Year: 1876

ABOLITION OF THE RAPID POSTAL SERVICE AND


CONGRESS-


Yesterday morning the last OF the fast mail trains left
the Grand Central depot at quarcr-psst four O'CLOCK
and the last limited mail train OF the Southwestern
moved out of the Pennsylvania railroad depot
half past four As announced time since, tho
lack OF funds continue fast mail system and the
suggishness cvinccd by Congress in voting appro-
priaton support it, forced the railroad companies TO
abolish it, The advantages which correspondents lose
by the abolition OF this means of rapid communication
seems to be very well appreciated by the
business community whose interests II most
Affects The lack Of speedy communication
between the East and West Is dcplored by a great
many whose business transactions


tended to facilitate and indeed, the matter has been
commented upon in every direction much TO the pre-
judcc OF Congress- which does not seem to realize its
Importance Yesterday HERALD reporter called upon
the Assistant Postmaster OF the New York Post ONCE
to ascertain What might be the effects of the falling
back slow mails and the changes 1t might ncces-
state in the routine OF the Office. There is every
reason 10 believe" said the Official "tha the business
men Of Mes York and those Of the New England
States will regret lapse into the old time method
OF transmitting mails. They lose time in the exchange
Of adyices and in the of business carried on
by letters and besides that suffer personal inconve-
niencc, which oDviatcd during the running of the
fast trains For instance, man could leave his place
OF business go home, prepare his correspon-
dencc and DO able 10 send 1t OF at
q reasonably late hour But all letters for the
West be in the Post onlce at halfpast four p d.
to insure thor transmission before the next day This
naturally forces much into business hours which
might readily and conveniently be disposed OF at
another time. Besides, frequently happcns that
dlurnal business exhibits and information which can
be secured only the termination oil the day work,
TO be sent away and under the last mail system
could be patched at and not held over as
they must be. till the following day Time Is
generally most valuable consideration IN the ex-
change of all correspondence, and whole day is lost
by the OF last trains in sending matter as far rs
Chicago, and corresponding length OF time IN trans
mitting it at intermediate points This rule holds good
all along the route, ana IN some places
the trains arrive at Tune which causes the
distribution OF the mails 10 be etll further
operation letter would leave the city Al four Nj, be
in Buffalo al Two r. NJ. ana be delivered before the
close of business Now IL will not reach there TIL
night and consequently lot be delivered till the follow
ing day The pcopc OF New York may, perhaps,
suffer less from he change than those Of the New Eng
land Statcs for with the present arrangements is


likely that the trans bearing mails Will be detained IN
This city and at Albany IN making connections, and
they may suffer other delays along the route. or
course the people OF the West will be deprived Of the
same advantages as we OF The East and there
son 10 bceve that much prevails among
the business men there regard 10 tho change +"


The reporter inquired how The ABOLITION OF the trains
would affect the amount OF matter sent tArough the
mails aud If any particular class OF 1t would be dmin-
ished more than anothery


at cannot affect the amount OF mail matter any
extent tho reply because the necessities OF
business and OF the thousand other sources OF corrc
spondonce will cause people to transmit letters, &c,
under any circumstances Papers and magazines viii
be subscribers and patronage solicited through
circulars just they always have becn with or with
out fast But ! apprehend decrease OF the
circulation OF tho daily papers. Many Of these espc-
cia ne
OF late; but now since they cannot reach them
t after the day OF publication 1t is ikely that sub
scriptons for them will be discontinued This Is tho
only mall matter which is likely To be decreased IN
quantity by the abolition OF the fast mail service Oi
will be the newspaper offices which will feel
the change most; but the burden oil transactng com
mcrcial business which speedy commune ication with
through the country tended TO lighen


will think fall almost severely on The mercantile
community" In the course OF his Investigations in
the Post Olcc the reporter found that the falling back
into the old system has neccssitatcd change In tho
routine OF the postal service, and consequently
casioncd considerable Inconvenience and partial re-
| or.anizIng of different departments. The work of
sor,ng The mails, which hitherto been
att ended TO by corps stationed at the depot and
| upon the cars will now be done the Office and


this Will employ the whole force OF fast mail attaches


anu occasion additional loss Of time. Besides, IT


causes mails be sent OIL IN stray patches to each
train starting through the day, aud precludes that


tenn and regularity which should be maintained in the
| sorting department The change OF schedule, too
| which must be made will be apt to occasion con-
siderable misunderstanding among the attaches OF the
postal service along the routes, aud some time viii
| capse before :he old slow tram system will be in
proper working order Mr. Vail. superintendent of the
| Railway Mail Service, has been IN the city Tor some
time making arrangements Tor the resumption OF tho
old method of mail transmission and he has dono all
he could to guard against any hitch msmanagement
J in Transportation and distribution.


Tho reporter learned too, that the managers OF the
roads BY which mails to be transmitted may
rot offer as iac,ties they did before the
tablishment oil the last trains because they are dis
satisfied with the way they have been treated by Con-
gress and to regard the TRANSMISSION OF the mails
as unsats aclory and Improbable work.


To-day the mail trains leave as they did before the
establishment OF the fast mail SERVICE and the forward
move Of the Postal Department undertaken and sue
cessfuy carried out tor some months past ~ thus,
through the action Of Congress- succeeded by
grade movement