The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-08

EXPRESS MAIL AGENTS
In nv last annual report aluson was made to i'm
Doyenents which were expected TO result from the
poyment OF express agents to accompany mails on the
great routes nom new ioiN' i"ii"'oip'i'"' "iu 4'
more westward.
Sneb service has been In operation long enough TO
demonstrate that its importance was not over estimated
Agents start with the great mails morning and evening
from New York for tie West-the latter gong through
itout change to Cincinnati the former TO Cleveland
and bne held to strict accountability for all mail bags
placed under their charge
similar AGENCIES are established between Cincinnati
and ST. Louis and those between Baltimore and Gin
nna and Philadelphia and Cincinnati referred to last
year have continued in successful operation The latter
route Is Just changed to make Chicago instead OF
CINCINNATI terminus and the express mails will be
conveyed through IN about thirty-sx hours between
phiadelphi aud Chicago The Cincinnati mails for the
philadelphia route will be in charge OF the New York
n, AZ agents between Crestline and Cincinnati
The advantages of keeping mails under the constant
reyson of the agents of this department. for the longest
distances practicable to be run apparent that
Of the usual shorter routes for agents in different sections
have been consolidated and further changes of this sort
will be made from time to time far consistent with
the proper assortment of mails for way offices while it
may also be found necessary to the number of
express for delivering closed bags without refer
ence to the exchange Of malls between the smaller offices
The number of such bags already very great, must be
multiplied and more in order to avoid the delays
incident to distribution the way between remote points
and nothing short of the undivided attention of agents
directly responsible to this department insure for
the mails such regularity and safety tho public
have the right to expect. The government, having
BY law the monopoly of the mail service should
spare no efforts expense to place it above the
reproach which has attached to it Of being behind
individual enterprise as to certainty and speed and
less adapted to the wants of trade and commerce in their
widely y-eNtended rlmi6caons, which only be salts
fed with mail system combining all possible elements
and appliances to make it perfect far human agency
can be effective to that end.
NEW YORK AND NEW ORLEANS ROUTE
On the st day of July last an arrangement took effect
by which mails to be conveyed between Washing
aud New Orleans in four and half days, by way Of
Ri hmond and Iynchburg, Virginia. Bristol Knoxville
Chattanooga and Grand Junction Tennessee and jack
son. Mississippi all by railroad with the exception of
gap Of ninety miles in Mississippi between the unfn
ihel portions Of the Mississippi Central Railroad which
i, supplied 10y stage service SO far the time is con-
coned, coming north from New Orleans to Wash
ington the whole service has lately been performed
with but few Interruptions, although in the begin
ming there unexpected difficulties connected
with the stage portion of the route Going south,
the schedule contemplated the running of by night
fom Canton to New Orleans but the early appearance
Of the yellow fever, epidemic and it's great vru-
ence ncrposed serious obstacle in the way of this
vice. the railroad company considering it runous to their
interests to approach the infected district except during
the day time. The mails thus necessarily delayed
Ht canton, delivered IN New
Orleans twelve hours behind the stipulated time Ass
have however, been given that snch delay shall
no longer continue aud it is not doubted that the con
tract schedule will be fully complied WITH nsuring
the delivery OF mns from Washington at New Orleans
within foar and half days
The parties to the foregoing arrangement have further
Stipulated that from and after lst July next the time shall
be reduced twentyfo,ir hours, making the communica
ton between Washington and New Orleans 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 irregularities by which
it has usually been characterized and there Is scarcely
doubt that very great improvements will be effected du-
ring the next year by the completion of continuous and
e railroad connexion through Virginia. Tennessee aud
Mississippi that is, Gordonsvc instcad Of Rich
nond to Lynchburg thence to Knoxville, Tennessee
and direct to Chattanooga (omitting Dalton Geor,,a)
thence to Grand Junction. and the Mississippi Cen
'ai ana New Orleans jackson and Great Northern rail
roads.
last year referred to routes established by law and
advertised by this department. from Cedar Key Florida
70 70 New Orleans, and from Fernandina, Florida to
new York, IN steamers, as being designed in con-
nexlon with railroad in course of construction
across the peninsula of Florida from Fernandna to Cedar
hey, to constitute route from New York to New
orleans with view to the speedier and more certain
transmission OF the great northern and southern mails
communicated proposals which had beon received to
hve days coupled with the condition that no pay would
DC demanded for any trip not performed within that
ne and called attention to the subject of vast
public interest My views Of this route remain un
changed but owing to the unfinished condition of the
'aoad as well as the large expenditure of money in
oved no progress has been made in the neg citations on
the subject
ST AND NEW ORLEANS MAIL
e hope was INDUCED last year that before this time
,oaa connexions would be so nearly completed that
The great through mails between Cairo and New Orleans
would bc conveyed much more expedtiously and regu
aiy than be DONE in the nature of things by steam
boats = 80 - '~'o' ~
lhs Improvement has not yet been effected but nor-
nation has been received within fe DAYS which renders
that the railroad communication will be opened
peiJre the end of this year
Anticipating this state of things the department Mt
mc lettings OF contracts divided the Mississippi river
routes as follows
From st Louis via Ca;ro q, Ntau,,i,; a., ,;
week e' @'o'
From Nashville, via Cairo, to Memphis. three times
aek the two routes running alternate days making
VA ups weekly each way between Cairo and Memphis
Fion Memphis to New Orleans six times a week with
l"s additional weekly trip between Memphis and Napo-
On and four additional weekly trips between ST. Fran
'SyHle and New Orleans
lac cost OF the mail service by these routes between
aug aug ana New Orleans is s262 6ls per an,um, which
'uht' compared with the cost of the steamboat ser.
~ ~ OPERATION up to 30th June last between the same
Oa sfS2 1881 shows swing of sl69 Is per amman
I peculiarly gratifying, in view of the great reduc
, cost to state, as enabled to do that the new
4 wy Is 10 all respects m satisfactory than tho old
s performed with the utmost possible regularity and
every iacity that be reasonably expected by
nver mails N :" '''0 i'''''e'pP
e shortest time by the river between Cairo and New
'I,eans 1s has been four days
Inc anticipated raroad service pia jackson and Grand
H. I tennessee, and Canton Mississippi will proba-
" W performed In two davs ..fb vr.,, a,t -.