Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29

eight Indians in five birch bark canoes ON q
Journey that was to take him as far south rs
Savannah, Ga. His first objective was to blaze
a post route through the wilds of Maine to
Boston town in the Province of Massachu-
Sets" That not until recently has there been
a road worthy of the name along that route Is
a tribute to the spirit of those early adve1-
turerS bound on the Kings business.
Surveyor Finlay's route lay along the only
real highway in the American colonies. After
reaching the outlying settlements in Maine,
he made his way to Falmouth, from where he
followed the post route to Boston and thence
to New York. He arrived in Philadelphia on
December 9, from where he shipped by sailing
vessel to Charleston, S. c. From that city he
rode to Savannah, Ga, and then made his way
over boggy trails northward to Norfolk Va.
Early on his journey Finlay found conditions
that gave him great concern. These things ne
chronicled faithfully In his diary. The colonistS
took particular delight he wrote in forwarding
their letters by the stage driver, ignoring the.
post rider completely, Notwithstanding the
monopoly claimed by King George for the royal
post.
Edward Norice, postmaster at Salem" Fin
lay wrote, reports that every other day the
stagecOach goes for Boston, the drivers take
many letters so that but few are forwarded by
post to or from his ossce. II an information
were lodged Cbut an !nformer would get tarred
and feathered) no jury would find the fact;
it Is deemed necessary to hinder all acts Of
Parliament from taking effect in America.
They are, they say to be governed by laws Of
their own framing land no other.
EFT is the same In Boston, both Mumford
and the rider Of the upper stages OIyde) re-
ceive much postage for which they do not ac-
count. It Is common for people who expect
letters by the post, finding none at the Post
Once, to say Well, there must be letters; well
fnd them at Mumford's' 1t is next to impos-
sible to stop this practice in the present uni
versal opposition to everything connected with
Great Britain. Were any Deputy Post Master
to do his duty and make stir in the matter,
he would draw on himself the odium of his
neighbours and be marked as the friend Of
Slavery and oppression and declar'd enemy to
America"
Under New York date line he wrote MANY
people asked me If had not met the most
driving some oxen; it seems he had agreed 10
bring some along with him"
When Surveyor Finlay reached the Southerrilu
colonies he found the terrible roads only allevi-
ated by the traditional Southern hospitality
ITO travel with comfort through this part Of
the world, stranger should be furnished with
letters Of recommendation to the Gentlemen
and Planters living on the road but to a man
who has business to mind this method Of tIav-
cling would be attended with inconvenience.
Tor the hoSpitable Americans kill you with kind
ness" Finlay said
ardy of kindly Americans and wicked HIGHWAYS
In the Carolinas the Bostonians were mixing
tea and salt water. The news of Lexington
reached New York shortly after Finlay's arrivaE
there and he narrowly escaped capture by the
proVlncials on his hurried flight to Quebec.
And that was the last of the British postal
system IN America, although both the British
and the French maintained an Office in New
York even for some time after the peace treaty
was signed.
The American postal service was born soon
afterward and, although its existence was q
preearious one for many years. it survived thD
Vicissitudes Of war and peace until today, l54
years later, 1t is by far the greatest Of any
similar service in the world
Hundreds Of comparisons might be drawn to
picture the tremendous growth Of that service
IN the century and half and more that has
mtervened. but comparisons call for figures and
figures sometimes are boresome
One Illustration, however should not be =
amiSs. At the time of the beginning of the
Revolution it required 28 days to carry the mail
rom Charles Town, S. c.. to Norfolk Va and
10 weeks, or two months and a half. from
Charles Town to New York.
Today the air mail plane flits out of New
York at O'Clock one night and is in Atlanta
Ga, in time to greet the rising sun on the fol-
lowing morning. From Atlanta another plane
leaves at O'Clock each night with mail from
Inc southland and SaluteS the American metrop-
Oils may hours before the morning fogs have
lifted.
Ten weeks for the one and 10 hours for thu
Other-What q difference!