Arkansas intelligencer., 1847-08-07
MlIL FAILURES.

MAIL filLuRES.
We can assure tho Democrat, the apolopist o
Alessrs. Snapp, HowtN q. Co., that the evils OIL
which we complain re of such a nature that we
are not 10 be turned aside from our purpose, bv u
lItlle otf.hand excuse; and one, too, which we
know will be Of slight avail befere the Post Mas
ter General. That print is mistaken in the causes
Of the late failures Of our Eastern mails, We
are enabled to state, without tho fear of contra.
dlctlon, that they occurred, not ain consequence
of high WATER" but for want of "enterpriso" and
efficient teams.
On the 18Th ult., the mail carrier arrived at
C!orksvEle, with nothing in the way.mail ba
except few letter packages for that office. and
other offices on the route; and among these letters
was one from Little Rock, which circumstance
convinced the citizens of that place, that tho mail
had come Through from Little Rock, and Of course
must have started with newspapers also. They
sent 10 Pltts5urg at their own expense, and had
their newspaper mail brought through, by their
express. That same week, the mail came thro'
to this place without bringing single newspaper.
although some letters were received from Little
Rock. which proved that high water did not pre-
vent 1t from coming through, but Cor want of eff.
ficlent teams, failed to bring it all.
We know, also, that there arc no streams be-
tween this place and Little Rock, which arc no,
fordoble at all Stages that have no, either ferry
or bridge. save Mill Creek, near Dwight, which is
impossible when the Arkansas River is very
nigh, and backs II up 10 beyond the road; which
has not happened 10 be the case this year: and
Frog Bayou, near this place. which has no, been
past tordlng within the last four months So, the
excuse OF high wafer will not do for those who
live on the road, and who are interested enough in
the regularity of tho mails, to inquire into the can.
ses of failures.
We are actuated by no unfriendly feeIinr TO.
wards the Contractors. sense of duty to the
public, and our own ntercst, demand tha, we
should take notice of so great public evil. The
condition of the roads can be no pretext for n
failure; the Contractors knew their condition
before they took the route. The smallness Of
The consideration which they receive is no excuse
Tor not putting on the line efficient teams. They
knew the amount. and for it agreed to carry all
tho mails from Little Rock to Van Buren,.
If the amount is cut down from what has been
gwen IN other years, they helped to cut i. down.
by their competition in bidding for it.
They certainly did not expect TO get the con.
tract at certain price, below its value, (,hereby
driving off all others who would have taken il n,
iair Prices') and shon to carry much ofhc mail
and as often as would be, in their opinion. n suf
hcIent service for the amount received! We have
no doubt but they have taken the contract lon
lo~: If they have, it is their fault and should not
be our misfortune. In that, they did themselves
wrong; but to themselves only are they respons-
lblo: but to keep it, and not perform the service,
is wrong to us, which we will not bear. A
whole community connot be expected 10 suffer,
for the advantage of ono firm.
We have right TO our mails, and government
Is bound to have them transported at one price
or another and il its agents cannot sec the cause
OF failures, our duty and interest require that we
should. Therefore, if tho mails are not hereaf.
Ter carried with more regularity, we will get up
a memorial to the Post Master General. Law nil
the evils before him, point out the remedy. nnd
demand redress.