New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-08
4 East MAIL LINE TO cCB4.

TIE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF 4 LONG-CONslDEEED
PLAINLY RAIL TO CEDAR KEYS, AND THENCE
BY BoAT-THE PosTMAs GENERALS TRIAL
TRIP.
CHARLESTON, s. C., April 4.-The dream of
the Post ONCE Department Of placing the Island %
Cuba in a close postal relation with all the commercial
cities Union has, after twenty6N years Of hard
study, been developed into reality. This important
question has been discussed By the different Postmaster
Generals beginning with Montgomery Blair, and not
until the advent OF Judge Key has anything been ac-
com plished The main cause OF the delay III ts great
object was the inability OF the department To make SUIT
able arrangements with the Southern railroad compa-
MES About six weeks ago an arrangement made
with Colonel Bridges, president Of the Great
Atlantic Coast Line TO Cedar Keys, tho most
Southern railway terminus Of the United states,
who offered to carry tine mails at u liberal figure
At the same time arrangement was made with
the Florida and Havana Steamship Company to leave
Cedar Keys Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday OF each
week. upon the arrival trains the Atlantic Gulf and
West India Transit Companys railroad, simultaneously
from Havana the entire connection 10 be- known the
United States and Havana trweekly fast mail line.
The contract with the companies was made by the
Postmaster General. There TO De new steamers,
specially adapted TO from Cedar Keys to Havana.
and able to make the distance 800 miles, OF which $50
miles is along the west OF Florida and about so
miles the open sea, in thirty to thrtythre hours.
The entire from NcwHork is to be traversed In
nincty-six hours thus making for the first time in the
history of the country, close connection between
Havana and all important points on the Island OF Cuba
and the United states.
The Postmaster.Gcncra was informed Immediately
after the railway and steamship compapies had
pleed their arrangement, and Wednesday, April .,
set for the Inauguration OF the line. The Com
mittces on Post Offices aud Post Roads OF the
House. together with the espondents OF the principal
papers represented at Washington were invited to
company Judge Key on the trial trip. The train LEFT
Washington at $40 O'Clock D. m, Wednesday, from the
Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Depot. The Post
master General and his guests were provided with Pull
man palace-cars.
The train made stoppage longer than few minutes
until reaching Richmond, Va, where half hour
allowed for supper Proceeding at full speed the train
reached Wilmington, n. c., at 1890 a. Thursday
morning. where the party bad breakfast Thence they
were carried to Florence where the ChcrOn and Oar
lngtOn, and Northeastern OF South Carolina, and vii.
minpton aud Augusta Railroads connect. The train
was shifted to the road leading to Charleston s. C., and
Colonel Bridges, OF the Coast Line TOOK charge OF the
party At the depot there fully one thousand per-
sons who had assembled TO the Postmaster General
This point WAS reached some time before the hour
named In the schedule clearly indicating that The time
allotted by the Post Once Department could he made with
out the least trouble. While the train was running FROM
Florence TO Charleston, Colonel Bridges and Colonel
Pope general passenger agents OF the Coast Line
erousy entertained tle guests In Colonel Bridges pr
pany. The POstmaserGeneral and members Of the com
mittees expressed their pleasure az the success OF the
pcctations The growth Of the road was explained by
Colonel Bridges, who showed that with Its progress
would be advanced the interest OF those residing in
the States through which II runs and that 1t had
already begun DC the OF accomplishing great
this section OF the south In reference the
steamers TO he used III carrying the malls from Cedar
Keys to Havana he said that they had been built and
fitted expressly for tins service ana that quick and con-
tinuOus schedules to and from all commercial centres
would be adopted; that utilization OF tho railway SER
vice OF the United states TO It's utmost southern Limit
would be The result and that the time required TO run
from NcwYork 10 Cedar Keys would be only sixty hours
| with no delays.
At7:l5 O'Clock D. m. the train reached Charleston. At
the depot carriages in waiting and the party were
| driven to the Charleston Hotel, where supper WAS
served Afterwards they shown around the city.
AT D. m. they departed for Savannah where they weie
! due al o'clock on Friday morning.
THE HAVANA POSTAL COMMISSION DELAYED
SAVANNAH, Ga, April IA dispatch to The
Morning 6e,cs says The loss Of the steamer Agnes,
of Mosquito Inlet Fla, will prevent the Postal Commits
sion from going to Havana They will return to Wash
| linton at once"