The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1885-12-24
JR,.weExLy NAIL.

The decree has gone forth and on and
after January I. 1856. the six times a week
mail, from tibet to Maiden, which ci,izens
Of the Judith country worked hard AMI
long to secure. will he thing Of the past
The only intimation Of a reason for the
reduction to a tri-weekly that has reachnd
US. il that the line is not self-supporiing-
no reason at all The route was increased
from a tri-weeKly. early last spring. by
recommendation Of u United States
mail inspector. who satisfied himself that
il was q necessity in the interest of the
country. yet fully realized that as daily
it could not be expected to prove self-sup-
porting. Since that time the population
of the country tapped by this line has
almost doubled. the demands upon the
mail service increased in direct ratio. and
vet this retrogressive step is about to be
made in the interest of economy. At least
such is the only plausible conclusion We
can come to. and from that point We stall
endesvor tn show that the proposed rcdue-
ton is neither necessary or just.
At no time in the history of the govern
ment has the mail service bee n depended IN
or expected to net a revenue; quite the
reverse. 1t is one IF the comIensa'iohs
for-if not direct--in,iirect taxation mat
all consumers have to l'ay. Congress makes
. an annual appropriation our al the moneys
, collected from the people Tor the earring
, on of this department of the government
!, sufficient to adjust all expenditures oven
n receipts.
The mail systeu--particularly the star
: route nals--has been AN important actor
! in the settlems mt and growth of the wes
! and northwest, aud To that end mai ser
D vice has been introduced where IL was more
o of "A luxury than necessity. and in'aria-
q bly accomplished the desired result. IL Il
r not claimed that such lines were sel-sup
rortipg as weekly, tri- weekly or daily pnte'
: when established. hut they hastenea tn
l. set Element and development. "i the c'untr!
l. through which they passed, con>'nil;'
u ton of greater nuincnt to the general gov
o ernm ent than the trifing cost of maintain
- ing such lines To-day there are few sta
%, route mails carrying sufficient mail ID pa.
- EXPENSES; yet, where such routes P'ietrat
"A productive country, only awaiting settle
,uent to make it a continual soirceof revt
nue. to the govei n nent. the peoples none
cannot he .a,t To better use than toconiin'i
'e and increase them as rapidly Us coisistenc.
IL will allow.
it The Maiden and Ubet line, sin lis IL
il. crement To a daily, has done mu:h tcwar
m assisting in the rapid growth of he Jid'i
. country. It's establishment attracted ,oI
i. or less attention that has relouided t. III
countrys permanent improvement. II
W discontinuaice. at this time, Will have
ne tendency to arrest the early coming oi ~n'
Ell fits contingent ny, daily mail service.
ill The people Throughout ths Bash a
ut averse to the proposed change, ani coisis
lie emily demand of the government to lea'
.,d the service AS it is. Now it il Killing ii
-. important agency of helping the comtr
- within "a short time il will prove sell su
tanning.
"' A strong remonstrance should be SCI
'at to the Second Assistant =. NJ. Genera
VII through Delegate J. X. Toole. Tho'gh
of would reach the Fostofiice officials I" la
ex. to avert the proposed economical IT
m, about to he taken, IL would have te
=, dency To increase the chances for q re-esta
Iishment OF daily service In the al
spring.