The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-12-17

lngtOn, made his report to the
Department that the people of
Custer county wanted their mail
carried by rail three times week
instead of six times by stage,
which was a false report. The
people were not consulted in the
matter nor knew little about it
until the change was. made.
Following is Senator Dubois
letter to Senator Macbeth, as re-
fered to in the above, 0erbattm
ct HterGtim
UNITED STATES SENATE, !
Washington, d. O., =
Nov. 25th, 1901. J
HON. REvENAL MACBETH,
Challis, Idaho.
My DEAR MACBETH -
I have yours with clippings in
regard to the changing of the
mail route from Blackfoot to Gus
ter county. I wish you and my
good friends OF Custer to under
! stand fully the situation. The
railroad was built to Houston
where it stopped for the time
being. This road supplied all
the Offices between Houston and
Blackfoot which the "Star
Route" supplied. 1t was out of
the question; it was simply i'm
possible to induce the Depart
ment to have the mail carried by
railroad and the Star Route
both and it seemed preferable
that the railroad carry it. The
contractor in carrying the mail
by stage could not exist financial
ly, if he attempted to carry the
mail alone, for the passengers,
of course, would go by train in
preference to the stage. The
railroad fixed a schedule of three
times week and the Star
Route" carried the mail six
times a week. The offices be-
tween Houston and Blackfoot
will not receive their mail as
quickly now as they did by stage.
Beyond Houston they will be
served their mail every other
day as quickly by rail as former
ly and quicker on the alternate
days. To illustrate, the train
leaving Blackfoot Tuesday morn
ing carries the mail that reached
Blackfoot Tuesday morning over
the Short Line from the North
and South. This mail reaches
Houston that same afternoon and
goes on, the next morning, to
Challis and other points. Under
the old system this mail woulC
leave Blackfoot Tuesday morn
ing by stage and not reach Hous
ton until Wednesday Afternoon
and Challis the next day. Under
the present arrangement points
beyond Houston do not suffer il
the time of receiving their mai
to any extent, on any day, anc
each alternate day they receive
their mail some twenty -four
, hours sooner. In addition tc
: this it is quite likely that the
railroad will change it's schedule
to daily one in the Spring.
I have considered this matter
very carefully and there is ne
county in Idaho whose people
deserve more consideration a
my hands than Custer. I shall
| always be grateful to them fol
: their steady and unwavering sup
, port, during so many years, 0
the principles l have advocated
| and for their personal devotion
t to me. | shall always look ar
2 opportunity to befriend them anC
, would not knowingly do any
thing to injure or disappoin
them. am sure that the bes
r arrangement possible has beer
made but, if, after it has beel
tried, the people of Custer coun
ty are dissatisfied, and will make
their wants known to me, | cal
| secure, / think, a return to tn
Star Route" system and cal
r have the mail carried by stag
f again instead of by rail. A nev
: contract, of course, would hav'
5 to be let and the contractor woult
5 understand that his compensa
: tion could come only from carry
7 ing the mail, as the passenger
. would go by rail.
/ Trusting that Won will under