The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-04-22

serving one Of the mouths for the internal letters,
and the other specially for theforeign mail with
proper indication outside, As TO their separate
use. Another mouth might specially be opened
for the late letters of which we shall treat here
after. The special attributions Of the different
mouths, unimpOrtant in ordinary times, would
be very useful in the hurried times OF mail days.
and when the Office Is closed.
IsTEE-IsLASD Distribution
About the inter-island distribution and over
land services. L have found IN the foreign practise
only two suggestions noteworthy. That those
services might be extended aud improved, Is not
doubtful, but the acting according 70 the wants
Of the different localities Is the best guide in the
matter. As to what regards the material posi-
ton and welfare Of the postal servants on the
other islands, l shall refer to the part treating Of
the postal forces.
FLOATrSG OFFICES.
The most important suggestion about Inter
island communications 10 be derived from foreign
examples Is the creation of what l shall be
allowed to term fodiing Offices. The invention
Of rapid communications by railways and steam
ships has necessitated in all civilized countries
the institution the route agent &" service and
mOving pOst-ofices, bureau ambulants, viz,
places in the railway cars and on the ships.
where selected postal servants handle the mail
matter, and prepare the different packages that
are to be left at intermediate points. By this
means, on a railway or on q river or coasting
line, correspondence from one point to another
can be Immediately distributed without going to
ne tAlItn4lllcS u III Inc. All application OF
this system would be very useful here, on board
some of our local steamers for the inter-islaud
communications and letters from Hawaii to
Maui, or ricersTSa, could be distributed without
having. as now is the case, to pass through
Honolulu. Probably, at first, one officer would
be sufficient for each trip and perhaps, for
making the trial, he might be selected among
the officers of the ships themselves, properly
compensated by the Postal Administration, and
responsible to it. In support of this innova-
ton, l shall only refer to one of the most POKER
full arguments in favor of the letter-carriers !;
81 fu nishing facilities for the quick distribution
OF mails acts as an incentive to the writing of
letters which otherwise would have remained
unwritten." Moreover, in reference to this very
same route agent " system, the General Super
intendent of Washington says All the records
Of the Department show that every increased
facilities for the exchanges of mails have been
followed by an increase of revenue far greater
than the expenditure "the expense
Of salaries to the route agents is more than made
up by the augmented revenues"
"MEssAGERIEs.
In provision of the accession of the Hawaiian
Kingdom to the Convention of 1850 on the
Parcel Post, rs Will be seen further, ii will be
necessary to give to the overland messengers
extra facilities for carrying enlarged and heavier
mails, and exact from them more regularity than
shown at present. 1t will, therefore, be we'll for
the Administration to study what features could
be introduced here of "Messageries d" or Dill
gences " system of Europe-such as principally
worked on a large scale by Germany and Switzer-
land. or OF the express mails, as ~practised by
America, or again of the Indian Carrying Agency,
or bullock train" 1t does not seem impos-
sible that in a short time some of those messen-
gers who now ride upon the best and easiest
travelling roads Of the islands, between the most
important localities, might be furnished with a
very light car instead of a horse only. On these
cars, one or two seats might be managed for the
public, and the fare. whether going to the Mes
senger (American plan) or to the Postal Admin
i%stration European plan) would help to pay the
expenses and maintenance of those postal lines,
whilst better and quicker communications for the
mails and convenient accommodation for the ira
yellers would be insured. And if regular strate-
gical roads or tramways were established around
the islands, it would be the duty of the Depart
ment to see according to the European examples,
whether for the good of the public and the in
terest of the Treasury, all these new arteries of
communication ought not be used by the post,
not only for the transmission of mails, but also
for the regular conveyance of travellers.
ITO be continued.)