Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-11-19

the demand for space and convenience for
the occasion.
TnE forthcoming report of Assistant
PRtmaster-General Hazen makes an in
teresting exhibit OF the operations OF the
registry system: The total number Of let
tiers and parcels registered throughout the
country during the fiscal year ending June
30 last was 6996,5l3, of which hi round
numbers, 5,260,000 were domestic letters,
$4,000 domestic parcels-thrd and fourth
class matter; 100000 letters Ia foreign
countries, $3.50 parcels to foreign countries
and upward Of 100000 letters
and parcels of official matter were for
warded for the government. and by law ex-
empt from payment Of registry fees. The
amount of fees collected was 1896, IA an
increase Of nearly 80 per cent. over the
preceding year. The increase in the
number Of letters and parcels registered
was ,507 ,49l The actual losses of reg
istered matter during the year was lis
letters and parcels, which is at the rate of
one in about every 600. This is pro-
portionately smaller loss than for the
previous year. The newly-authorized regis
tration Of third and fourth-class matter
merchandise, etc. is reported To be still
attended with extraordinary success, and
l53,523 parcels were registered
during the fiscal year at New
York city postofiice alone. Gen.
Hazen, in view Of the fact that most Of the
Losses Of registered matter occur on star
service routes, recommends that mail
contractors on star" routes be held ac-
countable for losses directly traceablc TO
and suggests that in all contracts, hcrcaf-
IA Al Ia ~ fnr
accountability.
WHEN the president returns il is ex
pected that he will comply with General
Drums request and relieve him of the
management Of the signal service bureau
by appointing a successor to Gen. Myers.
Gen. Miles all along has had the promise
of this place, but it is now being discovered
that he is gallant soldier, yet
has not the general education and
special knowledge necessary for the
management oi the bureau. But Gen.
Miles will be consoled with something else
in case he is not appointed to this position.
1t is intended TO retire Gen. Ord at an
early day and give Miles this posiston and
command Of the department Of Texas. 1t
is thought by officers at the war depart
ment that If this programme is carried out
Gen. Hazen will get the signa,-servicc
place. The scientific people have thire
candidate for the signal bureau, who has
made such thorough Investigations in the
bureau of ethnology Of the Smithsonian
institution but the administration is
more inclined toput a practical man, of
wide, general information, at the head of
the bureau, rather than a mere
scientist who is apt TO be an
impractibe business man. Gen.
Drum, who has had charge Of the bureau
for some time, is one Of the most practical
men in the army, while at the same time
possessing the highest executive ability.
Although he has had only a brief portion
Of his time to devote to this service, he
has already improved il greatly. He has
instituted a special system Of reports in
the south for the protection Of the tender
cotton and sugar cane, that has this fall
saved thousands of dollars A planter
warned of an approaching frost wave,
hastens his harvest and SO saves great loss
The feature Of copying the logs OF the
coast vessels, instead Of only naval vessels,
has greatly widened the practical iniorma
ton Of the bureau upon the subject of To-
cal storms Their course, duration, etc