The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-08-06
THE FAST MAIL SERVICE.
Something About its Development and
Growth.

Growth
The first railway postohice in the
United States and the first realiza-
ton of the plans of its founder,
George B. Armstrong, was run upon
the Chicago & Northwestern rail-
way between Chicago and Clinton,
Iowa, in August 1904. A car was
crudely improvised for the purpose,
and in comparison with the elabor-
ate postal cars of to-day it cuts
sorry figure, writes Fernando Jones,
of Chicago.
For long time the centre of OPP
erations was in the west, and until
the service was made a separate bu-
reau of the Postofice Department,
with Mr.. Armstrong at its head.
He had an assistant at Washington,
although he maintained a supervi-
sorry oversight over the system
throughout the entire country.
The progress and development of
the idea of Mr. Armstrong; railway
mail system after the success of the
postal car upon the Northwestern
road was not rapid, In October,
1864, a like attempt was successful
" made on the line between New
York and Washington. Then fol-
low in their order the Chicago, Bur
lington & Quincy, the Chicago,
Rock Island & Pacific, the Illinois
Central and the Chicago, Alton &
St. Louis. For two seasons the ser
vice dragged along and then came
the awakening, and both people and
officials realized that the new pro-
iect was a necessity in the postal
affairs of the nation. There was
then, from the period after its in
auguration, 1864, until after General
Grants election to the Presidency,
with John A. ]. Ores we'll, of Mary
land, as Postmaster General, slow
growth of the railway postal system.
Every year, however, showed
gradual improvement. Shortly after
President Grant took his seat the
service gained great and welcome
impetus. Grant, being an Illinois
man, knew Mr.. Armstrong and what
he had already accomplished and
also knew the value of his enter
prise. Vice President Colfax. who,
before his election to that high Office,
had been for years chairman of the
House committee on postofice and
post roads, and had been an earnest
coadlutor with Mr.. Armstrong in
his labors, was in position to rem
der him greater service. Then it
was that Mr.. Armstrong was permit
ted to have full scope in the elabor-
alton of his plans for the service.
He recommended the consolidation
of the old route agent service with
the modern railway postal service,
under the title of railway mail ser
vice. This was done. He recon-
mended also the allotment of the
country into six divisions, a superin-
tendent at the head of each. This
was also carried out. and Mr. Arm
strong was made general superinten-
dent in April 1869.
Thus the railway mail service rose
and expanded as we know it TO- day
In its greater proportions, the logical
accompaniment of the nations de-
velopment, it is the counterpart Of
the system as Mr.. Armstrong left it
when he suddenly died. Naturally
the increase in population and cor
respondence caused like elabora-
ton in many of the details of the
service. But in outline and in most
of the more important details it is
now what it was when Mr. Armstrong
was at its head
Now many of the most valuable
features of the postal car service
which Mr.. Armstrong originated
have spread across the Atlantic
Ocean and been taken up by the
nations of the old world Would
John Bull, With his conservative no.
tons ever have originated such a
great departure from old time
methods? / trow not. Yet postal
cars are nov running throughout
the British Isles; how-bc-it the pas
Senger cars still bear the semblance
of the ancient stage coach, with
close compartments and doors upon
the sides. The mail car, as we'll as
the schoolmaster, is abroad, and has
invaded every civilized country
where railroads have been in
troduced and some countries where
civilization is questioned.