Birmingham state herald., 1896-07-21
RAILWAY NEWS AND GOSSIP


 In obedience to the mandates of the postmaster general relative to carrying railroad business packages the several roads entering this city are refusing to handle such packages unless provided with proper postage. The order reads as follows:
 Postoffice& Department,
 Office Postmaster General,
 Washington, D. C., July 2, 1896. Order No. 422.
 Whereas, It has been made to appear upon evidence satisfactory to the post master general, that officers and em- ployes of the railway companies throughout the United States are In the habit of carrying and sending oyer their various lines letters outside the mails and not enclosed in government stamped en- velopes and which do not pertain to the cargo being carried on the train; and = Whereas, The carrying of such letters outside the mails is in 6ireet violation of sections 3985 and 1893 of : the revised statutes of the United States which read as follows: +e~-as4se ts -z-ss
 Section 1885. No stage coach. railway car, steamboat or other vehicle or vessel which regularly performs trips at stated periods on any post route, or from any city, town or place to any other city. town or place, between which the mail is regularly carried, shall carry, other wise than in the mail, any letters or packets except such as relate to some part of the cargo of such steamboat or other vessel or to some article carried at the same time by the same stage coach, railway car or other vehicle. except as provided in section 3993, and for every such offense the owner of the stage coach, railway car, boat or other vehicle or vessel shall be liable to penalty of $100, and the driver conductor, master or other person having charge thereof, and not at the same time owner of the whole or any part thereof, shall for every offense be liable to penalty of $50.
 Sec. 3993. All letters enclosed in stamp ed envelopes, if the postage stamp if of a denomination sufficient to cover the post age that would be chargeable thereon if the same were sent by mail, may be sent, conveyed and delivered otherwise than by mail, provided such envelope be duly directed and properly sealed so that the letter cannot be taken therefrom without defacing the envelope and the date of the letter or of the transmission or re- ceipt thereof shall be written or stamped upon the envelope. But the postmaster general may suspend the operation of this section upon any mail route where the public interest may require such sus- pension.
 I, therefore, hereby notify all railroad officials and employees that these sections of the revised statutes will be rigidly en- forced, and all parties detected in their violation, whether officers of the railway companies conductors on trains, bag gage masters, brakemen or other em- zpIoyes, will be prosecuted for such vio- lation.
 All inspectors of the postoffice depart ment are instructed to keep careful watch and arrest any person caught car rylng letters in violation of the statutes aaa WILLIAM l., WILSON,
 Postmaster General.
 Changes on the Kansas City.
 As stated in these columns some time ago, MT. J. D. Riddell, who for 8 long time has filled the position of assistant general freight agent of the Kansas City Memphis and Birmingham accept ably at this point, has been transferred to, Kansas City, where he will act in like capacity for the Kansas City, Fort Scott and M---sis road. MT. Riddell will be succeeded here by MT. M. F. Washburn, at present chairman of the southeastern Mississippi valley freight rate committed. who is a thorough freight man, as his present position will . imply 's> MT. Washburn, who comes here on August 1, will be valuable acquisition to railroad circles. He is a brother of MT. E. S. Washburn, vice president, and since the death of the lamented General Nettleton has been acting presi- dent, and is a thorough business man. The loss of Mir Riddell, who is also an able railroad man and gentleman, will
 
 vacancy.
 There will be other changes, though of no import to this city.
 An Important Movement.
 Superintendent J. B. McClary of the Birmingham Railway and Electric com pany informed a State Herald reporter that an important change will be made in the signal service of the cars now op- erated on the East Lake electric car line. After thorough trial it has been found that the gongs now in use are not suf- ficient to drive horses, cattle and hogs from the track, and an air compressor will be attached to each car, to the end of which will be attached a whistle suf- ficiently large to be heard some distance. This is a step in the right direction.
 Slag for Ballast.
 Beginning yesterday the Louisville and Nashville put on large force to handle slag out of this city for ballast on the Mobile and Montgomery division. The slag from the many furnaces around this city is peculiarly adapted for this purpose.