New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-08

Is pull It of into the Every clerk IS full OF
stories about the excitement Of the operation. Prac-
teal Jokers occasionally try TO make trains stop at
their stations by fastening the bag TO the post re-
CARELESS OF the risk 10 the life OF the official who man.
ages the and it Is long since the side of
was torn out and several persons narrowly escaped
serious injury through the passing adjoining tracks
of two trains which raised their cranes at the same
moment. There are nearly hundred of these
catchers between Buffalo and Chicago and the amount
OF mail received from some of them by the fast train
was considerable. But the Syracuse crew re-
lievcd at Cleveland and the work was prosecuted
with such vigor that by the time frost-covercd roofs
Of Chicago appeared in sight every bag of mail to DO
delivered at that point had been fully /" worked Off .
The official report Is as follows:
Letter packages 4,4a5
TOTAL number letters .... 100 900 'V
Total numbers OF papers 2G5 $50
III $50
The fast mail arrived at Chicago at IL :45 on sstur-
day morning Connection there made with train
No. No., on the Chicago Burlington and Quincy Rail
only 10 provide against mlshap, but to give the
chicago newspapers an opportunity to place their
westward hundreds of newsdcaers bundles were
thrown Oh; AZ chicago the train was boarded by
Alexander Grant who had come through from Wash
ness one Mr. Ee day on tour Of nspec0n he
by the graf Improvement in the service under his
control. lie Is an old railroad man, having been for
phIa and Reading Railroad and the knowledge gained
in this capacity has been fully utilized In his present
place lie Is an admirable organizer a shrewd busl-
ness man and wise discipnarian and the earnest
ness with which he insists faithful service fIom his
suborlinates IS only equaed by his own untiring
energy and enthusiasm. When he took charge Of the
Railway Mail Service last March II had been CRAFTY
surerlntendents and other trained officials whom the
Republicans had retained in Office for many years.
unworked and sometimes travelled past IFS desna-
ton three or four times before being delivered. Mr.
charged superintendent and the wedding out OF ncf
cent clerks. His zeal in the public welfare is shown by
the Is attested by HIS recent recommendations
for the creation of new grades and the granting Of as
sstance TO the families Of postal clerks killed while on
duty.
The Union Pachc transfer, between Council Bluffs
and Omaha, was reached at 3 30 Saturday after
Under the schedule, the train. instead of
lying there til 80, Is timed 10 leave at 615. and
should then cross Immediately TO Omaha and continue
liz swift Journey westward But on saturday the local
trains, which bring malls along the roads running 10
the transfer had not yet conformed to the change and
the fast mall train consequently crossed the Missouri
an hour and quarter late. At Omaha, Mr.. Bell left
Manager Edward pcRnpo So Of tbe Union Psclc Ra
road gentleman Of great energy and enterprise, to
whose personal efforts the postal service is largely in
dcbted for the marked saving In the schedule tlma
between Omaha and Ogden. The delayed train was
put to its best speed across Nebraska and wyoming
and Laramie; and by the time Green River, at
the western end Of wyoming Eas reached fortyseyen
cusion. the run so far Is believed TO ave been the
quickest record from the Atlantic Coast The
train from Omaha consisted 6f one express car two
postal cars. two slecpers. dningcar and private
car At Green River one Of the postal cars was de-
tachcd and sent TIE Oregon Short Line to Port
land.
From Green River to Ogden through Echo and
Weber CanonS Is distance Of 49, miles. The line
Is tortuous and the grades are steep and tunnels
numerous. But nothing can stop the fast mall the
highest speed reached at the most exciting point
the journey The roaring OF the train as II rushed
around curve after amid q shower OF sparks
magnhed into a thousand echoes by the rocky
sides of the deep canons and the few passengers were
compelled to hold fast to their swayng seats. The
young ones took courage accordingly, though some
wera badly frightened. But all the time, cooped up
in the crowded cars next the engine whore the least
ccidcnt might have meant calamity, the postal
clerks went separating the letters for Nevada
and California as calmly and quietly as though they
were In large apartment Of the New-York Post
Office with solid stone floor beneath their feet
From Ogden westward the time not remark
able. Only slight improvement would have enabled
delivery in san Francisco instead Of the second. As
II was I'm spite of heavy snowstorm I'm the SicrraS,
the train arrived At Oakland time to the minute
with eight tons Of mail. Owing to a heavy wind on
the bay. tho mails five minutes late in reach
ing this city. But they had already been fully sorted
on tho cars by special san Francisco distributor and
az 10 O'Clock In the hands of the carriers. The
statement Is made that the interest saved finan-
clal transactions between the two coasts by the
schedule Is enough pay the expenses OF the
train. The benefit IS not only TO san Francisco, but
TO all the commercial centres the coast, since the
mail arrives In time to make day connections for other
points.