Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-13
POOR MAIL SERVICE
CAUSE OF COMPLAINT
Carloads OF First-C1ass Matter ON
Tracks as Result OF Inadequate
Transportation Means.
INTEREST IN LIBERTY BONDS
Securing Subscriptions Now Patriotic
Psstime OF Selectmen-Men Prais-
ed for Showing Here - Cereal
Drinks Barred.
[From a Stan Corresponden, !

CAMP LEE, VA, October 1e.-Tbe
unsatisfactory mail service at Camp
Lee about which officers and men alike
nave been complaining for some time,
continues. Although the matter has
been repeatedly brought to the atten-
tion OF the Post-Ofice Department in
washington. nothing substantial has
oeen done in any way 70 give the SOL
dters here the mail service to which
they are entitled and bring the method
OF handling the mail between Peters,
burg and the cantonment to the same
efficient basis which the department
prides itself on maintaining through
the country
The one thing that the department
has done, and which has not relieved
the situation to any extent that is dis
cernible, is to put in service n one
horse delivery wagon, which will sup
plement the less-than- motor
truck, which is all that has been fur
ntshed for some time to transport the
enormous amount OF mail which comes
into Petersburg daily for the camp, and
all of which has to be brought to the
cantonment by vehicles
In the meantime. the troops at the
camp are clamor:ng for mail AS fast
hs that which comes to the camp post
Office is received it is Immediately dis
trlbuted. But this represents a small
part of the postal matter addressed to
the camp. and Lieutenant Prevost
Boyce. who has charge OF the camp
post-ofiice, is powerless to furnish
remedy himself, and is unable to get
Washington TO act. lie is leaving to-
night for the capital, where he will
make every effort to have the Post
Office Department realize the gravity
of the situation and the injustice which
is being done the men.
The situation at the camp is even
worse now than 1t was. When the
population OF the cantonment was less
than half that at present, n three-ton
motor truck handled the mail from Pc
;ersburg TO Camp Lee. More men came
into the cantonment. bringing the total
in the neighborhood of 10000. yet the
post Office authorities made no provi-
sions adequate to handle the additional
mail that would necessarily follow the
increased population of the camp. Re-
quest was made that the three ton
truck he supplemented with such
swer to this was the withdrawal OF
the large truck, which was suppianted
by the much smaller and totally in
adequate motor.
CARLOADS OF MAIL. LEFT
UNLOADED ON SIDE TRACKS
Notwithstanding the continuous haul
ing OF the mail by the two vehicles
which are now In service the situation
this afternoon was that there was I'm
Petersburg one carload of mail only
half-unloaded. another waiting on the
tracks to be handled and third car
due. This last car cannot be reached
perhaps for two days. and in. the
meantime, others are arriving. In this
way i; continues. in addition to keep
ing FIRST class mail from the men for
several days, all packages are likewise
delayed. and when they are received.
the contents. which in the vast major
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