Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-24
POSTAL TRANSPORTATION.
Annual Report of the Second Assistant
Postmaster General.

POSTAL TRANSPORTATION.
Annual Report Of the Second Assistant
Postmaster General.
submitted his annual report to the Postmaster Gen.
eraL The conduct Of his branch Of the P. O. de-
parsment has involved a complete change in the
administration Of postal affairs as regards the i'm
portant matter of postal transportation. 1t has,
Wnlie bringing about large reduction In expendi-
lures, been charged with the much higher
duty OF securing to all every needed facility for the
speedy transmission of intelligence.
THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION
on STAR steamboat and railroad routes for the year
was s19,234, ,s99. The cost OF the same items June
30 1882, was S1S 3S1 052. Total increase or
I9 per cent. The comparisons Of itemized cost are
as follows:
Railroads, 1888 s...................s1 s1s, ,ss7, 800
Aoo~.. .................... *, ,lSf
Increase ... s1.034, SIC
Steamboats,, 1888 3............... 500, 7,6e1
1882. 2.................... 574,O19
Increase. .......... sss,6os
Star, 1883. s4,7ss.47s
4eoS. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 5,553, $40
Decrease. ......... ss14,s1
IT This decrease In cost on the 3oth June is reduced
new service, which commenced July /, 1883 on
tiS iten the comparison OF cost for four years Is
given to show the entire treatment Of the Subject
1t is: ~ 1 '
,ooo Niles Travelled. Cost
1SSt St9............. ......76G70,9a5 $7,32 ,499
1ssa q So s96 6,e55 s55
1883 ?S9ss2Ss S23a S'S3o'Iss s4s
Increase in mileage for 1888 over $780, 1,ss7,7s7
s2,5s2,O2l It is believed that this service is now
renewed OF all unwhoesome excrescences, and that
&C., Will add to the cost.
RESTRICTIONS TO sUB-LETTING
Mr. Elmer urges suggestions to secure the use of
improved means for the transportation of the
mails, that the service may be performed in keep
Ing With the character that should mark the trans
portation OF the United States mails To secure
this he has prescribed restrictions to subletting
Ihat VIII place the service, when Suh-let, in the
nands or responsible sub-cOntractorS; not to de-
crease the cost but to make the service creditable
10 Ihe government. The estimate for this item for
1888 Is set down at s, 100000
DECREASE IN COST OF STEAMBOAT SERVICE.
Tho steamboat service cost:
Ine 90' 90 1SSo ,221
Decrease for 1888. s279 600
This decrease is due to the discontinuance of un-
necessary service. Present laws disquafy persons
rom from bidding and becoming contractors but for
InIee @ causes: W1llful neglect to perform service,
lnS UO prevent bidding.
DISCRETION IN EXCLUSION OF BIp,,Rs
MI. Elmer recommends that additional discretion
De vested In the Postmaster General, to exclude
persons from bidding for other cause which his ex
perience In the conduct OF the business cOnvfnces
him should also be made the ground for such ex-
cluSiOn
GROWTH OF THE RAILROAD SERVICE.
An interesting statement Of the growth OF the
railroad service, shows that the miles OF new ser
vice for the last three years would circle the globe
and is greater than the entire mileage at the close
OF the first q years OF the system And that
the cost OF the service is not dproportonate to its
growth and the increasing revenues of the depart
from postal matters comes from that transported
by railroads: The payment OF amounts earned on
roads leased and operated by the companies own
Ing the subsidized roads involves the ex-
penditure OF more than half million dol
lars year, that must be provided for by
direct appropriation. This is only a seeming
increase In the cost Of the service as the amount
has heretofore been credited to the companes
against their Indebtedness to the United States
The estimate for this item for 1885 is placed at
s13, ,216.
Mr.. Elmer says with regard to rates allowable
IOr railroad service that this question Is being care
Iully considered by the committee OF which he is
CHAIRMAN and that the report will contain a COM
prehenSiye statement OF his views on this subject
and he therefore refrainS from any discussion of
the question at present.