for the extra expense which nigh,
be incurred, by the enhanced value and
increased sale Of her lands.
The route from Keokuk to Dubuque is
Il very important one, and the request for
the establishment Of tri-weekly mail up
on it is far from being unreasonable. As
the arguments in favor Of this step have
been given in the Reporter, and as our
Delegate is fully in possession Of all
the facts relative thereto, we need net
recapitualate them. We should, how
ever, allude to an error in the resolutions;
which would appear to be based upon the
suggestion that the military road runs in
the direction Of, and terminates at Keokuk.
1t runs in quite differept direction from
the Capital, southwardiy, and terminates
at Keosauqua. Consequently the direct
route through the principal towns and set
Elements would intersect the military road
at, or near the Capital. As there is al
ready, 1--WE believe,) a tri-weekly mail
from Keokuk to Burlington, by consolda-
ting the two, the necessity of additional
service any farther south than Burlington,
would of course be obviated.
Resolred, By The Council and House of
Representatives, Of the Territory Of Iouu,
That the Post Master General be respect
fully requested to increase the mail facil-
tiles ca the principal mail routes in the
Territory of Iowa.
Resolued, That be be requested to estab
lish, as soon as practicable, tri.weeLly
mail between the towns Of Keokuk, in
Lee county, and Dubuque in Dubuque,
county, on the line Of the military
road through Iowa City, to the city Of
Dubuque; and from Knoxville, Illinois,
via. Bioomgton, Iowa, to Iowa City, Iowa
Territory; and that proposals may be issu-
ed for The transportation of said mails, in
four-horse post coaches.
Resolucd, That the Secretary of the
Territory be requested to forward copy
Of these resolutions to the Post Master
General, and TO Gen. Dodge, our Delegate
in Congress, with request that be exert
his influence with the Post Office Depart
ment, to obtain the mail facilities prayed
for by the foregoing resolutions.
Approved, January 18th, lS46.
JAMES CLARKE.