The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-15
The James River Postal Service.

Tie mails formerly conveyed by steamer
upon lower James. river have, as our read
ers know, been, transferred to routes served
BY horse transportation--those on the NORTH
side by mai-riders; who start from Hamp'
ton or from Richmond, supplying the routes
between the termini-say eighty miles
apart, but involving much longer. distances
| by the detours unavoidable in serving the
post-ofiees along the river: fine. Such ser
vice to people who have for years received
their papers and letters by, the rapid. CON
veyanee ofthe steamboat must be in this age
cause ofcaiiscontent Of almost remarkable
and yexatlous character. Il" " 81 =,
Besides this large population; those i'm
portant institutions, the William and Mary
College and the Eastern Lunatic Asylum,
will be forced to receive their papers and d
letters through the Same tedious convey
ance. The Norfolk, Landmarks estimates
that the journey from end TO- end, with Its
detours, will, at least i'm winter. take three
days. y .>'2'"''~ '''' .,'., T., 80,
!, On the south side the offices are 4 little
better off, as cross-mais from the Norfolk
and Petersburg road, travelling short dis
tances, supply them. .-@G!'" "'
Certainly Our people ought not to be de-
MED the benefit Of expeditions mail coE-
mtlnication at this, day Of unexampled ra-
pidlty In transportation. No people should
suffer such Hdeprivation land, least OF all,
should the people OF the State that, as the
Norfolk Landmark; says, pays double the
tag. paid by New England to the Federal
Government. y h.a - Fr.tE ~ - -''''',1
I The. cause Of the :discontinuance of the
river mail, as our readers know, is the dill
ference OF $500 between the River Com
.pany and. the Postmaster.Genera in the
matter of compensation for the service AS
to this question we are unable to express an
opinion, except Is say that as The company
shows that the price asked by it for the
mail-steamer service is less than that paid to
thirteen water routes except one, we think
clearly the Government should pay the price
asked. The Federal Government has always
endeavored to "speed the mails "a rule
that may take position by the side OF that
other great rule OF domestic economy,
ospeed the plough" The promotion OF
intelligence and comfort are. the great OBJ
iects of these grand rules. We cannot
think that the GoyernmentwiIl hesitate long
about what it should do when it reviews the
m utter. ....,,....s .....,:..r..,.. ....,
]! The Norfolk Landmark, says: .,o", ~
( "The Lunatic Asylum and William and
Mary College require mail facilities OF the
,frst order, and these are indispensable TO
the school; for who III this region will send
his son to place where the postal service
viii put him practically as far, off as Cincin-
matt or st, Louis? i, :>,~i l"l."ti r.s -;
This is; very Important. EieW OF the mat
ter, because it shows Mr.. Key that all East
ern Virginia lis involved in this question;
and sooner or later be will hear from, every
part OF it with Mr.. Hoar. OF Massachusetts,
to aid in behalf of William and; Nary un-.
less adequate service is given the commu-
mites we represent. .7u;jni,Iliaf ....ii si.''
: This can only be done by the river, "a Isl
Obvious, and unless. we, are to believe that
the Postal Commission and the Convention,
which followed the visit OF that body. were
without meaning, and only intended to- on,
terrain us with promises, owe feel certain
that the large public interests we represent
will be, respected, and this economy -{sN of
1880 sacrificed by the Department. for the,
benefit OF farmers and merchants and peo-
pie OF, all classes who have just been cut off
from thirteen postal deliveries on James
river. ---------------.---,.