The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-05-15
EUREMs MAIL SERVICE
Postmaster General Burleson In
Letter to Senator Pittman Re-
views Whole Troublesome
Matter

Washington d. c.. April 81, 1915.
Hon. Key Pittman.
United States Senate.
My dear Senator Pittman:
lam in receipt of your letter of
the 7th instant, transmitting copy of
Senate Joint and Concurrent Resolu-
ton No. 2 with reference to the
question of mail service between
Palisade and Eureka, Nevada, and
have given the same careful consid-
Grafton. With regard to this matter
| beg to inform you as follows:
For a number of years prior to
March Is, 1910, railroad mail service
was authorized and performed be-
tween Palisade and Eureka, Nevada,
over the tracks of the Eureka & Pal
isade Railroad Company. Owing to
a freshet occurring in March, 1910,
which destroyed a greater part of
the tracks, the railroad service was
suspended and temporary service
provided until June 80, 1911, when it
was superseded by regular star SER
vice. no move having been made to
build the tracks and operate trains.
Subsequently the road was rebuilt
and operated by the Eureka Nevada
Railway. of which Mr.. j. E. Sexton
is General Manager, and the ques-
ton of re-establishing railroad SER
vice was taken up with the company
on the usual basis applying to new
service. Mr.. Sexton declined to ac-
cept and perform service in accord
ance with the Postal Laws and Reg
ulations and suggested a number of
notifications thereof as to frequency
of service, carriage of Departmental
employees. etc., which was impos-
sible of acceptance by the Depart
ment, although was agreed to re-
lieve the company of the terminal
service at Eureka. The company de-
manded that full payment be al
lowed, regardless of the frequency
of trains, but the Department was
not in a position to accede to the
company's demands, inasmuch as it
is provided by law that the mails
must be carried with due frequency,
and this has been determined by the
Department to be a frequency of
not less than six times a week in each
direction. If service is operated on
a schedule of only three times a week
the Department would not under the
uniform practice pay more than at
the rate of so per cent of the amount
stated, or 81, 795. so a year. Neither
could the Department agree to the
proposition that the company be not
required to carry the agents of the
Department while on official bust
ness. This is a requirement of law
and regulation and it would be in
consistent to make an exception in
favor of any company from COM
pliance Herewith.
The question of establishment of
service thereafter was held in abey-
ance until in June. 1918, when in re-
Spouse to demands from the people
of Buckhorn, Nevada, for the car
riage of mails on the railroad from
Palisade to Blackburn Station. the
company finally agreed to the prop
osition of the Department for that
service and it was established from
June 10, 1918. and the Buckhorn
mails r still being carried by the
company between those points.
Previous to the regular quadren-
NAL weighing of the mails, which be-
gan February IS, 1914, the Depart
ment again took up with the company
the question of establishing service
through to Eureka in order that it
might begin previous to the weigh
ing and the weights of the mails car.
ried on the route be taken for the
purpose of fixing compensation from
July l., 1914. but without success,
Mr.. Sexton stating that the continu-
ance of the operation of the road was
problematical and declining to accept
the proposition of the Department.
At various ,times since Mr.. Sexton
has indicated that the operation Of
trains might cease. 1t is understood
that the road is now being operated
under lease by the Nevada TranspOr.