Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-05
TIE FAST MAIL.

The Service TO be Discontinued Unless
Congress Makes the Necessary Appro-
priatiOn.
The continuance Of the fast mail SER
vice is a matter Of great Importance TO
the South. At present two daily trains
are run from Washington to New Orleans,
making connections with the principal
points of Florida, one ofthese bringing the
mail through from New York and eastern
points. and run under the fast mail ap-
preparation by Congress. The other does
a cal business. If Congress should neg
lect 10 vote this appropriation, the result
would be that one train would have 10 DO
the work now required of two. In other
words. while one train now is assigned
chiefly to local business, and so relieves
the other. enabling il TO he devoted to the
rapid transportation Of the mails-n the
railroads do not receive the compensation
from TIE government necessary to defray-
ing the expense Of running the fast mail.
he local business and mails viii have 10
depend on one train alone.
The time to Savannah under the last
mail system is 26 hours from New OTk
and in proportion from Washington,
Baltimore and Philadelphia. The SER
vice formerly extended only as far
south as Charleston. but at the last
session of Congress il was extended to
Savannah and Jacksonville. The speed
Of the fast train between Washington and
the latter terminus now averages about
50 miles an hour.
The officers of the Savannah, Florida
and Western Railway say that if no APP
propriatiOn is made by Congress for its
continuance the fast train will be with
drawn at the end Of the current fiscal
year. The post Office appropriation bill con-
tains no recommendation for fast mail
appropriation, but proposes 10 make the
compensation for carrying the mails de-
pend npOn the space they occupy and the
speed at which the trains are run.
II this recommendation is adopted the
railroads say that il will not pay them TO
provide fast trains to do the work now
done under the appropriation. and will
result in the dlscOntinuance OF the train
now leaving New York at 4 a. m. and ar
irving in Savannah at Gal the following
morning. The Southern mail would then
leave New York at 8 p. IN. or 10 a. m, ar
irving in Savannah the following day al
j.j2 a. m. or p. m, making the delivery
here in the latter case fully twenty -four
hours later than il now is.
The railroads say that the difference
between the fast mail and the other mail
service should not be lost sight OF. The
fast mail is a special service. The gov
eminent furnishes the railroad companies
with the plans of the cars they want and
| the companies build them. The govern
ment makes the schedule upon which
they are run, specifies the speed at which
they shall 20, and pays a certain sum pei
annum To the companies for running
them. OF course, the railroads have the
| privilege of running other cars IN the
| train besides the mail car. But no plan
/ which the Committee on Appropriations
has recommended Will warrant the con
/ tinuance Of the train. 1t is generally be
/ lieved, however, that the appropriation
| will he secured in the same manner as 4
/ was last wear. The bill, as recommended
! wiH 20 through the House, but will BIZ
/ amended in the Senate by the insertion O
/ the Appropriation, to which the House
| will AGREE