New-York tribune., 1874-12-17
,MERICANS STAY IN EUROPE.

WHY SOME AMERICANS STAY IN EUROPE
SHORTCOMINGS OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SER
yICE-TRUSTwoRTIINEss OF EUROPEAN POST
oFFICEs-INFERIoRITY AND EXPENsIvENEss OF
THE EXPRESS COMPANIES WORK IN AMERICA.
70 the Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIR: All our American arrangements for the
transmission of letters, parcels, packages, &c,
shamefuly mismanaged. When, therefore, one finds
the PostOhce Department praised for the very things
IN which il is imperfect, ones patience gives way
In a late number OF THE TRIBUNE of your CORE
spOndents of "farO OF subscribers who do not
possibly knOw"-prOperly expressed. for they cannot
possibly Know what is not true" that the POST Oice
Department becoming the most perfect ana the
expeditions well the safest and cheapest ex
press that there is in the world"
Unfortunately there is not bit OF truth in this state
ment Our POst-Ofice management has always been
so inefficient that any slight improvement in it seems
wonderful 10 those who know of nothing better Let Us
see. Ny London bankers Informed Inc last Summer
that they had kto,cn OF letter lost IN the English
PostOGfce Money is sent in gsered letters in large
amounts-hunGreds Of pounds sterling, within my
experience, and doubtless much larger sums-with alb
sOlute safety can specify two points in America be-
tween which money even small checks TO order
could be safely sent by mail. 1t happened 10 member
of my family that his check was taken
of letter, his name forged on the
back and the check drawn at the bank
There is no civilized country under the sun but ours
where anything so abOmlnaDle could happen. In
swijzerland-aUd probably elsewhere, but prefer to
speak OF my own knowledge Onlylt Is common TO send
watches by mail house IN Geneva would not he>i-
tate send OF $500 watches TO Bale or Berne
elsewhere selections the rest to be returned III the
Who would do that III America Would
they arrive ana II So Ia what conditions itdN Is
considered be much bebndhaDd in all matters of
governmental management Het u has happened 10 me
that having called upon a Mllanese banker at ms
country seat IN small village he tOld me ne was eX-
pectng funds 10y mail, and presently servant came in
with package which, when opened, proved 10 contain
packet OF bauk-nOes several inches thick aud of
Thousand francs III value. II had been sent by mail
without hesitation and arrived in safety a matter OF
course The Of POstOce Is that the position
of postmaster gwen for political reward, and
honest is time liable 10 be replaced ny q
rogue il the complexion of politics al Washington
ehanges-and often If II does not.
IL give mp the POst-Olfce and try the
shall have equally bad experience, and
prefer TO speak by facts and therefore cite the following
for comparison Summer before last crossed the
Channel reached Dover after midnight, slept there.
Next morning Oh INV way 10 LOudOn found that had
left valuable travelling rug on the steamer. That
afternoon teegraphed for It. Next morning, re-
turning 10 rooms 10 lunch. found my rug. IL had
been procured from the steamer Office been
railway office, hooked for London forwarded by express
than mile 10 BrOOkst, all that short space
OF time. and the entire charge was-sxpence! Within
month had box sent me distance of less than
mies-aU rairOad-by an American express
It was seven fun days in travelling that distance, and
the charge 81 IS. delivered the railway
OF box two cubic feet; S3 ns per cubic foot
Havre 20 Philadelphia by way of Liverpool The charge
including raDsDipment in Liverpool, 80 shillmgs
ten OF - cuOc feet 40 cents
foot Tha Is ia America pay S7t cents per cube foot
cross the Atlantic 40 cents per cubic foot $500
miles. including transhipment 10 Liverpool, days.
Any comment on the above would DC thrown away
PhiLadeIDhi1 Penn Eoy os 1874