Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-08-22

Republican and Journal respectively
The first is a manly, generous one while
the latter exhibits disposition to crow
at the misfortune:
REPUBLICAN.l
Notice has been received by the con-
tractor which very considerably reduces
the mail service to a large number Of
towns in the Hills, and bear heavily
upon Custer. This action establishes a
policy that is inexplicable to right
thinking persons who understand the
situation, and gives rise to suspicion
that the post Office authorities in Wash
ington have been deceived and imposed
upon. The need Of greater mail facili-
ties in the Hills is much more apparent
to any fair judgment than the propriety
Of cutting down such service. The Hills
country is rapidly filing up at all points
with an intelligent and stable popula-
ton, who are developing vast resources,
and to whom the best possible mail
service is due as the right Of their num-
bers and the need of their enterprise
and worth to the whole body polite.
The railroad that is soon 10 be in opera
ton within comparatively easy COM
mercial reach of these people must add
greatly To their numbers and mail nec-
essities. Every consideration of right
and justice, in fact points to an increase
instead of decrease OF their mail facili-
ties. 1t is hoped and bclie"ed, there
| fore that when the actual state of affairs
is fairly presented TO the postoffice de-
partment, the order 10 decrease the
service will be countermanded. 1t
ought to be revoked without delay. The
postoffice department cannot afford to
lay it's hand 81 heavily upon thrifty,
prosperous and enterprising commune
ties that are worthy of the greatest en-
conragement rather than The least dis
elimination against them. Rapid CITY,
too, has deep interest in this matter.
She has nothing to gain, but may lose
much, by any backset to the Hills towns
and communities that surround her.
She can have no jealousy of them or
rivalry with them. Their interests are
heIj interests, and whatever she can do
20 aid them in this or any other matter
should he done freely and generously
Let her protest be heard against this
absurd and unjustitiable back-action of
the postotfice department in cutting
down the mail service in the Hills.
After printing the order Of the depart
ment the Journal comments as follows
1.-THE above letter is Of interest to the
people of the Hills in several particu-
lars. 1t will be remembered that short
time ago q petition was circulated in
Custer, Hot Springs. Deadwood and in
termediate points praying for daily serv-
ice over that route. This was all we'll
enough, ard had it been secured we
would have been pleased, had not the
attempt been made to increase the
service at the expense of the Rapid City
and Custer route. As it was, the Hot
Springs and Deadwood increase of serv-
ice was asked for at the same time that
it was asked that service between Rapid
City and Custer be cut down from seven
to three times per week. When the
people of the towns interested attempt
ed to benefit themselves at the expense
of Rapid City they merely worked their
own injury. Another point in the letter
is worthy Of note. That is that the
distance from Custer to Deadwood is
given at sixty-six miles, while the
CHRONICLE has been asserting that the
distance is only fifty miles. 1t would
seem that the efforts of the people OF
Custer, Hot Springs and Deadwood have
only resulted in attracting the attten-
ton of the department too closely to
the route. 1t is sometimes best to
leave we'll enough alone"