| From the Richmond Dispatch |
| |
| September 15, 1862 |
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| Senate |
| ***** |
| Mr. Lewis, from the Committee on
Post-Officer and Post Roads, to whom was referred a resolution
inquiring into the cause of delays on the great Southwest mall route,
reported a communication from the Postmaster-General, stating that the
delays were caused by the refusal of Robt. L. Owen, President of the
Virginia & Tennessee Railroad Company, to run the schedule which
had been adopted by the Government, and in use to the 26th of March
last. The reason assigned for the refusal was the condition of the
road and the rolling stock. The
Department had endeavored to make arrangements with the several roads
forming the route to act in unison, and obviate the difficulty by
running two trains daily, making "close connections;" but
thus far the terms of such an arrangement had not been settled. The
Postmaster General closes his next report by saying that unless such
an arrangement be effected, or the Department invested with power to
compel the railroad companies to adopt the necessary schedule, he
could suggest no other means of avoiding the delays alluded to. The
arrangement alluded to was agreed to by the Presidents of all the
roads between
Richmond
and Atlanta, except the President of the South-Side Railroad. |
| The committee recommended, that the
Postmaster General renew his efforts to effect the arrangement spoken
of, and in case of failure, that he report the same to Congress, in
order that the proper legislative steps may be taken in the promises. |
| The report was laid on the table and
ordered to be printed. |
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