The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-11-07
THE MAILS

There is no place in the American I'm
en- that has been more UNANIMOUSLY neglec-
ed by the p. o. Department than the
Northern part Of Iowa and the Southern
portion of Minnesota. Northern Mime
sofa is doubtless equally entitled to COM
plain, but ito settlement is more recent,
and as it is out of our bsili-wick we leave
it to the care of those more Immediately
interested.
There may be immense regions Of ter
ritory where no mails are required, but
in rejecting upon the neglect with which
this section has been treated, We take into
consideration the density of its settlement,
its numerous important towns and the Pc
culiar character and situation of its peo-
pie. Being all emigrats from the older
states and as much as any other, reading
communities, the absence of mail advan-
tagcs is felt with kesnness entirely un-
known to many finished" portions of
the east. Our social and business ties
reach far back towards the Atlantic and
over beyond it; and unless we can learn
what is transporting in the countries we
have left, and impart in return, informa-
ton to those who await our reports from
the West, we feel ourselves excluded
from the world. Our situation here, not
withs.anding the beauty of the country,
the excellence of ito soil and the profits
of trade, becomes in effect, more like the
homes of exciles than the residence of
freemen. In older places there is not the
same demand for outside information.-
Local incident, and the intimacy Of long
association absorb their tiniHe-the people
have been born in the country or village
in which they expect to die; their inter-
ests are circumscribed by the extent of
their acquaintance, and never having wan
dered out of hearing of the Church bell
that tolled the burial of their parents, they
can not know the eager desire, the intense
longing that marks new country in its
anticipations of the arrival Of the
Mail"
We can bear the absence of the loved
ones with some degree Of patience if any
assurance is offered that pledge Of re-
membrance will reach us-we can dis
pense with An interview with our business
correspondent, if the mail will carry their
advices and our replies. 1t is the hope Of
thus keeping bright the chain ofintercourse
which binds us to early associations and
interest that reconciles the pioneer to the
hardships and Inconvenience Of new
country. All who have made home in
the west can appreciate the stories that
are told of the wild excitement attending
the opening Of the mail in California. In
some degree the settler here is situated as
the fortune hunter of the Golden State.
We are comparatively strangers together,
and it requires time to build up that 30
cial attachment which often reconcilss us
to the loss or absence of long-tried friends.
But truce to sentiment.
We are said to be entitled to tri-week-
~ River mail, but we submit it to the
csndor of our citizens to say if this ac-
commodation has not become semi-occa
sional concern and when it does arrive,
can it possibly be convicted of bringing
dates much less than week from Chicago
to say nothing Of many letters that have
been nearly a month in stsmming the
"turbid tide" from Dubuque!
Chicago is less than go and Dubuque
less than 8 hours running time from Nc.
Oregon! And yet we thank God" and
take courage, if, five days after date We
can hear from one city. while our citizens
are almost electrified in contemplating
the dispatck of Government officials and
contractors, if a business notice from Du.
Buque gets to this Post Office, inside Of
72 hours!
Steam Boat Clerks are obliging to the
unfortunate up-river towns or we should
be without intelligence of any character
entitled to the name of news. We are
obliged also to lay all travellers under con-
tribution.
The Government monopolizes the bust.
ness of doing that which its employers
make no effort to do, and here we wait
day after day when the mail is over due
wondering when our faithful public ser
wants will graciously allow US to look upor
ANAL bag. Freights pay well We know
and Steam Boats want good loads, but i,
is maxim in Governmental theory (nevel
in practice) that "the U. S. Mail waits
for nothing" not even for the observance
ofthe Sabbath. No company should con.
tract for the delivery Of the mail unless i