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▼\The Oveki.anp Mail—Tub Memphis IIoote.—-Wfe find in the Memphis papers the following extract ol n letter58.I lies-ininfrom Col. Butterfield, addressed to Col. Oa it at'li.. Post-Master at Memphis, hearing date New York. November 3.— Whoever led Col. Putter field to believe that lie could carry the Overland Mai! from Little Rock to Fort Smith by steam, was either a knave or a fool. The “ sudden falling of the water” spoken of by tiie Colonel, happens so often with that stream, that it is rendered unnavigable below Little Rock, as well as above that the P°*nl. The recommendation of Col. Hot-0p, ton, a Civil Engineer in the employ of ▼ is- i government, has more good sense and (30.! correct judgment in it than nil the advicejng Col. Rutu-rficld has* received from all the tiie ' wiseacres who have spared neither false-for hood or fiction to divert the Overland Mail jn Route from the 3-5ili parnllel. Col. Hut-iliir ,on examined the route under the auspices red lhe Secretary of the Interior, and in a no | communication to that Department recoin-,p|e mended that this Mail he conveyed from a| Memphis to Des Arc hy steamboats, thence westward by conches. This Mail should never hove Keen carried via, Little *1 Rock. That point is twenty-seven milesionrrs».staj:ral South of the direct route to Fort Smith.of)i tithebysh-udsofighthe9,in-val-theimpion,nte-lel-,)od, ice. the (? infer b in pal-liort 14th\ n-a re can andtheawsan-gis-‘ nillar-?ntslingi is the ght. the Mori to-is tesewas d inis a ese, uve ?inginrrand the mail matter for California could he forwarded to Fort Smith, thus saving the elbow-route to Little Rock. We call upon our delegation in Congress to do Government justice in this matter, and remember that it is an outrage to cause the Overland .Mail to be carried via. Little Rock, instead of going direct to' Fort Smith.My present object is to call to your attention a few facts in connection with the Overland Mail service to your office. When the contract was made, and always subsequently till just previous to September* 16th, it was my expectation and intention to have given the Memphis portion of the route the best or superior service, as it is styled by the Department. That is, by steam from Little Rock to Fort Smith. I had obtained tlm consent of the Department, selected and partially negotiated for the necessary boats. But a sudden falling of the water prevented rno carrying out my intentions. It was too late then to stock the route, and start it In No 1 shape. My only (as I supposed at the time) available method left of performing the service agreeable to contract was to arrange with llecside Co.. which was done by Mr. Crocker, one of our superintendents, with the understanding that Mi!* service was to be performed according to contract. From the reputation that Uee-side Sc Co.. had as good stage men, together with tin* fact tint they already had an excellent; contract with the Superintendent, 1 felt positive that they would give good satisfaction to yourself and the people in your section of the country. In this I regret to say that I am entirely disappointed—the more so, as it has transpired since that the service on this portion of the route has been Urn only drawback to the complete success of the entire service on the largest mail contract ever made in any country.At an interview with Hie Postmaster-General, I stated the case fully and fairly to him. and informed him. as I now do to you, that as soon as it is possible for mo, without too greatpersonal sacrifice, to get to your section of country. I shall have the route stocked with as good stock as is on niiy line in the United States,and in such a manner perform the service that neither department or the public shall have any cause to complain.You. of course, are aware that it will take a little time for me to get matters arranged and the stock on I he ground, explore the routes to select the bust in order to make time, etc.. etc.I hope soon to sec you and consult with you as regards the best and most proper method to expedite the mails and satisfy the Department, yourself and the public.Many important matters in connection with the service here—financial matters, supplies, etc.—detain me here at present. As soon as these are properly in trim, I will visit you.I trust you will tender us your influence in staying any unfavorable current of public opinion, until we can have time to redeem the promises I have hero made to you.I am, dear sir. very respectfully yours,JOHN Rl’TTBRF1HLD,President Overland Mail Company.Msentfnear.Fultngaitill* tioncomlcoinFairwheentr.titleferrmen M 13, I redr and () 39,1ed Iroat .V to r snbjferrTtheRctarpasspowfulsfrtiAdcTtheprc in tTwhcadoTMr.pas*Vbac!to (ReaIVcontowordayRetAti uiB.conIVcon to a nes; tioi rein i*join Co I sinDa:ARefpoi I ioiI SOI Sc«*i \ t ha' an : theJmil
Newspaper Details
Des Arc Citizen
Des Arc, Arkansas, US
Sat, Nov 27, 1858
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Bob C.
AR, USA 12 Jan 2021
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