New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-12-08
Abstract OF the
p0sTMA sTER-GENERAL's ANNUAL REPORT

The Report OF Postmaster. General Brown Of the
operations and business Of the Post,Odice Depart.
meut since the LIST of December 1857 is quite lengthy
and interesting
EXPRESS MAIL AGENTS.
In regard to the plan Of employing express agents
to accompany mails on the great routes from New
York, Philadelphia and Baltimore Westward, he
speaks avorably and thinks it has been in operation
long enough to demonstrate that its Importance was
not overestmated. This service is established be-
tween the Eastern cities of New York Philadelphia
and Baltimore, and the Western cities of Cincinnati,
Cleveland Chicago and St. Louis
NEW YORK AND NEW ORLEANS ROUTE.
of the service on this route the Report says
On the LIST day of July last an arrangement took
effect by which mails were to be conveyed between
Washington and New Orleans in four and half days,
by way Of Richmond and Iynchhurg, Virginia, Bris-
tol, Knoxville Chattanooga and Grand junction,
Tennessee, and jackson, Mississippi all by railroad,
with the exception of gap of ninety miles in Misss
sipp between the neutrality-suspicious. Of the Misss-
sipp Central Railroad which is supplied by stage
service So far as the time is concerned, coming
North (trom New Orleans to Washingtonl the whole
service has lately been performed with but few inter
ruptions, although in the beginning there were some
unexpected difficulties connected with the stage por
ton Of the route. Going South the schedule conem.
plated the running Of cars by night from Canton to
New Orleans but the early appearance of the yellow
fever, as an epidemic, and its great yruence, inter
posed serious obstacle in the way OF this service,
the Railroad Company considering it ruinous to their
interests to approach the infected district except
during the day time. The mails were thus necessarily
delayed over night az hours) at Canton and deliy-
cred 10 New Orleans twelve hours behind the stipu-
/ lated time, Assurances have, however, been given
that such delay shall longer continue and it is not
doubted that the contract schedule will be fully
| complied with, insurng the delivery of mails from
/ Washington at New Orleans within four and half
| days.
The parties to the foregoing arrangement have fur
ther stipulated that from and after LIST July next the
time shall be reduced twentytour hours, making the
/ communication between Washington and New Or.
leans in three days and half or between New York
/ and New Orleans within four days.
| The mail service in general between New York
| and New Orleans, during the past year has been
rather more exempt from the delays and irregulari-
ties by which it has usually been characterized, and
there is scarcely doubt that very great improve
ments will be effected during the next year by the
completion Of continuous and direct railroad con-
necon through Virginia. Tennessee and Misssis.
| sipp that is ria Gordonsye Gnstead Of Rich.
| mond) to Lynchburg thence to Knoxville Tennes.
| see, and direct to Chattanooga, {omittng Dalton,
| Georgia,) thence to Grand Junction, and over the
Mississippi Central and New Orleans, jackson and
| Great Northern railroads.
last year referred to routes established by law
and advertised by this department from Cedar KEY,
Florida, to New Orleans, and from Fernandna, Flor
ida, to New York, in steamers, being designed in
across the peninsula Of Florida, from Fernandina to
Cedar Key, to constitute new route from New York
TO New Orleans, with view to the speeder and
more certain Transmission Of the great Northern and
| Southern mails | communicated proposals which
| had been received to convey mails between New
ork and New Orleans in five days, coupled with the
/ condition that no pay would be demanded for any
trip not performed within that time, and called at
tenton to the subject as one Of vast public interest
/ My views OF this new route remain unchanged but
owing to the unfinished condition Of the railroad as
well as the large expenditure of money involved no
/ progress has been made in the negotiations on the
| subject.
ST. LOUIS AND NEW ORLEANS MAIL.
OF this route the report says:
The hope was INDUCED last year that before this
| time railroad connections would be so nearly com
| pleted that the great through mails between Cairo
and New Orleans would be conveyed much more ex-
pedtiousy and regularly than can be done, in the
nature of things, by steamboats,
| This improvement has not yet been effected, but
information has been received within few days
which renders it certain that the railroad communi.
cation will be opened before the end of this year
Anticipating this state OF things, the Department,
at the lettings Of contracts, divided the Mississippi
| river routes as follows
From st, Louis via Cairo, to Memphis. three times
a week.
From Nashville via Cairo. to Memphis, three times
a week; the two routes running on alternate days,
making six trips weekly each way between Cairo and
Memphis.
From Memphis to New Orleans, six times a week
with one additional weekly trip between Memphis
and Napoleon, and four additional weekly trips be-
tween st FrancisyilIe and New Orleans.
The cost OF the mail service by these routes be-
tween Cairo and New Orleans is $780,, 6l8 per anuum,
which amount, compared with the cost Of the steam
boat service in operation up to 30th June last be-
tween the same points, t5432 1889 shows a saving of
SIG97l5 per annum and it is peculiarly gratifying,
in view Of the great reduction of cost to state as
am enabled to do, that the new service is in all re.
i1Y,r1 aff@8,4yf 11J