Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-27

How she Route Came 60 he Estab-
IIshed-BradY Had Nothing 10 DO
with It.

Some days since we published an article
from the Philadelphia Press, under the cap
ton Of zone of the Useless Routes" which
began as follows: "The Postmaster Gen
eral has ordered service discontinued on q
steamboat route from Savannah, Ca, to
Augusta, which, under the fostering care of
General Brady, babe fair TO become an i'm
portant line for the contractor"
From DR.. ]. H. Ruddell, of Barnwell, 8.
c., the contractor, the Augusta Chronicle
learns that Brady had nothing whatever to
the mails along the Savannah river. In fact,
DIR. Ruddell never saw Brady In regard to
it, nor did he have anything to do with the
matter. The people on both sides of the
Savannah river were very DESTROYS to get a
mail route, their mail facilities being very
precarious, and monster petition, asking
that route be established on the river, was
gotten up. This was signed by prominent
men in Augusta, Savannah, and on both
sides of the river between these places.
Strong letters were also written to the
Georgia and South Carolina Sena-
tors, and to Representatives Tillman
aud Nichols, asking their cooperation
and assistance. This was very promptly
given by all these distinguished gentlemen,
fore Postmaster General Key himself, not
Brady, and was strenuously advocated by
Messrs- Tillman and Nichols, the one of
South Carolina and the other of Georgia,
who called upon the Postmaster General
and presented the claims OF the people
along the proposed route for mail facilities.
After considering the matter Postmaster
General Key agreed with the petitioners that
the route should be established, and he ac-
orfw hot ha 1a<
a contract to carry weekly mail between
Augusta and Savannah, provided 1t did not
cost more than S. 800 per annum. DR..
Rudden offered to take 1t for 81, 100, or
81 400 less than the Postmaster General
was willing to give, and the contract was
awarded to him. The amount for which
DIR. Ruddell agreed to carry the mail was
equal to fifteen dollars per mile, while the
usual pay is twenty dollars. This contract
went into effect on July 1, 1880, and con-
tinues until July l, 1881, or next Friday.
Afterwards bids were advertised for to carry
the mails on the route at the expiration of
the present contract, and 1t was awarded to
DIR. Ruddell as the lowest bidder. There
was an application before the Postmaster
General from the people along the route for
q semi-weekly mail, and it was understood
that this would be granted, and that it
would 90 into effect on July l. DR.. Rud-
dell was very much surprised, therefore, on
q recent visit to Washington city. to learn
that the route would be cut of by Post
master General James, after the expiration
| OF the present contract this week. The
route is perhaps the cheapest In the United
States for its length. 1t is much needed by
the people Of South Carolina and Georgia
adjacent to the river, and has the endorse
ment of Senators Hill, Brown, Hampton
and Butler, and of Representatives Till
man, Black and Stephens. The Postmaster
General, therefore, in his commendable
measures OF reform and economy, has evil
IDENTIFY acted under a wrong impression
with regard to this route in abolishing it.
We do not suppose that the government
desires to deprive any part of the country of
mail facilities.