The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-05-20
CAMDEN AND NEW ORLEANS MAIL
ROUTE.

after the first of August, among other
mail routes, that between Camden,
Ark, on the Ouachita river, and New
Orleans, This has been done, we pre-
sumo, in the first flush of reform, and
in the belief that the route is unimpor-
tant, and that the country interested
can be easily served by the star routes.
One of the great dangers of every
reformation is the tendency to go too
far, to Iop off too freely and too much,
and we think that in proposing to dis
continue the Camden route the depart
ment has been misled as to its impor-
lance. The length of the route is about
725 miles, and the mail is carried once
per week during the summer and twice
per week during the winter, by steamers
in the Ouachita trade, and in {: manner
that, so far as we are informed, has
given entire satisfaction to the people
served.
Since the contract was awarded, in
1879, to Capt. j. w. Blanks, he has cx-
pended about $3.50, 200 in purchasing
new steamers to enable him to salts
factorily execute his agreement, and
tho sudden and seemingly unnecessary
discontinuance Of the route will work
him, as well as the people who de-
pend upon his boats for their COM
HuuuIcsttIOn WIN the Ontcf WOflo, an
irreparable injury.
The country from the mouth OF
Black river up to IIarrisonburg is sub
ject TO overflow, and is absolutely de-
pendent upon the river for mails and
transportation DUNG many months in
the year, and the contemplated action
of the department would leave the peo-
pie in that section in q sad and tlcplor-
able condition
From the mouth of Black river to
Trinity-seventy milcs-thcrc is and
can be no land mail service from
Trinity to Harrisonburg there is no
land route or mail service from Har-
sisonburg to Columbia-seventy five
miies-there is no land service, though
the country is thickly settled, the poo
pie relying entirely on the river boats;
from Columbia to Monroe-seventy-
five mites-there is no post Office on
the left bank Of the river from Mon
roe to Ouachita eligibility miles
there is no land route between Qua
chita City and Alabama Landing-
twenty miles-there is no land service,
or ut the Landing itself, though there
is shipped annually from the latter
point over 1000 bales of cotton from
Alabama Landing to NIiller's Bluff, in
Arkansas, Il distance Of 10 miles, there
is no service, except by river from
Miller's Bluff to New Port--twenty
miles from New Port to French Port
eighteen miles-and from French
Port to Camden-twelve miles-al.
most the sole reliance of the people is
in the river boats.
From. the mouth of Black river up
the people have no safe and reliable
means for transporting valuable packn-
ges aud letters, except by the steamers,
and each steamer carries per trip on an
average about 100000 to merchants
along the route.
When the Nicksburg, Shreveport
and Pacific railroad is overlooked, as it
happens to to be at the present time,
then Columbia and the country ada
cent cannot be supplied except by
river, and there are persons now in
this city from Monroe. who cannot re-
turn Ivy the railway, but must wait for
one of Capt. Elank'S steamers.
We say again that this route seems
to us to be of great of public benefit,
and should not be discontinued unless
it can tic clearly demonstrated tina,
some other and more advantageous
one can be established. This is moi
what is called Il star route, there seems
to be no shadow Of Il susoicion of I'm.
fairness in the contract, and tho peo
pie served have not only not complain.
ed of the manner in which the contract
has been executed, but are perfectly
satisfied with the service.
SENATOR'S CONkLlNG AND PiiTY