Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-12-01

pIotectlou 20 tue mans placed therein. |
IL is the practice, well nigh universal,
to re-rent iock-boxes that become va
cant without changing the locks
thereon. AS there is no possible
means of preventing key.holders
from procuring duplicate keys
from private lOcksmiths and
retaining the same after vacating their
boxes, IL may happen that there are
many keys in existence Of which post
masters and present box-holders know
nothing. In this way the security OF
the mails plsced IN the lock-boxes is
jeopardized
The department neglects no preosu.
ton for the protection OF mails in tran
| sit, and provides, at no inconsiderable |
| expense, the very best and most ap-
proved locks for mail bags that are
handled only by its sworn agents, |
while the security OF the mails placed |
in pOstoihce boxes accessible to the !
general public is left to the caprice
and parsimony ofpOstmasters who, in
many cases, are not qualified to decide
upon the merits of the different
locks. In my opinion, the post
Office department should be authorized
to prescribe the kind OF locks that may
be placed upon postoflice boxes, and
postmasters should be forbidden TO
place any article Of mail in lock-box
not secured by a lock approved by the
department.
The strictest regulations concerning
the use of keys of lOck-boXes should be
rigidly enforced.
LEASES.
Invite the particular attention of
congress 20 the subject matter OF leas-
ing buildings and premises for post
offices.
The department has been greatly em-
barrassed for the want of a well defined
law on this subject. l am of the
opinion that il Is the duty of the gov
eminent TO provide buildings and
proper facilities for the transaction of
postal business.
The records show that rOomy, we'll
, arranged and well-furnished offices
D not only facilitate the transaction of
business, but very largely increase the
4 revenues of the department. Suitable
2 rooms with suitable fixtures can only
: be secured by leasing for term longer
+, then that now authorized by law, and
l longer delay in giving this authority
i will prove embarrassing To the depart
ment and hurtful TO the service.
8 renew the recommendation made
D last year that congress provide for the
y Office rent fuel, light, stationery and
Il miscellaneous items at third-class post
!, offices. / know of no reason why
Il these expenses should not be paid at
Q third-class postotlices AS well az at first
and second-class offices.
REVIEW OF THE SALARIES OF POST
MASTERS.
"a Under the act of congress approved
March 3, 1888, as construed by the
y honorable encouragement OF the
!, United States, under date OF February
q 10, 1884, aud reaflirmed June II, 1884
u the work of reviewing the salaries o.
u postmasters and ex-nostmasters OF thu
third, fourth and fifth classes is now
!, progressing as rapidly as possible Will
the limited force assigned 10 tina
duty.
; The period covered by the said act 1
, from July /, 1864, TO June 80, 1874, al
y though under the biennial system o
70 adjustments actual benefits which
may accrue TO postmasters date from
y, July l, 1866.
y The aggregate additional amour
~ found due to pOstmasters and eX-post
4, masters TO the present time is Sl5S
Re A47.78, 1922 so of which has beer
u provided for, leaving the aggregat
= amount of sll3, 1888 unprovided 70
- Rt this time.
is In connection with this matter / in
vite the attention Of congress to tn
~ subject of fixing a limit to the pre-
u sentation of claims OF this character
III and would respectfully suggest tina
e some date in the near future, say Jar
Us nary /, 1886, be fixed as a Limitation
rs for the presentation OF claims unde
~ the said act.
m INK AND PADS FOR cANCELINd PUf
W POSES.
~ The appropriations for supplyin
" Dostoffices, especially those of IN
~, fourth-class, with ink and pads fO
40 stamping aud canceling purposes hav
not been as liberal as the circumstance
20 required. These articles are necess
~ Nv In all offices in order that the letter
nv NAV be properly postmarked and th
n. stamps efIectuRlly Cancelled 10 is ais
NE desirable that they should be ful
~ nlshed by the department, Instead
~ ~ by postmasters, and at their expense
~ as Is now frequently the case, in ordC
ha that uniformity in quality and colo
~. of ink used may be secured
le. EXTENT AND COST OF TRANSPORT
re TGoN, JUNE 30, 1851.
at The statistics Of the inland mail sci
AZ vice, June 30, 1884, are as follows;
on The number of routes IN the star sci
ers vice was l,T29; the length OF tn
nj routes, 226,070 miles; the annual tram
he portation, 81 1903 052 miles at cost
At S. Os9, 9ll, being about 6.2S cents pc
Tor lie. a. 49,.
To boat service was III; the length OF tn
routes Is, sol miles; the annual tram
in portation, 1882. 2sS miles, at an annul
era cost of 1896 5s3, being about l5,af cent
nd per mile. III.
The number OF routes Ia the rallroa
so service was 1878; the length OF N
ox. routes, 1l7, 1850 miles; the annual iran
rty portatlon, ~ oillos- Lliiis 90 a7o 4:
.he for railway postal clerk, being abol
he 10 SO cents per mile.
There were 49Os contractors for ca