Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-15
RICHMOND'S RECORD.
THE FIRST rRAILWAYP0STALcAR.
A Former Citizen of Richmond the inventor
Of 1.-THE PTocf.

| A Former Citizen of Richmond the Inventor
| OF 1.-THE Proer
| Mr.. W III. Gordon. OF 81. Joseph, No.,
has been In this city for several days visit
| ing relatives OF his wife, who daughter
| Of Mr.. w. A. Davis, deceased. long a re-
| sident OF Richmond. who married here,
| and about 1855 moved 10 81. Joseph.
Mr.. Gordon, on his trip East, has Sc
| cured proofs Of what his wiic's family have
| long cIaimed--viz., that Mr.. Davis was the
| inventor Of the railway-car pOS,ol-seryice,
and the first 10 put Il into practical opera
| ton.
Mr.. Davis was for series Of years
| first assistant postmaster here In Rich
mond, and was an active aud intelli-
gent official, which qualities served him
well upon his removal TO the West,
aud secured him prominent position in
| the 81. Joseph Office. then the terminus Of the
railway system and the point at which the
mails from The East had - be distributed 10
the stage line, which took them thence over
land 10 the Pacific coast. Finding that the
mass OF mail that arrived at st. Joseph
on the eve Of the departure Of the stages
was too great 20 be distributed in time, and
seeing that much Of II bad TO be left over
TO the next stage, Mr.. Davis conceived the
idea OF distributing the mail on the train
between Hannibal and It. Joseph. lis
idea was put into effect IN 1SG2-oi which
there is abundant tcStimony--and he was
therefore the father Of this valuable system,
though somehow or other the honor is
generally given General George b. Arm.
strong, who, it is believed, did not In fact
put hls cars on until 1864
Mr.. Gordon has with hlm 4 letter from
George &. Barton, who was nc the time
spoken Of QSG2) assistant postmaster at s..
Joseph, and who tcStiiics that Mr.. Davis
originated the idea. and that car was pre-
pared under his (Mr. Davis's) directions,
and put work july 26, 1862. This is corTO-
boratcd by Hon. John l.. Bittenger, now
editor OF the Kansas City JO1EBui who was
rostmasteroi 81. Joseph then. Both Of these
statements are endorsed by men WHO work
cd in the ears and by citizens Of the place
Of Mr.. Davs's residence. Further than
that, Mr.. Gordon has secured from the
PoSi-Ofiice Department at Washington a
copy OF a report which Air. Davis. as su-
Ierintendent Of the distribution OF mails
on the cars. made August 3, 1862, to
George W. McCl, Han, Assistant POstIna,-
teT-General.
The letter is as follows:
POsT-OFFIcE, ST. JOSEPH. MOI
August D, 1862.
Hon, g. ". McClelidnd. assistant POST
master General:
Sr,-l have the hO IOr 10 report that. IN
obedience TO verbal orders received through
Mr.. Waller, special agent Of the Depart
mcnt, one Of the clerks and myself left here
on Saturday, 2G.h, SO rs to be- in Quincy on
Monday, 2Sth ulimO, to commence The
distribution OF the overland mail on the
Hannibal and II. JO railroad. Finding
that the mail-cars had not been arranged
according TO promise made TO Mr.. Waller.
instead Of going to Quincy | proceeded
to Hannibal, and succeeded IN getting
the ears temporarily fixed, i'm which
Qhough with some Inconvenience think
the work can be done unul the new ears
are ready. The distribution was conf
menccd on Monday at Palmyra. and A.
sisted the clerk, going up A. far A. ClIr-
ence. at which place | turned back with
the clerk who had come down to 20 up
on Tuesday; assisted up to the same point
on Tuesday. turned back and distributed
the mail going up on Wednesday myself
We have now got through with weeks
service. and can confidently report that
wnen the accommodations are furnished
that are promised by Mr.. Hayward. super
be done entirely TO your satisfaction.
The excuse given by the officers at Han
nihal for not having he ears ready wa,
that they had been daily expecting both
Mr.. Hayward and Mr.. NettletOu, neither
Of whom had arrived when / got there on
Saturday. Mr.. Hayward got home on
W edneSday last. and saw him on Friday.
lie promises to have three cars got ~
specially for the muH Serrice. ana have
them run through 10 West Quincy. This
will be all tha; Is necessary to secure the
entire success OF the distribution on The
road, promising tnat We have competent /
men to do the work.
Most respectfully, your obcdiCnt servant, !
WILLIAM \. DAVIS.
From the records Of the PO,t-Oilicc De- /
raTtmcnt. Washington:
MISsoUm.-Ro No. 10. 1913. from Q4in- |
Gu. H., 10 81. JOseph. Mo.: from Pab0lra. /
No.. to Hdnni1H, Mo.-Rcc0gnize services /
Of William y. Davis, OF -. Joseph. Mo-. /
rs superintendent Of overland mail dlslr- /
button On the cars Of the Hannibal and II. |
Joseph Railroad Company from the 10Th oi /
July to the 3lst Of August, 1862, at 500. |
and refer to Auditor TO pay him that 1
amount.
September 4, 1862.
MIR. Davis Wa FOR fiity-sevcn years COM
nected with the post-oice in various posi-
lions, and from all accounts was man OF /
enterprise and intelligence, and contributed /
vastly to the Improvement OF the work OF
the department in many directions. Ills
family believe, though they cannot pow
prove, that be was the author Of the regis
Try system. He has now been dead about |
ten years, and until recently no steps were
taken TO claim for him the honor due TO
Ihe inventor Of that great, public, ,benefac-
.ion-the railway postal-car seryice--and !
IN default it was awarded General Arms
rong. and bronze bust erected in
he Chicago p0st-oifice giving the General
iil the glory Of the invention.
'1hc postal-car .cryicc wJs initiated by Mr.
rms tr0nc upon The CHICAGO, Burlington uud
Quincy railroad, on tie line between Chicago and
linton, August 81. 1864, and October 70. 1864,
ictSccn New ORR ana PhiiadcipLiI, soon after
N he Boston aud Worcester Iilroad.-R. gor y
he Speciat Congressional C,uifa isSi0H 0., Rul-
1ftfI yltft loYr. +