White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-10-02
DAILY MAIL PROSPECTS
LOOK MUCH BRIGHTER

given to the movement for a daily
mail service into Ely and the citi-
zens' committee which took the ini-
tial action and is engineering the
matter is encouraged to believe that
the service will be granted. Last
week the News published the letter
written by Congressman Arentz to the
postoilice department. in which the
Nevada representative in congress
presented his argument why Ely is
entitled to the mail service asked for.
| Saturday Senator Key Pittman ar
rived in Ely for the announced pur-
pose of investigating the mail situa-
ton and he procured information and
oata which he carried away with him
to Washingtn for presentation to the
department. During the week Chair
man Edwards received a letter from
United States Senator Tasker l.. Cd
die, who is also interested In the
local mail service, which says:
! Il have taken pleasure in writing
the postmaster general this day re-
quesrins that he give this petition
his favorable consideration. hope
| may he able to accomplish some
Thing along this line
| In addition to all this Postmaster
l
from Washington asking for facts
and figures relative to the mail situa-
tion and the postmaster is busy COM
plying with the request and will be
able to give the required data in
detail
But the most important develop
| ment appears to be the action taken
by George l.. Hickey, general man.
ager of the Nevada Northern railway,
/ as brought out in letter written by
Mr.. Hickey to Edward McGrath, su-
perintendent of the railway mail SER
vice. This letter is as follows:
East Ely. New, Sept. IS. 1021.-
Mr.. Edward McGrath, Superintend-
ent Railway Mail Service, San Fran
cisco. CAL: Dear Sir-Your letter
Of September 22 with reference to
question OF additional mail service
requested between Cobre and East
Ely and asking IL We contemplate any
additional train service between
those points in the near future.
| Train service was reduced last
April to three trips weekly because
of the fact that the Nevada Consoli-
dated Copper Company closed its
mines and smelters. When In opera
tion 80 per cent of our tonnage was
that of the copper company. Until
the copper situation permits reopen
ing of mines neither the existing con-
ditions nor our revenue will justify
any additional train service, as we
are now operating at a heavy loss.
Naturally ! am in entire sympa-
thy with the desire of the residents
OF this district for additional mail
service and it will give me pleasure
TO cooperate to that end to the full
est consistent extent.
| Senator Key Pittman is at pres
ent in the Ely district and in discuss
ing the subject with him | advised
him of the receipt of your letter and
that in reply l would make the sug-
gestion to you that the government
establish motor service by automobile
truck over the Nevada Northern
tracks between Cobre and Ely on the
four days per week that trains do not
run.
In this event the Nevada Northern
VIII permit the use of its tracks with
out any charge: furnish track at
East Ely upon which motor may be
stored when not in use: furnish apy
supplies which may be desired from
its stock and do any needed work
which can be done in its shops at
actual cost for labor aud material.
Our only requirements would he:
"First--That suitable contract
he executed indemnifying us against
any expenses for account of loss or
damage to property: personal injury;
delay to mails. etc. in connection
with operation of motor service.
"Second-That the railway be per-
mitted TO furnish the driver of the
motor. as II will require to be op-
Grated under train orders and the
driver must be person familiar
with train rules and railroad practice.
The railway company will undertake
10 secure competent driver for
1900 per month.
"Third-That the motor will be
used exclusively for transportation of
mails. This for the reason that we
cannot permit establishing OF COM
non carrier service over our rails.
and the government would not, of
course. wish to do SO.
We have no motor which can be
used for the purpose, our only car
being Ford touring car equipped
with suitable axles and wheels, but
for your information will say that
this equipment only cost us $3.50. and
II would therefore seem that the ex-
pense OF equipping an automobile
truck for movement on railroad
tracks should be reasonable"
During his stay in Ely Senator
Pittman discussed the mail service
situation with General Manager
Hickey and took with him on his re-
turn to Washington n copy Of the
foregoing letter. which he will turn
over 10 the post0ffice department.
The Information required by the
department from Postmaster Wallace
pertaincd to the establishment of a
star route between Cobre and Ely,
but with the receipt OF the PROPOSE
ton from the railway company Mr..
Wallace will incorporate II with his
reply to the postoffice officials.
The offer from the Nevada North
ern railway appears to have appealed
TO the public as furnishing a prac-
tical solution OF the mall service
question until such time as the rail-
way company sees its way clear to