Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-01-22
The Mail Service


The following letter and enelosure
were received by w. A. johnson ESQ.
OF this city from Hon. Robert NJ. Lafol-
letie IN reply to a letter in reference to
the postal change of running the mail
clerks TO Galena enstead of Lancaster.
and forcing this city to receive mail by
pouch from Montfort. The letter gives
some hope of relief. but the reason for
making the terminal at Galena as ex-
pressed in Mr. Whites letter are sound
and the change will not be back TO the
old order. but may be as good:
Washington, d. C. Jan. 2. 1891
Dear Sir:-You may think have
paid no attention to your letter concarn-
ing the change in the railway service
for Lancaster. | called at once at the
Dept and have been there in reference
to the same matter several times since
| find however that it will take some
little time to bring about the changes
which must be made to give Lancaster
the service required 1t must be soon
however and shall not be negligent in
looking after it and you can assure the
business men and people interested that
they shall soon have a first class service.
The changes were not made on my
recommendation and think your let
ter was the first intimation | had that
they mad been made. Assuring Won of
nv continuing interest am sincerely
yours,
ROBERT M. LAtoLLErTE.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT..
OFFICE OF sEN'L sUP'T RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE.
WASHINGTON, D. c.
DECEMBER 80, 1890
Hon. r. NJ. LAFoLLETTE,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
WASHINGTON, n. C..
SIR: Referring to your personal inquiry as to
the reasons for the recent change in the manner
of running the clerks between Milwaukee. Ian.
caster, and Galena, would state that this mat
ter was first taken up in July last upon a report
from an officer Of this service dated July 9th.
which reads as follows:
There are some reasons why the Milwaukee,
and Lancaster II. z. o. ana Montfort and tialena
X. 4. o. should be consolidated, making one con
tlnuous line between Milwaukee Wis and Gale
ma ILL., and no objections which cannot be met
and overcome.
The branch railroad from Montford TO Iancas.
ter Is only spur OF the main line; Lancaster is
the end OF the track, and no connections are made
at that point. The company runs continuous
trains through Milwaukee aud Galena v'q Mont
! fort. Galenais quite large city; tnany connec
tions are made there and considerable mail is re
ceiVed and dispatched at that point
II am satisfied better work could be done II
| the same car and clerk ran though from Milwau.
kee To Galena than il now done by making trans.
! fer at MoptfOrt. The clerk now running be-
tween Montfort and Galena does not have sufi-
cient time or facilities 10 make proper separation
| OF his mail for dispatch ut Galena. Were the
change made the mail facilities for Fennimore
Lancaster, and the lew small offices on the spur
track could be made as equally good as now by
the establishment OF system Of closed pouch ex-
change. therefore recommend that the Milwau-
kee Il Lancaster R.P.O. be curtaied at Montfort
Wis, and extended 10 Gaena ILL.,, taking up and
disseminating the Montfort q Galena II. p. o.
service between Montfort and Lancaster TO be
performed by closed pouches
You viii see, therefore, that this change was
not made .asty The objections and the adj
vantages were both considered, and il was
thought advisable finally to order the change,
which was done December Ord.
The Department has under consideration now
the question OF placing a clerk on the stub
train between Montfort, Lancaster and Wood.
man, and think can assure You that this will
be done within very short time. The only
question now being the arrangement OF cars,
which has already been taken up with the rail
road company. If this is d0ne Lancaster will
have practically the same facilities as before the
have the benefit Of improved service between
Milwaukee and Galena. Very respectfully,
JAMES e. WHITE, GeR'l Supt.