The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1916-07-13
BOAT LINE AND
THE DEPARTMENT
CANNOT AGREE
:
Special Messenger Named and
Is Refused Passage II
Mail Carrier.
NO AGREEMENT is LIKELY
St. Simons Transit Company
Claims Route Is Worth 81 400
Per Year; Postoffice Depart
n1ent Thinks Different On the
Matter.
NO AGREEMENT is LIKELY

People on ST. Simons, and there are
quite a large number of them just
at present, were greatly distressed
yesterday when it was announced that
no mail contract had been entered in
to between the postoffice department
and the st. Simons Transit company,
which means it is generally believed,
that there will not be any regular
mail service to and from the island
in future, although efforts were being
made yesterday to secure some mo-
torboat to handle the mail, but this
seems impossible at the price the de
partment has announced would be
paid for the service.
The question of handling the mail,
has been hanging in the balance for
several weeks and finally came to a
head yesterday morning when the St.
Simons Transit company refused to
bring a special messenger appointed
by the postmaster at st. Simons. The
postmaster on the island did this fol
lowing instructions from Washington.
She appointed a white man as special
mail messenger on Tuesday and he
made two trips to the city with mail,
but was informed yesterday morning
that he could not further use the
boats of the line for the purpose of
carrying the mail
History of the Case.
Four years ago Andrew PoulsOn was
the successful bidder for the carrying
of the mail between Brunswick and
St Simons His bid was 5000 per an
mum. For months he used a motor
boat, making two trips daily to the is
land during the summer season, and
once during the winter months. He
claimed that he could not handle the
mail at $75 per month and come out
even on it; that he could not land
his boat at the pier etc, and finally
wanted to give up the contract, but
this, it is believed, would have for
feited his bond. Anyway, to relieve
the situation, the ST. Simon Transit
company took the contract off his
hands and has since been handling
the mail. though that company has
not been known in it as far as the
postofiice department is concerned.
Four months ago bids were adyei-
tised for, effective July 1, and only
one bid was made, that Of the Tran
sit company. who wanted $1,400 per
annum for handling the mails to and
from the island. The department said
that this Irice was out OF all reason
and refused to accept the bid.
The matter drifted along until June
20 when an order was received by
the postmaster both at Brunswick and
a. ST Simons. to discontinue dispatch
ing the mail over the boat line and tC
employ a special carrier, at an ex
nen4a not to excel three-fourths OF
the compensation of the postmaster
ar St. Simons. 1t was at once realizel
mat a carrier could not be secured
to carry the mails twice daily for any
such amount, and the department was
CO notified. An order was then lssuc1
continuing the old service to July III
This time expired Monday and the
postmaster on the island was instruct
ed to employ such service as was pos
.ible for three-fourths the amount o.
her compensation. She employed
speciaI messenger, who made tW'
trims TO the city, and was then denied
passage. -.
of course there are two sides to .ht
argument. The St. Simons Transit
company states that they offered tc
handle the mail at the old figure loi
the remainder of the summer, but inns
was refused by the department The
boat line people say that 1t is airign
during the summer months, but to ut
= mn a four.year contract, winter anf