Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-10-27
HOW THE ROUTE STARTED

Last week we gave full account
OF the launching of the new steamer
"Dr. w. j. Newbill" at Urbanna,
which will ere long supplant the
little Owen billiard on the mail
route crossing the Rsppahannock
between Northern Neck points and
UrbaHna, round trip of about 80
miles, (thence via land to West Point
and rail to Richmond). The South
side Sentinel, at Urbanna, whose edi-
tor is also deeply interested in the
success of the route, and who had
the pleasure of naming the maid of
honor at the launching, also gave al
excellent account Of the affair. To.
day we will recount little of the
history connected with this import
ant service.
Up to ten years ago che Northern
Neck was completely isolated, in re-
spect to mails as in other things,
from the rest of Virginia. We could
get Baltimore, Washington or New
York papers twenty-four hours after
publication, bet Richmond aud Nor
folk papers were from one-and "a
half to three days. old when re-
ceived. Urbsnna, our sister town.
just ten miles across the Rappahan-
mock, got her Richmond papers in
the early afternoon Of day Of publ
cation. 1t was impossible to get q
steamboat schedule that would catch
this mail at Urbanna; 30 enterpris-
ing citizens "cast about" for ways
and means wherewith to accomplish
the much-desired object.
About this time two Tappahan-
mock citizens-Dillard and Dayton
had built at that port little steam
er, the first ever built on the Kappa
hammock and now known as the
Owen billiard" They, too, were
looking around for an opening, and
Capt II. 9. Dayton, one of the
owners, came down to interview the
editor of the VIRGINIA CITIZEN.
The need for q Richmond mail route
was here, and the boat was here, but
no private individual felt inclined to
pay the sum of q couple of thousand
dollars q year to keep the route
going. If Uncle Sam would not do
1t, 1t would have to fall through.
Fortunately that great and wise
Statesmen, William L. Wilson, was
at the head Of Cleyeland's Pcstoffics
department. He had married into a
Family connected with DIR. William
s. Christian, of Middlesex, and of
late had been coming to this section.
On several occasions the CITIZENS
editor had been out on yachting
tours with the Postmaster General,
and friendship soon sprang up.
The next step was easy, though
sprinkled with doubts. Mr.. Lee
called at the Department in Wash
ington, and found it was a day that
the Postmaster-Genersl was not Civ
ing audience.
Appealing to his Virginia friend
in charge of the Postoffice building,
Rufus b. Merchant (lately gone to
his reward). the editors name and
request reached Mr.. Wilson and an
audience was granted. Mr.. Wilson
knew of our vicissitudes down here,
and sympathized with us. But for
this we would not today, it is safe to
assume, have q route connecting us
direct with Richmond. The Post
master General told Mr.. Lee to make
out the formal petition and send to
him personally-not to the Second
assistant. This done, in two weeks
bids for the route were posted, and
ever since the Owen billiard has
been carrying heavy mails, winter
and summer, rain or shine. 1t is
presumed that Mr.. Wilson o. XII
the petition and it did not have to
go through the red-tape channels.
1t is also reasonable to believe that
had Mr.. Wilson not been conversant
with restricted mail conditions here
he would never have granted the
concession. 1t is hard for us to i'm
press the Washington powers with
our handicapped condition. Politics
and red tape are too much for us.
The billiard carried one letter on
her first trip. Today she carries
daily several grass-bags and leather
pouches, and we have known DAYS
when she had aboard a two-horse
wagon load of mail. Occasionally
Tor weeks in the winter we have no
other means Of communication with
the outside world.
Every night farthermost parts of
Lancaster and Northumber are
supplied with that mornings Rich
mond papers.
At FIRST Weems, Millenbeck, Irving
ton and White Stone only received
benefits from the line. Now, by aid of
star routes, letter or paper leaving
Richmond at 5 q. M, via West
Point, reaches Irvington at 5 p. M;
Heathsville at 2 p. M, and ReedviIle
(near the mouth of the Potomac) at
8 p. m.-and intermediate.