The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-08-09
POSTMASTER WILSON'S GARD.
What He Has to Say in Reply to Mr.
Winners Gard.


To the Editors of the Sentinel.i
1 notice in the last issue of your
paper Aug. 4th) card from Mr.. John
WINNER, of Salem, in regard to car
rying the mail from the r. & d. depot
(now the Southern Railway Company
to the Winston postoffice. In his
card Mr.. WINNER sees proper to at
tack me, charging me with taking a
hand in preconcerted plan to take
the contract from him, etc.
l assure you, Mr.. Editor, that 1
have no desire to enter into news
paper discussion upon this much
discussed subject. or any other SUBJ
ject, and would not do so were it not
for the fact that the subject is a
matter of public interest, in which
every patron of this office is interest
ed. l shall endeavor to make state
ment of the facts, SO far as l am con-
cerned, in a spirit of truth, justice
and kindness towards all parties
concerned.
In this case the United States Gov
Railway railway COMPANY ppsI for the delivery 0t of
their mails to the Winston postoffice
l am Informed that the company pays
the carrier $500 per year for carrying
the malt to and from their depot to
this office Well, now as to the facts
in the case: | took charge of this Of
flee on January 18th last. By refer
ence l find that Mr.. Winners driver
missed getting the mail to the train
on the morning OF January 10th. He
also missed the train on the morning
of February 18th.
of course, as was my duty, prompt
ly reported each failure to headquart-
ers, and l desire to say that in this
connection all such failures in the fu-
ture will promptly be reported by me,
regardless of who holds the contract
for carrying the mail. 1 certainly
have no apology to offer for diScharg
ing my duty. Upon looking little
further into this matter, L find that
my predecessor in office also reported
Mr.. WINNER for missing the train as
late as Nov. 22nd last.
The patrons of this office have for
months requested me to urge and in
Sist that the railroad company pro-
vide suitable vehicle (such as other
cities of far less Importance haye) for
the purpose of transporting the mail
to ald from the depot to the post
office. DESTROYS OF securing better
facilities along the line, on May 9th
mot January or February l wrote
Supt. Berkeley, of the then Z. 81 d. r.
r. Co., stating to him that the rail-
road company mot Mr.. Wimmer)
should provide suitable vehicle for
this purpose. Supt. Berkeley promptly
and courteously replied that he would
take steps to have an improvement
made.
1t is true Though | don't think it a
from the y n. s W. depot is brought to
this office in "a wheel-barrow. 1t is
also wellknown fact that this mail
is very light, hardly a drop in the
bucket, compared with the mail of the
Southern Railway Company. So far
as my putting on style is concerned,
| shall offer no apology to the people
for moving the pOstotfice from the
dark, dlngy, gloomy place, to the
present spacious, well lighted build
the patrons of the Office for giving
them night service, etc.
l will say in conclusion that / have
made no war on Mr.. WINNER In this
matter. / have heretofore been and
am now Of the opinion that the mail
should be brought up in more suita-
BILE vehicle. There is no one who has
higher regard or more tender feel
ing for the braveold Confederate Vet
Grams UIldu duu UlST6 Is uO one III
the community more willing to help
Mr.. WINNER than l, as / have stated
long before Mr.. Winners card ap-
peared, las several citizens will bear
witness toy and i now repeat, that /
| will be one of five or one of ten to buy
a suitable vehicle and present to Mr..
WINNER for this purpose.
AS | stated 10 the outset this arti-
| Gle is written in spirit OF kindness
as well as a matter of information to
the patrons OF this Office. With these
remarks my connection with the dis
cussion, into which ] have been so
! unwillingly drawn, is at an end.
Respectfully,
e. Fl. WILSON.
Now that both sides have had a
| hearing and the facts of interest to
| the public have been brought out,
| further gratuitous publication OF this
controversy will cease. Let US hope
that all concerned will shake hands,
that Mr.. WINNER will keep his place
| and that safer and more suitable
means of conveying the mails will be
prOvided.-ED. SENTINEL.
i Tn, 80 GaInvrr