The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1864-07-23
SANTA FK MALTA CHANGE DEMANDED

The people of Leavenworth City claim, and
properly enough, that the mail from Santa Fe
should come direct to their place. Some of their
editors think the mail now being brought East
from Santa Fe on the old road to Kansas City
should b brought, by way of Lawrence or To-
peka, dirSct TO their city.
We grant that the financial and commercial
energy of Leavenworth City have fairly won the
trade of New Mexico, and that the interests of
all parties demand that the two points should be
connected by the most direct and shortest route,
but we differ with them as to the means consu
mate to the end. The change by way of Law
renee or Topeka may aid them little, but is
this what is needed? Look at facts.
st. Joseph, Missouri. is the only distributing
post Office ON or near our Eastern border. From
this point, one portion of the Santa Fe mail is
taken South and East to Kansas City. and from
that point is carried West in . weekly line Of
mail conveyances to Santa Fs by way Of Fort
Larned: while the other portion Of the same
mail is taken West to Junction City by the daily
line Of coaches belonging to the Kansas Stage
Company. From this latter place the same Com
pany carries it in their weekly line to Fort Lar
ned. where it unites with the mail from Kansas
City. and is carried from that point to Santa Fe
BY the Kansas City company. The difference.
aside from the folly of the Government in en-
ployipg two companies to carry the same mai.
consists mainly in the directness and distance of
the routes.
The route from Leayenworth by way of Kansas
City and on the old Santa Fe road is quite sixty
miles further than the route up the Kansas
Valley by way of Junction City. That portion
of the Eastern mail which reaches Leayenworth
on Friday morning. starts directly West in the
daily coach, and reaches Fort Larned Sabbath
evening: whereas, that portion of the mail
which starts at the same hour, and goes by way
Of Kansas City. reaches Fort Larned just one
week hter. Passengers going through fare in
the same way. The reason is obvious the dis
lance is greater, and there are more delays. be
sides. one is weekly line through. and the
other is daily half way.
Let the Government yield to the logic of events
and not attempt to chain the Eastern terminus
Of this Santa Fe mail to the same point it was
twenty years ago. and long after events have
indicated the necessity Of different course
Il will be eeen that the Government is paying
two lines to carry one mail. from the Missouri
river to Fort Larned. and that while they pay
and run daily line to Junetiou City. that should
carry ell the Santa Fe mail to that plase and on
70 Lasned. they also pay the Kansas City Com
psny to carry the same mail from Kansas City
to Fort LArned. thus doubling the expense. Why
not demand thstthe mail going to and returning
fwu Santa Fe. should 60 BY way of Junction
CITY, tie terminus Of the daily line West from
Lsavenworth
II Leaveuvorth wants direct mail to Santa
Re let her zee to it that the Department at Wash
ington stops this foolish and vastefol expendi-
tuzs Of money. Let the Kansas City line to Fort
LArned be dropped. and the present expense now