The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-23

THE DELAY OF THE MAILs-DIsGRAcEFUL Pos
tai ARRANe EME >Ts.-We have had frequent occa-
sion to advert to the irregularty of the mails and
the serious in convenience resulting from it to news
paper proprietors, merchants, and the public at
large. During the last week, the most extraordi-
nary instance occurred Of the beautiful postal ar
rangements between this city-the great emporium
of the countryand other parts of the United States.
Morristown, in New Jersey, is about thirty miles
from this city. There three trains in the day,
either way, between New York and that village.
By two of them, fom each side, mails conveyed,
or said to be conveyed. From Morristown a train
leaves at quarter before eight o'clock A. NJ, carry
ing the mails, and arriving here little after ten
o'clock, A. Nj. Another train, carrying the mails,
leaves at twenty-five min ltes before three o'clock
T. M, and arrives here about five O'Clock 2. Nj.
Let see how the system works. or is carried into
practical operation. A letter Of some Importance
was duly mailed at Morristown, for this office, to
come by the quarter TO eight o'clock train Fri
day morning. The writer thinking il would be de
vered, a. all events, by twelve OF one o'clock, wrote
second letter relating to the first, which he sent
by hand at twenty-five minutes to three o'clock,
which reached this Office before five o'clock, when
it turned out that the first letter had not arrived;
and did reach here till eleven O'Clock that night,
too late to be Of any for the purpose for which
il was sent. Ii would not have reached this office,
even then, but from the fact of its being news
paper est alb shment In the case ofmerchants and
others the letter would only have to hand next
morning, or more than twenty-four hours after it
was mailed dist ance ofthirty miles-with at least
two railroad trains, daily, from the place, II is ut
tery disgraceful. But this is not all On Satur-
day morning letter was mailed from Morristown
to this Office, to come by the quarter 10 eight o'clock
train. The writer left at five o'clock in the after
noon, and by private conveyance reached Newark
in time for the Philadelphia train to this city, arri
wing half past nine o'clock, when, to h great asto
nishment, his letter had not reache here. 1t wa
obtained from the Post Office about eleven o'clock
upwards Of fifteen hours after it was despatched
1t bore upon it the postmark Of Newark, where it
evident it had been delayed all day, for the evening
train from Philadelphia. IL was of great impor-
lance that this letter should be delivered in a
sonable time. But the interests of the public seem
TO be totally disregarded in postal communication
with this city, from other parts of the country. This
evil, with many Others that aflct the community,
arises from putting politicians and demagogues at
the bead Of departments, instead of practical bust
ness men, and in compliance with the inexorable
demands of party, driving men. of ability and in
tegrity from office soon as they make themselves
squainted with their Isiness, If, indeed, they
they ever take the trouble to thoroughly learn what
relates official sit uatons held by so fra and IN
certain a tenure.