When was it published?

July 17, 1827 in Delaware Journal

Domestic News July 17, 1827

Delaware Journal

Q: What entities or persons were involved?

Mr. Robert Hills, Postmaster General, Col. Sargent

Q: What keywords are associated?

Single Railway, Mail Conveyance, Robert Hills, Postmaster General, New Orleans Mail, Cost Savings

Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware

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What is this article about?

Mr. Robert Hills of Columbia, S.C., communicates to the Postmaster-General a proposal for single rail-ways on great mail routes, demonstrating cost savings of $96,000 annually for New Orleans mail and time efficiencies, with drawings. Powered by manual or horse labor. Invented by Col. Sargent of Boston. Published in Intelligencer, June 27, 1827.

Clipping

OCR Quality

95% Excellent

Full Text

Mr. Robert Hills, Engineer and Architect, of Columbia, S. C. has made an interesting communication to the Postmaster-General, on the subject of establishing SINGLE RAIL-WAYS on the Great Routes; for the conveyance of the Mails. He enters into minute calculations, and conceives he demonstrates that the Mail to New-Orleans, the conveyance of which now costs $96,000 per ann. could be transported on a Railway for nothing, or that a contractor would want no compensation from Government, but would make $16,000 a year, by the privilege of carrying passengers. He then demonstrates a great saving in time. The communication is accompanied by a drawing of the Mail Carriage, and a section of the Railway. It is published in the Intelligencer of June 27, 1827.

It is proposed to move the Mail Coach on the Railway, by manual power, applied as in rowing a boat, or by horse power in drawing.

It seems Mr. Mills has had correspondence with the Postmaster General on the subject.

The single Railway was invented by Col. Sargent of Boston.

What sub-type of article is it?

Transportation Infrastructure

What keywords are associated?

Single Railway Mail Conveyance Robert Hills Postmaster General New Orleans Mail Cost Savings

What entities or persons were involved?

Mr. Robert Hills Postmaster General Col. Sargent

Where did it happen?

Columbia, S. C.

Domestic News Details

Primary Location

Columbia, S. C.

Event Date

June 27, 1827

Key Persons

Mr. Robert Hills Postmaster General Col. Sargent

Outcome

potential annual savings of $96,000 for new orleans mail conveyance; contractor profit of $16,000 from passengers; great saving in time

Event Details

Mr. Robert Hills proposes single rail-ways for mail conveyance on great routes, with calculations showing cost reductions and time savings; includes drawings of mail carriage and railway section; powered by manual or horse labor; based on invention by Col. Sargent of Boston; communication via correspondence with Postmaster-General