Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-03-31
OUR MAIL SERVICE.
Major John D. Adams Makes q
Few Remarks.
And EnIightens the Public
Through Our Columns.

Adams from Little Rock, Ark, BY
the train from the west last night
was mentioned this morning, and al
an early hour his we'll known figure
was noticed on the highways. Think,
ing that q statement from him would
be interesting to the public at. THU
juncture, a representative Of THU
journal accosted him and asked for 4
private conference. The major, with
his usual courtesy, announced hi
readiness for the ordeal, and as soor
as a quiet corner was secured, the fol.
lowing conversation ensued:
Reporter-This mail controversy
Major Adams, has been a topic o
considerable discussion here during
the past ten days. The structures in
the Avalanche excited the attention O.
the mercantile community, and q
meeting of the cotton exchange took
action upon the subject, several days
since, protesting against any probable
curtailment of the river mail service
Some hints were th,own out that the
meeting was called solely in your in.
terest. Win you be kind enough tc
let us know something OF the true
i~nwardness of this business? Many
are mysti6ed here on the subject, and
do not understand precisely what the
Avalanche is driving at, nor do they
know the meaning Of"star route rings
and frauds, and expedite" etc etc.
Major Adams-So far as | am able
to learn, the fight of the Avalanche
has been taken up in the interest OF
certain Office seekers, who seem to
want the position of superintendent OF
river mails, now occupied by Major
Waldron, aud the place now held
by Mr.. Benton. They seem, however,
to have run it into a personal matter
against me. | am at a loss to under
stand this, for | have not seen a single
statement relating to the subject
in the Avalanche hal is true.
They make reckless statements, and
do Tot appear to know what they want
to get at.
Reporter-What about the cotton
exchange meeting held last week?
Major Adams-You will have to
ask some of the cotton exchange mem
bers about that. | know nothing
about it except what | have read in
the Appeal. l suppose the mercantile
community do not wish the mail ser
vice reduced over the river routes,
aud | also suppose the Avalanche arti-
Gle impressed merchants with the idea
that an effort would be made to
shorten or do away with a part Of the
mail service.
Reporter have read in the Ava
lanche that you are not delivering
mails between Memphis and Helena?
Is this true, and ifso why?
Major Adams-Ycs, this Is true.
The first Office after leaving Memphis
my route is Heleaa. 1t twas adver-
lised so at the last letting, in 1878.
And the way Offices between here and
Helena are in none of my contracts.
This lisa very proper provision, or d.
of the routes, for if my boats
compelled to land at points
above Helena, as the steamer James
Lee does, they could not make the
proper time on the route below, nor
could they go to ArkansaW City and
back twice a week The way offices
between Memphis and Helena are
supplied by Captain Lees steamer,
working under an entirely different
contract.
Reporter-Has Major Waldron, the
superintendent of river mails, any
right or authority to issue orders to
you or your agents to visit way offices
between Memphis and Helena?
Major Adams-He has not. Those
,fices are no part of my contract.
Reporter-Had you any knowledge
If the proposed arrangements or d.
Of the several river mail routes
)ut Of Memphis previous to contract
ors being advertised for by the De.
1artment?
Major Adams-I had not; nor
| expect to bid for or
nave anything to do With the
until after they YER awarded
10 H. NJ. Norton at the regular let
ling in 1873. As to changes on the
routes since the original contract, my
card in the LEDGER of Tuesday last
them fully.
Reporter see this mornings Az
blanche contlins the following:
The postmaster at an important
postOfice on the river route OF the big
boss writes to the Avalanche as fol-
lows:
For the month Of January we had
eight mails delivered.
For the month Of February we had
ten nails delivered.
For the month Of March to date
We have had ten mails deliv-
So you see that We have had VANITY