Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-27
MAILS STILL CRIPPLED
IN OHIO AND INDIANA
All Available Outside Forces
Are Called Into Flooded
Districts Today

Mail service in Ohio and Indiana is
practically at a standstilI. The condition
is regarded as deplorabie by the officials
Of the railway mail service who are on
the ground. Postmaster General Burle-
son, about noon today. moved by the
serious character of the reports. assem-
bled his four assistants. Chief Post Of
fee Inspector Carter B. Keene and Chief
Clerk Merritt o. Chance in conference To
devise ways and means for dealing with
the situation.
1t was decided to call into the flooded
districts all the available outside force
of the railway mail service and, the post
office inspectors service to care for the
mails and to instruct fourth-class post
masters and others in the various phases
of the complicated situation.
Postage stamps and other supplies will
be massed in large nearby cities to save
delay in having acquisitions filled in
Washington. Everything possible To
ameliorate conditions will be done by OK
perienced men who know how to deal
with serious situations in the service. said
Mr.. Chance at the close of the conference.
No Mails Since Tuesday.
In the Washington Office no mails from
the UlQu1e WEST nave kOAltu
since Tuesday morning, although mails
from the extreme northwest and the
Pacific coast are arriving via Chicago.
Mail due at $50 o'clock Tuesday morn
ing from the middle and far west xa
the Chicago and Pittsburgh railway post
Office to Washington has not yet been re-
ceived. Mail due yesterday from Fort
Wayne. Ind, was received at 10 o'clock
this morning and with 1t some mail due
vosfardQv from Canton. SteuhenViile And
Lorain, Ohio.
Mails due from the northwest at am.
today arrived at Sam. from Chicago.
bringing mail connections from Minueap-
Washington state. Under ordinary con-
ditions there are ten trains daily bring
ing western mail The trains arriving
from Pittsburgh are bringing only light
mails OF a local character and none OF
the western connections.
Prepared for Avalanche.
When the accumulated mails are re-
ceived the city post office officials antic-
ipated an avalanche and have made every
preparation to handle them. The ONCE
is in constant telephone connection with
the regular clerks who alone are able to
route it.
In the department 1t was stated that
there is practically no service in the two
states OF Ohio and Indiana. he rivers
are reported falling, but the OHIO river
is still rising and the latest reports say
it is still raining in Cincinnati The
Pennsylvania road is still open between
Pittsburg and Cleveland. via Alliance.
and dispatches of west and southwest
mails are being sent that way to connect
with the Lake Shore to Chicago. Ar
rangements are being made to direct
mails from New York and the cast for
states south of the Ohio river, which are
way, by way Of Washington and the
Chesapeake and Ohio. which is the only
eastern line open into Cincinnati.
The southern division of the Lake Shore
between Elyria and Sandusky is inter,
rupted but the northern division is still
open, and all mails are being sent via
Sandusky to the south and southwest.
Eastbound mails usually distributed over
the B. & O.. and the Pennsylvania now
go over the Lake Shore, via Sandusky.
The railroad on the Fort Wayne and
Panhandle lines is badly washed out.
and many bridges are gone. Yesterday
mails were sent from pittsburgh 10 In
ctnnati via Parkersburg and Huntington.
but later reports say that line Is out OF
commission.
No Losses Yet Reported.
No reports have yet been received at
the department of the loss of any mans
or of any casualties to postal clerks
The railway mail service officer at Pitts
burgh reported last night that many trains
between New York and the west have
been annulled until further notice Inc
only trains operated west OF P1ttsnureh
are over the Fort Waye line via Alliance
and Cleveland to Chicago. Thus far IL Is
renorted serious congestion of the mails
at Pittsburgh has been avoided.
The Cleveland report states coho1r, ,i
mn better fears growing worse While
the New York and Chicago and the Pitts
hureb and cleveland lines are apparently
intact, grave danger exists to the bridges
ar various points There IS great mali
coroastion az Sandusky, where num-
Der of postal clerks are marooned. Cni-
cago reports congestion. but states malls
are not separated. Chicago and eastern
Illinois trains are badly deiayeo ano ~
Cincinnati reported the abandonment OF
the Union depot yesterday afternoon.