Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1858-06-09
Postal Communication with New Orleans and
San Frsleises,

I From the WAshinston UnicH
About ihe time our enthusiastic felloW-citi-
zens of the South were engaged in their Olym-
pic games at Montgomery, Ala, another con-
vention, representing various railroads between
Memphis and Washington, assembled at Chat
tsnoogs, in Tennessee.
Whist the first sssemblsge bad contented
itself with discussion OF the abstract, the last
I employed itself with the practical, and adopted
the following resolutions;
90 Resolved, That, in the opinion Of this con-
venti m, the great central line Of railroad from
New York via Washington City, Richmond,
I Lyncbburg Knoxville, Chsttano6sa, Tenn, and
/ Memphis and Charleston Railroad, to Grand
I Junction, and thence by The Mississippi Cen
tral, and New Orleans, Jackson, and great
| Northern Railroads, is the Shortest and most
| practicable route for the connexion Of the
gTeath southern mail with the line 70 Califor-
MIA, piG TehusntePec, aud we r.ost respectfully
ask that the Postmaster Gsneral give this line
bis eonsidsration in determining the practical
billty Of the scheme
ResolDed, further, That we pledge ourselves
to cooperate with the Post oiice Department
to effect an object 90 greatly to be interest OF
the Serth and West, and so desirable to the
I whole people of the United States"
These resolutions, Announcing the completion
OF this Southwestern national route, were In
trusted TO an able and intelligent committee,
OlE hA HtftlE BAEbEuAtu nlUIsrlL dk Tue EOsl
06ce Department With a mail bss N his hand,
shown Dy The esttiecates OF departure and ar
rival 70 lave been been brought from New Or
leans 10 Washington in the incredible time Of
four days and few hours. To convince the
Department that this was not spasmedie and
fauey performance, after the fashion Of the
Ramsey ekpress mail route across Mexico
these practical gentlemen proposed to carry tht
mails between the points mentioned in the tint
a,1f - ~ l.ff
that time TO put on a double daily mail TO b.
carried between New York and New Orleans il
, seventy five hoursl .-
The statesman at the head Of the department
at once aeeeded to this proposition to reduc'
I the time Of Communication between the two
most important commercial cities nearly half
. and directed a contract for the performance oi
service stipulated. II happened, in further
ance Of the second object Of these practiea
men, that the department had, BY direction oI
the Executive, some time since advertised fol
proposals 10 carry the mails from New Or
leans, BY way Of the lsthmhs Of Iehuantepec
to San Francisco twice a month, and had re-
Ceived a satisfactory proposition from Emile
LaseTe, Esq, Of New Orleans, for performing
this service in fourteen days .-- u ri
. 1t will be thus seen that the department bai
organized route between New York, New Or
, leans and San Francisco, which will reduce thI
, time, fare, and freights between those citiei
1 nearly one-half; will save some three Thousand
! miles Of sea risk place the travel and tres
sure almost entirely under the protection ol
our own fac transfer the cost Of transit from
an ocean monopoly for distribution smoDgs
the various railroads and cities of the States
am enable the poorest citizen TO participate il
1 the common treasures Of California
These extraordinary results have caused u
to make some examination into the past his
tory Of the postal communications between tn
seat Of federal government and the southern
cities, the benefit Of which we will give Ou
readers as an illustration of the earlier obsts
\ cles and subsequent progress Of mail facilitie
! in the United States
In December. 1924, the Hon. Mclean
2 General, having been called on b
: the Senate to report "the most practicable pos
: route from Washington City to New Orleans,
Z. stated that the mail was carried by a TOut
= l $50 miles in length, occupying twenty-fOu
: daYs. This service was tri-weekly, IN ID
\ great part on horseback. After having give
: a description o some osher routes, be added:
4 The route on which the mail is now trans
+ ported to New Orleans, although more circuit
Gus than some others, In the present conditiO
: Of The roads, is the safest and best. There al
; many obstruetions on it, but they are less nj
{ merous than on any other. Greater eelerit
4 and safety are given to the mail on this rOu
= than could be given to it on any other to Ne
= Orleans"
n Upon the authority Of surrey then recent
! made by Gen. Bernard under the authority {
: Congress, the Postmaster General proceeds
ls to give bis opinion on the most eligible rou
a for road. After stating the distance betwes
: Washington and New Orleans TO be, aeeordiT
to astronomical admeasurement, goo miles IN
direct line, be went on to say:
h 81 The northwestern part Of North Carolini
.y through which this line passes, is 50 mountain
y Gus as to render a deviation to the south
% north 10 constructing road Indispensable.
n deviation to the north 90 as to avoid the mou
et tains will pass BY OF near BY Wythe couT
4 house and Abingdon, in Virginia. Knoxville,
Tennessee. and thence through the 1enness
Valley BY CahaWba TO New Orleans, is near
a straight direction. The route is estimst
as at ,O56 miles, including ten per cent. for q
{, variation from a straight line. deviation
on the south 30 as to pass near Salem; N. {
% GreeDville, s. C., and Athens, Ga, would n
vary more than 90 miles IRON direct line-''
An this happened, of course, at the period
!. our history when grand system OF intern
y inproyenients by the general Government vi
70 the favorite policy Of a strong political part
0The route by WsrTenton, Abingdon, a.
ie KnoxTil.eD y was pronounced by Gen. Berna
y y 70 be the most eligible, and, he added, " II
I" substantial road were made In this direction
: New Orleans, the mail could be transported
= hat place from this city in eleven days" II
cost Of this road, which like the great Natio
Al roas. via Cumberland, was, of course, to
: turnpike. had been estimated By the eDgiDes
Al abo1t Eve millions Of dollars. l. is no j
- proper tribute 10 the Wis ION and economy
\ DsnoeFats principles 20 EsmiHe eus read
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