The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-12
THE POSTAL CONVENTION.
SURPRISING STATEMENTS OF CHAIR
MAN HUBBARD.
Report Of Col. Upper, Chairman Of the
Delegates to the southern Postal
Convention.

Report Of Col. Upper, Chairman Of ths
Delegates to the southern Postal
Convention.
The Mayer has received the following com
munieation:
New ORLEANS, Aug. 10, 1877.
To Hon. Ed. Pllsbury, Mayor of New Orleans:
Dear iSa'-Upon the nomination Of Gen. Cyrus
Bussey, for president Ut the Postal Convention al
Old Point Comfort, Va, was requested 10 act az
chairman of the New Orleans d legation. II
therefore devolves upon me to report TO you, and
through your honor to our fellow-citizens.
As the proceedings OF said convention have been
extensively published, will give only such ex-
tracts as are deemed OF special interest to our
city and State.
Upon the opening OF the convention Mr.. Hub
bard, chairman Of the Postal Commission, dellv
cred very interesting and instructive address.
He displayed remark sble esearch into the postal
service of the Uni ed States, which coula only
have been acquired by patient study Of The sub
iact intrnsted to him by Congress. In presenting
the subject he fairly stated the difference in favor
Of some sections Of the country over others, in
facilities and expenditui es for mail service.
Some OF US were surprised at the contrast pre-
scented against the south. And Mr.. Hubbard in
closing his address said, "as to this inequality,
the southern delegates here will be doubtlessly
amazed, as / co Tess no little surprise, as q
North IN man, in finding it as stated"
will give his words which caused the surprise,
ssThe especial points Of interest to the South to
which the attention of this convention is called
. are
/. The extension of the stage coach or star ser
vice III the South.
2. The extension of the railroad service.
3. The establishment Of limited mail between
Boston and New D leans.
tThs ne cessity for the extension of the star SER
vice ID evident from comparison OF the appro-
priaton for the States of Virginia, North Caro-
lima, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama.
Mississippi and Louisiana, in 1861 and In 1876.
'trhe annual number OF miles Of transportation
by stage coach In 1861 was 10000, 600; in 1875.
1894 OUO. While the total Transportation OF the
country has been increased nearly thirty per cent
in fourteen years, it has actually been decreased
in the Southern States nearly twenty per cent.
The total expenditures for the star service in the
South IL less than in 1851; for the whole country
tits ff'y per cent more"
"The extension OF the Star service is Of equal.
If not
or GREATER IMPORTANCE
to the South than either Of the others, for
through these channels are opened for commun.
cation from the railroads to every hamlet and
community in the South"
" This accomplishes double object in distrib.
uting the mails and aft riding means OF inter
communication between otherwise inaccessible
districts.
"There are two plans for extending this eerv-
ice. One heretofore acted on, by which the mem.
bers of Congress established new routes, with
little regard to the community beyond his
district or immediate locality. TIE results
of this system shown in the great difference
in the extent of the service in the South and
other actions of the country.
"By the other plan, 81 ,0O0 900 year, an increase
OF thirty per cent over the present appropriation
should be granted to the South, full equivalent
to their share of the appropriation for the
star service. The department. should then as
certain, by conference with del gates from
various parts OF the South, such represen-
tative men "a are gathered in this con-
vention, the relative wants of each section and
distribute the appropriation accordingly. In this
way the work would be Systematically and well
done and the community faithfully served" y
The resolutions, prepared by q committee of
one from each state and passed by the conven-
ton, we're intended to correct the disadvantages
brought to our attention by Mr.. Hubbard in re-
marks quoted, and also
TO URGE UPON CONGRESS
the value and Importance OF postal communica-
ton between the nearest southern ports and
South America, Central America and the West
Indies.
Capt. Chas e. Fenner was appointed and ably
represented this cry in the Committee on Bust
Dees. and the following resolution WAS presented
by him to said committee and passed by the
convention:
Resotred, That the value and Importance of
the trade between the Uuited States and various
states and colonies upon the continent and isa nd
lying south OF US, aud also important countries
reached across The Isthmus of Panama, and The
advantage in speed. convenience and economy
which would result to our postal communication
with those coun ries. justify and require the
immediate establishment OF steam communica-
ton between the most convenient Southern ports
OF this country and the ports Of Rio Janeiro,
Havana and Aspinwail respectively.
z. That cooperate authorities of various
longitudinal railroads, composing the lines
of direct transportation between Southern
ports and conintr rel centres of the
West and the North, as well as
representatives of other interests concerned in