The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-08-25
Postal Facilities I'm west virginia.

eastern dailies.
Postal Facilities I'm west virginia.
Previous to the war there were parts
of West Virginia that were to all intents
and purposes terra incognita. Civilized
facilities were very scarce indeed
in not u few localities. The peo-
pie were lamentabIy unintelligent.
School houses, churches, and post OIL
ces even, were scarce. AT many points
there were only seIni-monthly and
weekly mnils. Very few dnily or tri-
weekly routes pervaded the State. The
war has wonderfully quickened not
only the Intelligence but also the aspi-
rations of the people after intelligence
Contact with the armies Inns wrought
change. The curiosity of the people
has led them TO seek the sources
of information. Their eyes and
their ears have been opened to
the opportunities presented. The
consequence is there is more gem
eral intelligence to-day throughout our
counties than ever before. A promise
of great improvement has opened out
to the rising generation. We have made
starting point.
But the work before our people is
still great Compared with other sec
tions North, East and West of us, we
are far behind. We must summon to
our aid the new life and the energy that
have been born of the war. And first
in order come tho mails. Our postal
facilities IRE susceptible of more and
speedier and greater repaying improve
ment than any of our other methods
for spreading and cultivating popular
intelligence, We arc glad to see the
awakening interest manifested in the
matter of increased mail service on the
old routes and in tho projection and es-
adjustment ofnew ones. We hope to
sec this humanizing progress pushed
energetically forward. And in this
connection we have a suggestion or two
to offer.
Wherever it is possible to send mails
oftcner than once a, week, the people
should Mt least attempt to secure them.
This they can do on all the routes sup
piled by the great main stems, such as
the river and the railroads. On the
railroads there are daily mails, as there
are also on some other leading routes.
But it is to be borne in mind that the
attention of the Department is now
largely engaged in restoring mail facll-
tiles to sections and to people much
worse off than we are hero in West
Virginia; and also that the finances OF
the Department are taxed to meet the
new demands springing up in the
SOUTH. We must therefore mako up
our minds to do IA great deal for onr-
selves. And this we can do, provided
only we have the intelligence to perceive
our true interests. on many of the
present weekly routes small addi-
tiOnal sum to the amount now paid by
the department, would secure addi-
tiOnRl service. Wewill illustrate thus:
Not long since the people on the
route diverging from Elm Grove, an
office on the Hempffeld railroad in this
county, to Dallas, In Marshall county,
some twelve miles, desired tri-weelziy
mail instead of tho weekly one thew
were having. Sothey dubbed together,
raised a hundred or two dollars, desiR-
mated an additional office or two along
the route at convenient distances. re-
ceived the necessary appointments
and outfits from the department at
Washington, and in short time and
ut very trifilng expense, found them
selves in possession of excellent postal
facilities superior to anything thew
had before known. And this instance
is hut sample Of what can be done ON
scores OF other routes. Waiting for
government subvention is n poor thing
to do. Help ourselves, is the true pois
icy. We can make no outlaws that win
advance the intelligence and prosperity
ofthe people so rapidly as In these eS.
tensions and increases of the mail ser
vice. We say then to our West viz
gtnia people, put yourselves as rapidly
as possible in.frequent communication
with the outside world, and become
part and parcel or 1t in a trner. and
higher relation than you ever were be-
fore. Our members and ex.members
of the Legislature, our county and to,v,,.
ship 6faesrs, and our principal men in
every locality, can'tl6 great deal for
themselves, for their property. and n,
the betterment of their constituents I'M
taking hold Of these suggestions ana
putting them into practical effect
a Hint a., GEVrs..In E