Savannah morning news., 1886-05-09
A Quicker Havana Mail Service
Needed.


A month ago the MORNING NEWS
called attention 10 the fact that letters
sent from this section of the country to
persons in Havana, Cuba, reached their
destination by way of New York, and
that they were often from ten days to TWO
weeks on the way. Phe statement was
also made that letters mailed ia Havana,
address ed to persons in Georgia and Flor
ida, went TO New York and were sent
South in the regular mail trains.
The occasion for calling attention to
this matter WAS complaints of the un-
necessary delay in receiving letters
mailed either at Havana for points in
this section Of this country or sent from
points in this section of this country to
Havana. We pointed out that the route
10 Havana by way Of Tampa, Fla, from
any point in this country was very much
quicker than any other, and that mail
matter not only from all the Southern and
Southwestern States for Havana, but,
also, from all the states for that point
ought to be sent by that route, and that
the m ills from Havana ought 10 be re-
ceived by that route.
The MORNING NEWS was informed by
those who seemed to be we'll qualified TO
speak with reference to the matter, and
VINO were no doubt sincere. that it was
mistaken in assuming that mail matter
from points in the South, intended Tor
Havana, did not reach its destination by
way of Tampa, or that mail matter from
Havana addressed to persons in this and
OIL Co, b..-v ,;s \
way OF Tampa.
Beicveing that its statements had been
correct in every particular, and that its
critics we're mistaken, the MORNING
NEWS resolved to make an investigation
with view to getting at the exact Iacts.
A letter was addressed to gentleman
of this city, who was in Havana, and
the same gentleman addressed letter
in Havana to a friend in This citv.
What route did these letters take?
Did they reach their respective
destinations by way of Tampa or New
York? Let us see. The letter written in
this city was dated April II, and was re-
ceiyed in Havana April %. 1t was sent
from this city TO New FORK and thence to
its destination by the Ward line of
steamers. 1t was eleven days on the
way. How very much quicker it would
have gone had 1t been sent by the Tampa
route!
The letter mailed in Havana for this
city was received in the Havana post
office April p, in the New York post
office May 4, and in the Savannah post
office May 6. 1t was also II days on the
way. Is any further evidence needed
that the Havana mails pass over the
roundabout New York route instead of
the direct Tampa route?
There is no doubt that the mail route
between this country and the West In
dies, and Central and South America,
should be by way OF Tampa. 1t is by far
the quickest, aud time is matter of
great consequence in the transmission OF
mails.
Last Tuesday the Senate passed a bill
apprOpriating $500, 900 to provide for car
rying certain mails in American vessels,
and also to secure quicker mail service
between this country and the West
Indies, Central and South American
countries, the Australian colonies and
obhGl pOtnNos OlSCISJlOu Is given b0e
Postmaster General to contract for car
rylng these mails, and he will, of course,
see to it, if the bill becomes
law, that they are carried by the
quickest route. There is no good reason
why the House should not pass the bill.
1t was thoroughly discussed in the Sem
ate. and the reasons advanced in its behalf
are unaus Werable. But evan if il doos
not pass the Postmaster General ought
to take steps to send the Cuban mails by
way of Tampa. The fact that a person
can start from this city and go to Havana,
spend several days there sight seeing,
and return before letter, mailed in Sa-
varnah for Havana at the same time that
he started for that city, even reaches
there, is not at all complimentary to our
foreign mail service.