The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-01-29
THE GREAT MAIL ROUTE BETWEEN
NEW YORK AND NEW ORLEANS.

New YORK ana New Orlenns, ana the pfopo-
siiion which had been submitted to adopt the
sea route. We have since given the subject
further Investigation, and are fully confirmed
in the opinion that such contract would
initiate against the interests Of the Depart
men,, fail. to, serve the public convenience,
and cndanger the safe transportation of the
larger and more important mails. We can.
not call to mind any serious disaster to mails
carried by Rail Road, except in one instance,
some fifteen months ago, on the Seaboard
and Roanoke Line, when they were burn
cd, caused by the falling Of bridgs-while
the loss Of the heavy mails with the "Central
America," and numerous other instances,
fresh in the recollection, warn the Depart.
ment against the danger Of substituting wa
ter for land transportation. Going upon the
fact that the polly which governs and con-
trolls the administration of the Post Office
Department, is the largest amount of public
convenience colsonant with liberal econo-
my, we cannot zee how the Post Master Gen.
eral could entertain for moment the idea
Of making contract for the transportation
Of the heavy nails between New York and
New Orleans by any other than the Great
Middle Route, which will be completed in
few months. II Is true, we have seen it stat
I'D that the President Of the FLORIDA Rail
Road, (Mr. Yulee)-wbich road is part and
parcel Of the proposed sea route--is the
Chairman Of the COMMITTEE in the Senate on
Post Office affairs. But We nave not the re-
hottest suspicion that Mr.. YuleA would, from
motive Of local or selfish consideration, press
the adoption Of route so manifesEy injuri.
Gus to the public convenience, and so much
at variance with the interest and economy of
the Department. There is no argument that
can be offered in its favor, for il such con-
tract were made, suitable steamers could not
be bull. before the Railroads would be put
ting passengers through from New York to
New Orleans, either with or without the
mail, in less than four days; and when the
Alexandria and Orange Road is finished
which will be 10 short tina if the Virginia
Legislature consults the interest and wish of
the people OF that State--a passenger can
get on Rail Road car at New Orleans and
never once, unless he chooses, be outside Of
a passenger shed until he lands at Alexandria
opposite Washington City. No Omnibusses,
stages, carts, or water craft to annoy on the
whole line. 1t should be remembered, too,
that this continuous, unbroken line-this
Great Middle Route-traverses the States of
Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi
and mountaineering along tho valuable
and extensive copper region of Virginia and
Tennessee and through the fin est coal fields
10 the world.
We had designed to say something about
the rate of speed usually required of Rail
roads by the Department, but must defer it
for the present to make room for the follow.
ing, which we find in the Railway Times:
GREAT MAIL ROUTE TO New ORLEArs.-
II is somewhat amusing to notice the conf.
dsnce with which various new routes remote
from each other ore presented as the true
lines for the great, Southern Mail route to
New Orleans. A few weeks since the Presi-
dent and Senator YuIeo presented circuit
GUS route, combining steamers and railways,
by the coast of Carolina and Georgia to Flor.
da, thence BY rail across the Gulf, to New
Orleans, as the me plus ultra" of lines, and
it was proposed to grant rate of compeusa-
ton for the use of this combination of routes
subject to all tho contingencies of the sea,
that would pay annually the cost Of some of
our lines of railways, when ts best promise
was four days for the cars from New York or
Washington to New Orleans. Last week we
have another scheme, to run a railway from
Cairo to White river in Arkansas, and thus
form the great mail line 10 New Orleans.
3 have no interest in any Of these routes,
or any other Southern railway. but il has been
my fortune during the past sixty days to
make journey to New Orleans, going by one
route aud returning by another, and to ex-
anime most Of the intervening raiIways, and
am satisfied that a line superior to both
those presented, will be finished within a
twelve month, and even while unfinished will
form the cheapest .urest and best route to
New Orleans. On my way to that city. |
passed through the Western States, descend.
ed the Mississippi from st. Louis in two of
the best steamers to Memphis and Vicksburp.
and then prrsued my way by railroad and
coach through the interior Of Mississippi, win
Jackson, in line parallel to the river. The
steamers on the Mississippi were large and
commodious, and the table superior to that in
our best hotels, but we were nearly six days
from ST. Louis to Vicksburg, running upon
s"nd-bars, stopping for cotton, and again de-
laying 10 relieve an unfortunate steamer
caught by a snag. Leaving the boat at Vicks.
burg, was able to pass day at that city,
another at Jackson. and by coach and railway
to reach New Orleans almost as soon as the
steamer; for the railway, cutting off the bends
of the river, il almost an air line and dead
level, and reduces the distance one half, to
say nothing OF superior certainty and speed.
Returning East, crossed the bay TO Mo-
bile and there had the option of the mail
stage for thirty six hours upon q miserable
road OF 80 miles, or a steamer for 400 miles
up the Alabama river for sixty hours, with
the risks Of water navigation. preferred the
latter, but saw much to convince me Of the
uncertainties, delays and perls of both. On
my way homeward took the rail from Mont
gomery by Atlanta and Chattanooga to Nash
vile, Tenn, and thence by Knoxville and
Lynchburg 10 Washington, through the ele-
waited, fertile apd magnificent region Of the
interior Of Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia.