The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-02-12
Discontimualsce Of the Fast Mail ON
the Virginia Midland Railway.

The fast mail which has been run between
Washington and Atlanta ria The Virginia
Midland railway and the Richmond and
Danvillc railroad, leaving Washington n,
1870 A. NJ, vii! be discontinued on and
after Sunday, February l2-
The fast mail from Washington 10 Savar-
nah ria Richmond viii still be continued
as heretofore. Other trains cid Richmond
remain same a. now.
The reasons for disseminating tho fast
mail between Washington and Atlanta are
set forth In the following circular:
OFFICE OF GENERAL MANAGER,
RICnNCSD, VA.
The "fast mail" from Washington 10
| Atlanta, which has been run under IN
agreement with the United states Post
Office Department, by which special COM
pensatiOn has been allowed the railway
companies for this particular train, i'm con.
siderntion Of the Department having the
right to dictate the schedule, viii be dis
continued on after, Sunday, February II.
1882, for the following reasons:
First. The compensation allowed by the
Department Is not sufficient TO cover the
actual expenses Of the train; and as the
schedule leaving New York at 4:35 A. ".
renders II Of no service for through pas
sengers, and il can make no stops for local
travel, no additional revenue can be de-
rived from passengers 10 supplement the
mail-pay and thus Iaeet the expenses OF the
train.
Second. The schedule required by the
Department is not a practicable one at all
seasons and during all weather, and rs the
Department has given the railroad compa-
nies notice that the compensation will be
withheld when the fast-maii train fails TO
make the schedule prescribed, the mail
pay must necessarily fall very far short OF the
expenses, and particularly in view OF the
fact that owing 10 the inability Of the De-
partment 70 pay for the fast mail except
between Washington ana Toeeoa, Ca, the
train has been nm between Toccoa and
Atlanta wholly at the expense Of the rail-
road company.
Third. For several months past the fast
mail service has been maintained only In
Difference TO the wishes OF the Department,
and in the hope that a more practicable ana
better schedule could be substituted for
the present one. Such a schedule as has
been proposed, leaving Washington after
the arrival OF the 0 p. n. train from New
York-or in continuation oY the II
O'Clock (midmght) train from New York II
prefeired-and arriving at Atlanta, Athens,
Columbus, and Augusta early in the
morning. would expedite the New York
letter mail not only to the points named,
but probably, a'so, 10 Savannah, Macon,
Columbus, and other points in Georgia and
South Carolina, as there W good reason
to believe that the schedules OF connecting
roads would generally be adjusted to more
close connections with such train, some oi
them having already expressed willing
ness to adopt the schedule indicated, and
amongst them the Central, Of Georgia.
This, in connection with the tact that none
Of the railroad companies, except those in
cluded i'm the arrangement made with the
Department more than year ago, have adj
justed their schedules 10 connection WIN
the present "fast mail," would seem to de-
monstrate concl,isively not only that the
proposed schedule il the better OF the two,
but that the present schedule AZ defective
i'm some important particular.
III the "fast mail,' as nov run, afforded
any material facility TO the paeiic general
ly, the railroad companies might feel lustl'
| fled in maintaining il, even af a considerable
expense to themselves; bu. a. it actually
delays the delivery Of mails which formerl,
were sent by the preceding train, and doe'
not expedite the mail 10 any point Will
regularity, it is believed that no material
! inconvenience to any one win be caused by
| its discontmuance. Yours respectfully,
4. Nj. II. TALCOTT,
General Manager.