The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-08-13

from that state.
Having accepted the job. Reagan
lost no time. He had not a single
blank form to guide him by-not even
about, he thought of the Washington
office. md. following the example Of
Kipling's "'omer." he determined to
"eo and take what he wanted. Be
ing we'll acquainted by reason OF his
late position in the United States Sen
ate with several southern men who
held important positions in the post
office department at Washington. ne
forthwith dispatched a trusted friend
to the Federal capital to offer to
these men positions in his new de-
partment.
Without exception they accepted
and went South to him-not. how
ever. before they had. under the di-
rectiOn of Reagan. collected, for his
benefit. copies Of every form and
blank used in the Federal office! He
thus was provided with tried models.
They furthermore made for him be-
fore leaving the Federal service copies
of all the records Of the southern
post offices. the names Of the post
masters. the class Of their offices and
amount Of business done. the rail-
way and stage postal routes. together
with cOmpensatiOns paid every man.
ner of employes-in a word, they car
ried south with them from the United
States post office department pretty
much everything necessary to the in
auguration Of a new southern postal
system.
The next entry after Reagan's ap-
pointment and his oath Of office is
that of a postmaster in Alabama Then
for more than two months there are
but half a dozen sparse entries. This
was due to the fact that. although
most Of the Southern States had Sc
coded. the United States still contin-
ued to run the postal service. even in
the seeded stateS-an anomalous
condition Of affairs. due doubtless to
the act that every one was hoping
d settlement Of the slavery question
might bring the states back into the
Union or that. if they did stay out,
they might go upon a peaceable I'M
~derStanding and settlement with the
old Union.
This state of affairs continued until
the first of June. 1861. when the
Confederate government was prepar-
ing to remove from Montgomery to
Richmond. The entry stating this
contemplated removal was made on
May IL. On the list Of June, accord
ing to an entry Of an order Of May
IL. 1861. the Confederate government
assumed full control of all southern
post offices. that day r~elinquished by
the United States. That these men
who were working in the post Office
department were devoting themselves
to their work during this infancy OF
the C~onfederacy more through love OF
their southern country han through
any desire for money is oddly evi
denced by an entry dated May 20
1t is a reQuisition made by Postmaster
General Reagan upon the secretary OF
the treasury for $2,67S, being, as tn
entry states. "On account of compen
sation Of the Postmaster General
clerks. messengers and laborers. fol
the quarter ending June 80 1851"
In a word. nearly all OF these meI
a given up the certainty Of en-
plOyment and a semi-monthly Salar,
IN the Federal post office department
to work for this new and experiment
tai government for more than twt
months, without a penny of compen
sation. 1t is a light upon the intens
feeling that actuated men in hos
days.
Having removed to Richmond. thi
young department Immediately be
came very busy. Coincident will
) this removal. McDowell's army ha
prepared for it's advance to Bull Run
~AN N"0% 4hiI1lSOldtCly pdt d1 dOSO
lutte end to all Federal postal servic
south OF the Potomac river. exceptin
= officers upon the river itself. On
must believe that Reagan and his lit
tie force worked night and day TO
r the next two months. for in that time
according to the entries in the rec
ords. they removed about 5000 post
= masters and made new appointment
: Many ~postmasters. however. wer
merely formally removed to be i'm
e mediately re-appOinted in the south
ern service.
1t was during this busy time h
reagan had a conflict with the poste
o authorities OF Uncle Sam. There we
r a man who had the contract for cal
= rying the mails from San Antonio
e Ell Paso. both in Texas. It was n
doubt a lucrative job, for one Gi6
dings the man who held it. was loaf
j, to give it up and insisted upon fulfil
= ling his part Of the contract and loo
Is for his pay to the authorities at Wasf
70 ington who told him to go ahea'