Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-03-16
Mails in Arkansas.

Mails in Arkansas.
 It will be seen by the following letter from the special mail agent for this State, that the subject of mail failures has engaged his attention, and there are more reasons than one why they occur. Like him, we are glad to see these things inquired into, if the inquiry will lead us to find reme- dy:
 Princeton, Ark, 7th March, 1859
 En,roRs "TRUE DEMoCRAT"-I beg leave to notice, through the columns of your paper, letter you published in the True Democrat of the 2d March, from Gen. G. D. Rovston, of Washington, Ark, upon the subiect of mail failures. Gen. R. says in that letter that "your paper due here on Friday last, has not yet been received' 6" Our stages arrive daily with no mails" .Where is our mail agent?" etc., etc. l am aware that many complaints are made in various parts of our State in regard to mail failures, and in all probability, from the same cause. At the time Gen. Roys ton sneaks of the failure to receive the srTrpe Democrat" was travelling on the route from Washington to Little Rock, and that particular failure was owing to high waters. I was detained two days and half between Rockport and Little Rock, and I presume that other failures have oc- cured from the same cause. There are several small streams between Washington and Little Rock that could be bridged with but little trouble or expense, and yet they rise so rapidly and so high as to endanger the safety of the mails, and the drivers and horses to attempt to cross them. In many instances, therefore, the failure is not the fault of the contractor, or the "agent." I have made it a rule to which I shall ad . here, to report to the postmaster general, every cose of neglect of duty on the part of nost masters, or contractors that may come to my knowledge And while 1t becomes my duty frequently to make sucb reports, vet the citizens of the State have a duty on their part to perform before they can expect regularity in the transportation of the mails, to-wit: They must bridge the small streams, and otherise make the pub lie or stage roads better.
 There is another cause, perhaps, why de- lays take place In the separating offices there is not one in dozen of the post masters whos do not complain that their compensation is inadequate to the labor they perform, and frequently they have to get up at late hours of the night to open the mails.
 It is frequently the case, that when l ascertain some neglect of duty at a particu- lar office, and approach the postmaster and very kindly remonstrate with him, and tell him that my duty compels me to re- port him, his reply will be that the office is trouble to him without adequate pay, and he would thank me very kindly if would get somebody else to take it off his hands. In fact, the greatest difficulty l have to encounter as special agent of the post office department, is to keep compe- tent and trusty poStmasters m office. do not wish to De understood however, as en deavoring to shield contractors from their just responsibility to the department and to the country 1 am sorry to have it to say that they are by no means exempt from blame, and that too frequently; and yet, l think it probable that Arkansas has as en- ergetic, and in every way, as good contract ors as any other State.
 To sum up the whole matter in nut shell, there will be mail failures as long as rain falls and creeks are not bridged, and 50 long as postmasters and contractors :" 90 upon he Jroad scole of geHing along. - Permit me to ada in conclusion, that 1 am glad to see these complaints made public, and I am ready to go wherever and when ever duty calls me to any portion of the State. l am, very respectfully,
 Your obdient servant,
 E. c. HARLEY,