The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-07
TIE SOUTHWESTERN MAIL ROUTE

TO the Editors Of The Union.
The article in the New Orleans Picayune in reference
to the southwestern mail alluded to in the Union of the
4th inst had attracted the attention of the Post Office
Department. and the 3lst ut letter addressed
to the Pcayune in correction of the statements made, of
which the following is copy:
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
Contract Office Aug. IL, 1858.
SIR The Postmaster General has noticed in the Lou-
isana Courier of the 25t inst, credited to the Pica
yune' an article headed '.Our Mails which requires
correction.
You say tThe Great Northern and Jackson Railroad
Company have contracted to carry daily mail including
whatever matter may be forwarded to them to Canton
to be taken to New Orleans ''But they have not
tracted to run night train, the only mode by which
they could meet the wishes Of the public Of this city
have to inform you that you have been led into an
far the obligations OF the railroad
company to run q night train.
The Joint agreement between the several railroad
panies interested and the department for carrying mails
on the new through line via Lynchburg, Va Knoxville,
and Grand Junction, Tennessee and Jackson Mississippi
embraces closely schedules throughout each
way between Washington and New Orleans.
The hours of departures and arrivals for each separate
route were distinctly specified and those for the Great
Northern and Jackson railroad were as follows viz
Leave New Orleans $780, a. m; arrive at Canton G.,
p.
Leave Canton Z, p. m. arrive at New Orleans G.,
a.
In this connexon beg leave to explain how the New
York papers of the Sd inst reached this city at the usual
hour the evening out Of the mail mentioned by
you when the letters and papers by mail failed to arrive
Two trains leave New York for Philadelphia in the
ing-one at o'clock, but bringing through mails
the other leaves at s. M and conveys all mails from
the North and East, as well as the New York mails In
this first train at G. M it is understood the New York
morning papers carried by the express agents. it
reaches Philadelphia hour before the g. m, mail
train On the day in question this latter train failed to
arrive at Philadelphia in time to connect with the Balti
line in consequence of an extra heavy load of pas
songers and consequently the mails and passengers
left behind while the packages having arrived by
the previous train, were carried on.
Respectfully, VIM. II. DUNDAS,
Second Assistant Postmaster General.
fNos.Upon examination of the railroad schedules
between New York and Philadelphia observe that the
G clock a. m train referred to in the foregoing
munication by way of Camden and Amboy, and
as it anticipates the arrival of the mail train at Phlade
phia from New York by hour, the express avail
themselves of the advantage thus afforded. While upon
the subject will venture to suggest that the regula,
through mail from New York for the South might leave
that city two hours earlier than IL does and arrive
in Washington at instead of y p. This arrange
ment would afford to the residents Of Washington yer,
greatly improved mail facilities with the commercial me
tropolis.- EDS