Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-23
UNSAFE TO RUN At NIGHT
WHY THE TRAIN SERVICE WAS
SLOW IN 1888.
Curious Old Letter in Post Office
Files Showing Railroads Rare
Consideration for Public.

In his search for news in the Post
Office Department, an enterprising press
agent has unearthed from the flies let
ter written at Charleston. s. c.. Deem
Der 30 1899. by Gen. r. I. Hayne. presi-
dent of the South Carolina and Charles
ton Railroad Company, to George l..
Pitt then agent general of the post
office, which seems to illustrate the in
dependence Of the railroad companies and
something of the condition the the country
in those early days.
1t appears that the department was
trying to make contract with the rail-
road company which would provide for
the departure of trains between Charles
ton and Hamburg, S. C.. at later hour
than 80 o'clock in the morning and
their arrival at an earlier hour than 4::D
in the afternoon.
Gen. Hayne, after informing Mr.. Pitt
that the committee of the road charged
with making contracts could not see its
way clear to agreeing with the depart
ment's proposition. states az follows:
1t was stated to you frankly In the
beginning and has been repeated in all
our communications, that from the char
acter and condition of our road and the
nature of the country, il was not deemed
safe to undertake to convey passengers
upon il in the night. and that i'm the
present state OF the road IT would be inn
possible to make the run with certainty
so as to meet the hours of and as
proposed by you. In particular seasons
and under favorable circumstances 1t
might be done, but we know that We
would frequently fail and we could not
contract TO do that which We knew be-
forehand could not be performed. and
having determined that the safety of
passengers forbids our running in the
dark. we have no alternative but TO adj
here to the hours stated. Indeed, this
proposition poStpones the departure half
and hour beyond the present time, which
has been done expressly to accommodate
YOU and the Wilmington company. who
might certainly arrive at o'clock. as they
now generally do. You are mistaken IN sup
posing that in my conversation with you
in the presence of Mr.. Huger l proposed
anv hour different from the above. You
are correct in saying | intimated a will
ingness TO deliver the mail upon
the boats at > pm. and to receive II from
the boat at :, provided the POSTMASTER
General agreed to the sum of S231.3n per
mile THIS arose out of a suggestion OF
Mr.. Huger and yourself. that possibly ar
rangements might be made TO take the
mail daily from the boat TO the railroad.
which l knew could be done IN twenty
minutes. We should still he willing 10
make that arrangement, though we
should greatly prefer the delivery of the
mails (as AT presently at nNed hours AZ
orr tiepoSi tOry. In snort, any arrange
ment consistent with our certain depart
ure from our depository at not later than
haIf-past Z and our arrival there at haaI-
past / would present no lnsupeiable diHi-
Guilty TO contract to do more would ne 10
bind ourselves to do what could not ne
effected without frequently running IN
the night which our duty to the puDhc
vii, not permit. At some future time
when the improvements on our road snaii
he finished we may be able to effect what
Won desire. but it is impracficabie now.
10 satisfy YOU of our desire to go as TAR
as nosible to meet your wishes, We snail
be happy to make an experiment win you
If carving the mail between the hours
of balf-past I and haif-past :, beginning
on any cay after the 1st OF January you
NAV advise so that you may Sausly
Yourself of the practicability OF erecting
your object through proper arrangements
with the post offices and the wilmington
company. forbear TO enter INTO any
further details, and still hope that seeing
onr anxious desire 10 meet the views OF
The department and the public conVen-
fence, you may be enabled TO MAKE me
necessary arrangements for carrying our
objects into effect.