Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1888-04-07
CASCADE AND THE MAIL ROUTE.
Mr.. Ulm Tired of His Postofiice---Mr. Muir
ply Gives Some Facts and Figures.

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ply Gives Some Facts and Figures.
To the Editor of the Tribune.-The
facts set forth by me in recent inter
view published in the Tribune have
caused considerable concern in some
quarters. The opponents of Great Falls
and Cascade take refuge under the wing
of Mr.. Ulm but | am sure that he is too
shrewd to let himself be made tool of
by them. Let me quote Mr.. Ulm's own
words: Query. "Are you deslrous of
having town at your place, Mr.. Ulm?"
Reply. "No sir; I am not.
would not sell one foo. of my land
for building purposes, to any one, under
any consideration. want a sidetrack
and postotfice there for my own conven-
fence, nothing more" A similar ques-
ton was asked W. II. Ulnl, the postmas
ter, and his reply came in Il tone that
spoke world Of truth. sour house was
never so torn up and kept so disorderly
before in the world as it has been this
last winter. They come there about 10
o'clock a. m. and stop until II. In the
afternoon from half past two until half
past three. 1t is perfect nuisance to us;
yet we try to put up with it. Our post
office cancelled ~ worth of stamps last
quarter and unless different arrange
ments are made by spring, | will surely
resign my position as postmaster. | will |
not be bothered in this way any longer"
They are both truthful men and do not |
talk for effect.
Why we are dissatisfied with the pres
ent mail system is obvious, and any per
son who can put up with mail facility
restrictions are, indeed. entitled to gov
eminent pension. Here is fair sample:
Cascade and Gorham are 480 feet apart,
being separated by the Missouri river.
The mail for Gorham passes our post
office door, in transit from the Montana
Central train. But if we want to com
muncate with anyone at Gorham by mail,
distance of 6G miles or to Great Falls,
a distance of 30 miles and then when it
makes the rounds it goes to Gorham Is
this doing justice to the people of these
two places?
Another fair sample: The route from
here to Fort Shaw is rather a circuitous
one; but according to three different
government surveys which We're made in
November last, the route proves to he
III or II Is miles, and to Sun River
(measured by the Telephone
Company it is just 1874 miles. From
Cascade to st. Peters mission (Which has
4 large academy and does its business
here) is miles. Now if we wish to send
A letter to either of these three points,
which are all tributary to this place, we
are compelled to send it via Great Falls,
30 miles, where it is favored with IL 9
hour rest, thence 20 miles to Sun River,
miles to Fort Shaw and then 1S miles to {
st. Peters Mission, whereas, III mile \
route to Fort Shaw and a nine mile route
20 st. Peters, Mission, from here, would
place them in direct communication with +,
their natural railroad shipping point, and
also afford us accessible business inter
course. For the past six years we have
lad a sem-weekly route from this place
o Sun River, which answered for the
line being, and last October it was in
creased to a tri-weekly service, and then
lgain, on the 10th of January it was cut
'tf entirely. This we deem unjust, and
hink if the postotiice department was
'ightfully informed as to the location Of
he country the latter route would not
'nly be reestabished, but would be in
'reased to daily service. A petition
which was circulated through this region
'yer month ago, setting forth the need
# these routes, received the endorsement
II every one in the foregoing places, ex-
ept four or five soreheads in Sun River 7
)rossing, who through obstnacy, desir=
"a their mail to come from Ulm.
The wagon bridge which is about to be
'uilt across the Missouri river at this
Joint, and its many other natural facili-
les give it a promising future, and we do
lot wish to be handicapped by poor
nail service THos. w. MURPHY.