Washington telegraph., 1862-02-05
IMPORTANT MAIL RoUTE.--It is now

IMPORTANT MAIL RoUTE.--It is now
evident that the troops from Arkansas,
Texas, and Northern Louisiana are to be
retained for the protection of Arkansas,
and the west, against raids from Missouri
and Kansas, until forward movement
can be mede. 1t will collect upon our
frontier large number of soldiers from
Southwestern Arkansas, and the Red
River counties of Texas and louisiana. Ii
is of the utmost Importance to the public
service, as we'll as matter of almost in
dispensable convenience to our citizens,
that there should be rapid and safe COM
munication between the Red RiDer coun-
try and Van Buren, not only for the mail
service but for the use of persons visiting
their relations in the army, ard for mes
sengers in the public service Besides
that, many Of the soldiers will be dis
charged on account of sickness and ina.
bility, who will be destitute of the means
of reaching their homes, without some
better provision for that purpose than now
exists. at present there is no co.pmuni.
cation between the sections of country
save by private persons on horseback
Sick and disabled men must resort to ex .
pensive private conveyances, or pursue a
clrcu!tous route over rough country by
way of Little Rock. 1t requires orly the
slightest attention to estimate Immediately
the almost indispensable importance of a
mail service with comfortable hacks, be.
tween Van Buren, and some point in Loui.
slana, connecting at Washington with our
mail stage line to Texas. Shreveport is
obviously the point, as being the nearest,
and also the point whence otter stage
routes radiate in every direction.
At present there is mail route be-
tween this and Shreveport, served OF
horseback. This has always been consi-
dered inadequate. The importance of the
two sections of country to each other even
In ordinary times of peace, and the amount
of travel which the natural business of
the country requires, demanded a servic.
by mail coaches. The war has brought
about new situations. No one here. in
Shreveport, or any place, along the route
proposed, woald look with more anxiety
for the arrival of any coach with mail and
passengers, than he would for this.
Can not we have the mail service from
Shreveport here increased to a two horse
hack at least; and new route from here
to Van Buren, with similar service? II
desirable, let petitions be sent up from
Shreveport, from here, from Van Buren,,
and all places along the route, and au eff
fort made for that purpose The contract
will be taken. We are aware that the
present mail contractor between this and
Shreveport, is entirely willing to increase
the service on moderate terms, and to ex
tend it to Van Buren. lie is an eLer.
getic man, and as We have been informed
during the Eve months he las been carry
ing this nail has not missed an arrival in
due time. He knows the country aud is
competent to the business We mention
this only to assure the community that il
the service is authorized it will be per-
formed. Of course it would be given tC
any other competent man who would d.
it cheaper.
This thing appeals to the hearts of pa
rents, and relations of our noble soldiers
and is not one of the things to be read and
dropped. What one of US, hearing of =
sick son or brother in the army, would
not long for the means OF sending them 4
box, or of flying to their relief? Who
would not be glad to know that they had
comfortable means of conveyance to their
homes, when able to travel? Let US be
urgent for this route. The roads nre
practicable. 1t is a military necessity
great enough, to cause roads to be made,
if they were not.