Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-11
PAPERS AND MAILS.
DELAY CAUSED BY STOPPING THE
SOUTHERN SUNDAY MAIL.
No Early Communication Between wash
ington and MISUNDERSTANDING
Explanation OF officials.

ENplaUhtlOu oil OUtCMlss
a Washington letter to the New YORK
Times says: The action Of the Pennsyi-
yania railroad and the Richmond. Fred
ericksburg and Potomac railroad. when
in conjunction operate line between
Washington and Richmond, In discontinue
ing Train No. q on Sunday has caused
great annoyance to the publishers OF New
York newspapers and newsdealers ana
newspaper readers in towns formerly
seryed by this train.
For the last fourteen years this traln
has been run every day in the week, and
ii has been generously patronized. us
time for leaving Washington was 1921
a. NJ, and II arrived at Richmond AT Z:SS
T. NJ. connecting there with trains on the
Chcsapeake and Ohio for Newport News,
Old Point Comfort, Norfolk, Portsmouth
and other southern points OF Importance.
When the train was running the New
York Times could be laid down IN New
port News at SIS i. NJ. Old Point Com
fort at c 2. NJ, and Norfolk at GO i. VI.
every day.
STOPPED SUDDENLY.
on Sunday. January 18th, without pre-
vious notification. this train was discon-
tiuucd, and the announcement was made
that hereafter il would run only six days
In the week.
The General Superintendent OF the Rail-
way Mail Service sent a telegram TO Major
T.. r. ID. Myers, president Of the Rich
mOnd, Fredericksburg and Potomac rail-
way. asking for an explanation. and Mr.
Myers replied that his road was not Will
Ing TO run this train on sunday any
longer, for the reason that IL was obliged
to operate trains Of the Seaboard Airline
on Sunday. Although the superintendent
OF the Railway Mail Service directed his
attention to the fact that the discontinue
ance Of the train would be veXauous TO
the readers Of newspapers and 10 the news
dealers in Richmond and many other
points in Virginia and ia North Carolina
Mr.. Myers made no further explanation.
CAN'T COMPEL.
The Post-Ofice Department has no
means Of compelling the associated rail-
roads to resume operation Of this train,
for the reason that they have no Special
contract with It for carrying the mails.
1T was said by prominent official Of the
Railway Mail-Scrvice to-day that, 80 far as
hc knew, Train No - had always been
well patronized, and he could see no
reason why it should not be run every
day in the week. The fact that II has
been operated daily for years would seem
TO weaken the position OF President Myers.
which is In effect that f. does not pay.
with this train removed, the New York
mails and papers cannot leave Washing
ton for points South on this line until
3AJ L. NJ. and Will not reach Richmond
until 7I5 p. VI. 1t IS apparent that the
change viii provoke dissatisfaction among
businessmen, besides being a prohibition
10 many persons of the Sunday New York
papers.
The Pcst-Ofice Department would be
glad 10 have the train restored. but the
officials say that they have no power 10
compel President Myers 10 change his
order.
There IS one aspect Of this business that
IS calculated TO invite comparisons BE-
tween the Richmond and Fredericksburg
and the Richmond and Danville to the dis
advantage OF the former line-the line that
proposes 70 compel Eastern Nirginians to
wait until Monday to read their New
York Sunday parers. The newspaper
train from New York on Sundays reaches
Washington before o'clock. AMI the mail
matter and newspapers are transferred TO
the earliest southern trains going out
after tue arrival OF the train from tho
North
A TRAIN THAT WATTS.
A Richmond and Danville train
scheduled to pull out at $50 waits for the
newspapers, and II carries them all
through the Piedmont country, dropping
them at Lynchburg ut o'clock. and fur
nishins them to the people OF Roanoke
by o'clock in the evening. The Rich
mond and Fredericksburg line allows the
mails and papers To lie in the station
from about $50 to S:4j. or about seven
hours.
II Is hardly conceivable that the Rich
mond AMI Fredericksburg railroad would
deprive the people along its line OF con-
Venicnce to show their resentment over
the loss OF a contract. but this has been
suggested as an explanation OF the with
drawal of the Sunday morning train.
The Atlantic Coast-Line had until re
Gently the contract for carrying the fast
mail TO the South and Southwest. 1t was
handsomely paid for. as are all the gov
eminent railway-mau contracts But the
Richmond and Danvillc opened a shorter
route, and a quicker one, and the bust
ness that formerly went by the Coast-Line
was taken by the Richmond and Danville.
II the newspaper train Is TO be stopped
as penalty for this transfer. the railroad
company Will be giving itself a very I'M
desirable advertisement.
Statement of Major Myers.
Major f.. 7. ID. Myers. General Super
intendent Of the Atlantic Coast-Line. and
President Of the Richmond. FredericAs-
burg and Potomac road, when shown the
above yesterday, said that the sugges-
ton that the Sunday midday train was
stopped because the Atlantic Coast-Line
has no contract for carrying the 0asO
mail 10 the South Is without any basis,
the fact being that the contract ended
more than six months ago; but at that
time the Seaboard AIRLINE fitted their
schedule to that when had b-Sn run as
the fast mail. and it was accordingly
continued up 10 a recent period. 'On
January 2Sth, however" continued Major
Myers, "the Seaboard Airline thought
ii TO ito interest to change its schedule
to arrive at Rchniond at $50 l.. NJ,
instead Of 2:3S u. Ma change to which
we were exceedingly reluctant to con-
form. As soon as IL was decided upon
the Post-Oficc Department was notified
l. e.. on January 23d.
1.-THE company would have saved in
revenue If it had ceased at that time
TO run the train which arrived at 23S
u. NJ. but we thought proper 10 con-
tinue It. We do not run on Sunday any
train which 1t is possible TO dispense
with, and, therefore, merely local trains
60 which level this train had been re-
duced) are dispensed with. But as many
through trains still run on Sunday over
the Richmond. Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac railroA. both via the Atlantic
Coast-Iine and the Seaboard Airline
as before the change, the abb
sence Of the midday train on Sun
dav is OF little consequence. so far
as the business mail is concerned. 1t IS
true that the arrival Of the New York
papers on that day Is later In the even
ing GAS T.. No. but we did not feel justi-
fed in running a Sunday train solely TO
avoid this"
NEWS OF HENRlCO COURTS.
The Alleged Election Frauds-Cases OF
Iiy,je and Walton Will Not Come Up.