Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-03

Mail FAILURES = WELL-GRoUNDED
COMPLAINTS The CAUsE-A Coon
SUGGEsuoN.-W are frequently notified
that our paper does not reach its destina-
ton throughth the mails promptly. Sometimes
these complaints are coupled with diseon-
tinuances, the subscribers saying they can
not afford to pay for something they do
not get. We have sxerted ourselves to the
utmost to have our paper mailed at the
proper time, and have annoyed our post
master here very often by calling his atten-
ton to this notwithstanding subject.
He has given Us assurances, upon which
we confidently rely, that our mails are
promptly distributed, and that delays and
total failures occur by reason Of negligence
elsewhere. We are satisfied this is true
have been unable 20 unravel the mystery
and have been struck with the fact that the
larger number of complaints come from
along the lines of the railroads. The last
one received sheds flood of light on the
subject. 1t is from West Tennessee and
while stating the fact suggests the cause
and the remedy SO we'll, that we give it as
a general explanation, and as worthy of
the immediate attention OF the postal au-
thorities. 1t is as follows;
I have subscribed for the Tri-Weekly
UNION AND DISPATCH, experimentally, for
four months. But oh shocking! / dOn'tgtb
but one paper in three weeks instead of
three in one week Where is the fault2
Let ne gouge him for his negligence. The
paper should come promptly, if mailed
right, the day after publication, high wa
tiers and railroad accidents excepted, l
said, Fundamentally that | had subscribed
for your paper. | mean by this that have
waited nearly two years for Uncle Sam TO
complete his mail arrangements in the
South, before taking any papers. The
trains were running daily by my very door,
and the mails were being delivered as
promptly as | thought. So | canvassed in
my mind what papers to treat myself to,
and among others | decided upon yours,
because it halls from the State capital and
/ liked its manly tone. Itdoes not take the
trains more than twenty-four hours inclu-
ding stoppages to come from Nashville to
this efice. Only think Of it! Only two
papers in the last three weeks. The 9Th
was received just one week after the 3rd;
9th and 9TH came in a bunch, and then
another week elapsed when on the goth the
paper of the 18th made its appearance.
Three papers gone with the foods.
Upon inquiry into our mail arrangements,
have ascertained that it La all due TO the
want of proper mail agents on the roads.
The government, in its anxiety to curtail
the expenses, only otter $50 per month for
this service, and competent mail agents
cannot be procured who are willing to risk
their lives, travel day and night, pay $50
a month expenses and work for the govern
ment for $40. Why should route agents
be employed by the government at all, if
it is so absolutely necessary to curtail the
expenses? Is there any more propriety
in appointing route agent than there Is
mail carrier on the horse routes Should
not this be the business of the contractor ?
If mail contractor on the overland routes
appoints his coach drivers aud mail carriers,
why should not railroad company be re-
quired to supply histrains with route agents
(who could act as assistant baggage masters
when not officially employed and thus save
the government any further expense, The
railroad company as mail contractor should
be held responsible for the safe delivery of
the mail, and have no doubt there would
be less complaint under this system than
the one at present prseticed.
If this suggestion meets your approbt1-
ton, hope that you will improve upon it
in your editorial columns. Col. Frazier of
Wilson, think, is the general mail agent
for the West. From the acquaintance |
have had with him, ] judged him to be a
practical sort of man, progressive in his
views, and alive to the interests of the
country. OF thoughtful and urbane dis
position, he is ever ready to listen to any
plausible proposition and reason upon its
advantages and disadvantages. His mind
for the last twelve months, has been direc-
ted to our mail facilities, and think if his
attention is called to this subject, he will
its feasibility and recommend
its adoption by the proper department Of
the government Yours, etc, -