The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-10-29
THE MAIL SERVICE FROM NEW
ORLEANS.

y
ORLEANS.
DIR. PETERSON EXPLAINS HIS VIEWS
WAsHINGroN,
Oct. 81, 10.
To the Editor Of Louisiana Democrat:
S1R-The article in the DEMocRAT
OF the 1st inst, headed "The New
Orleans Mail" calls for, an answer
which cheerfully give for the intel
ligent interest you have taken in The
mail service which supplies your
Town and Parish renders it q pleas
ure to comply with any request Of
yours 10 this regard.
For more than ayear ! have been
urging the Post Office Department at
Washington to increase your mail
facilities. My plan, and the one
which I consider the correct plan,
was that the service should be seves
times week from Red River Land
ing to Shreveport. The difficulty in
putting on daily mail was the want
Of daily service from New Orleans
to Red River Landing.
NY proposition Was that the mail
for the Red River Parishes should
leave New Orleans daily at Ga. \. BY
railroad to Donaldsonville and thence
be conveyed by fast boats TO Red
River Landing, 4 distance Of shout
1870 miles. The mail leaving New
Orleans at 8 4. n. would arrive at
Donaldsonville at u NJ, and in IL
hours, I. .. at IL midnight, would
reach Red River Landing, arriving in
Alexandria the seccnd day At 2P. \.
By this arrangement you would re-
ceiye your daily papers thirty hours
after they we're issued in New Or
leans, whereas now they remain in
New Orleans from s A. NJ. until 5 r.
NJ, and do not leave Red River Land
ing until s P. n. the next day. BY
rail and boat you would thus receive
the morning papers before they now
leave Red River Landing % per pre-
sent schedule. By rail and boat you
would receive the daily papers thirty
hours after they were issued; II now
takes BY all boat 10 Red River Land
ing and stage 70 Alexandria fully for
ty-seyen hours.
The Post Office Department Is NOV
considering proposition for fast
| mail service between DoDaldsonville
and Red River Landing, and ] have
every reason 70 believe such : SER
vice will he put on. In the mean.
time ! have suggested 70 Col. Brott,
the Contractor, to get permission
from General Brady, the Second A
sistan. Post Master General, to carry
the Red River Landing mail from
New Orleans by the boats that leave
New Orleans on Mondays, Wednes-
days aud Fridays, in accor.isnce with
your recommendation. These boats
will be kept in the trade until the
cotton season is over, and By that
time the fast boats will no doubt be
put on between Donaldsonville and
Red River Landing. The schedule
has been changed 90 - to leave Red
River Landing every day At 5 r. n,
Tor earlier If the boat arrives, except
Monday.
General Brady's great desire IL
that the mail service OF the United
States shall come % near perfection
under his administration % possi-
BILE. No one has ever 90 thoroughly
mastered every detail Of this 'impor-
tant service or has shown himself 90
! thoroughly alive to its requirements
= -
as the present Second Assistant Post
Master General. 10 his efforts to
increase the mail facilities Of the Red
River Parishee he has been nobly
seconded BY Judge ELAN, your ever
. watchfu', persistent and faithful 70.
. preventative In Congress, and By Sen.
ator Jonas. The service IN this SEQ,
!, tion merits attention. It carrie.
more mail matter In proportion TO I'll
!, lengsh than any other mail service
In the United States. / win onl]
add in conclusion that 30 long -
: retain the contract ] will spare y,
effort TO make the service ~ promp
and Is efficient 40 it csn possibly b
: made. Respectfully,
Il B. II. PETERSON.
" ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
.e JUsr received and now openinl
e at Gustave Gehr's, : fresh and yer,
II choice assortment OF candies, suga
: nlnme and fruits.