The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-01-26
FAST MAIL sxRv,Cr,
Not Much Hope OF It's Continuance By
sa..13"" tho Present Congress-. n

Not Mach Hope OF Its Contiuuance By
...a'F tho Present Congress. Ir
From Our Special Correspondent. h. ~
WAsnfSaroN, D. O., January 25.-The
prospect for fast mail service east or west
for the coming year are none too brilliant,
St. Louis and Minneapolis have been
hoping to get fast mail system between
those Two cities, Chicago has felt that the
next thing to be done In the way Of "ex.
pediting' service on the railways onRht TO
be in her favor In the way Of a fast mail
between that city and New York.. Uin.
cinnai has a desire for higher rate Of
speed for her mails between that city and
New Orleans. Buffalo and Albany feel
that the fast mail service west from New
York must be continued. Baltimore wants
short fast line to connect her with the
fast through lines to the South. Jackson.
Vile desires the service In that section
"braced up" generally, and as for New
Eogland. she feels determined never to
give up the fast system which now con-
nec!s Portland and B ,ston with New York
and Washington and Jacksonville, Florida.
In the midat Of all these demands the
Postofhce Department finds its income
somewhat depleted by the change in letter
postage rates, and to meet the demands oi
the various cities and sections extremely
difficult. ~ Nm 7!-7-'.
g! don't know" said General superin.
tendent Thompson, as he sat in his pleas.
ant Office at the Postoftics Department yes.
terday afternoon, closing up the days work,
u don't know what is 10 be done about
the'iast mail service for the coming year.
Oicourse We have no money on hand with
which we tan met these demands for q
general increase CT fast mails, or for In.
creased facilities at any particular point.
There is less than two hundred dollars OF
last years appropriation yet uuexpended
or unprovided for, and OF course we could
do nothing until Congress would make an
appropriation. am frank to Say that in
the interests OF satisfactory mail service l
should be glad to SEQ Congress authorize
last mails between all the great, cities and
the important sections OF the country. !
don't know Of any road on which very fast
time could now be made between St.
Louis and Minneapolis, though there might
be marked improvement oyer the present
rates, | presume, If Inducements were
offered. It all depends on Congress now.
Whatever TINT body sees Fl: to do in the
way OF making appropriations for fast
mails this department will be glad 20 carry
out" - 81.
"And what do you think Of the prospects
o!inGreased appropriations for this purpose,
Mr.. Thompson p
II regret to reply that I am not very
hopeful. Indeed am not at all sure that
We shall be able to keep up our present fast
systenl from Maine to Florida. recon.
mended in my report that this be con.
tinued, making the appropriation for the
coming year the same as that of this year.
lDee, however, that the Postmaster Gen.
eral has omitted it entirely IRON bis eaii.
mates, and, Congress il not noted for in.
creasing the amounts recommended by
the departments. The fact is, am not at
all hopeful about being able to even con.
tinue the present system Of fast mails, TO
say nothing about increasing it."