The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-12-08
PosT OFFICE pEPARTMENT.
Satisfactory Condition of an InpSTtant
branch OF HE GnrarnInent


The report OF the postmaster general shows a
marked increase OF business in every branch of
the postal service. The number OF post-otiices on
July j. locc, was aI,oI6, an Increase OF 6.lZ4 III
three years and = ls lor the last fiscal year. The
latter mentioned increase Is classified as follows:
New England states, 3; Middle states, Isl; south
erf sta tes and INDIAN Territory, l406; The states
aud territories Of tue Pacific Coast, 100. The ten
states and territories of the ~ est and Northwest,
435 District OF Colum Dia 2: total, 2lq. Free de-
livery Offices have increased from 1sy in the fiscal
year ended June 30 loss, In the railway mail
service there mas been n increase in one year OF
lt~ routes, and in tie number Of miles travelled
per auugm su increase OF 100, 795, ,el7-5s The
estimated increase OF railroad service for the
year was G,H.y miles Hu' the amount Of new
railroad seEvtce actually pat on was l-r75+.5O
miles.
The volume Of bu-,zess in the money order di-
vision including transactions IN postal notes,
reached the sum OF upwards Of elf5 J,1t0 for
the yeaT. During the past year parcel post con
veutions have been concluded with Barbsdoes
the Bahamas British Honduras and Mexico, and
are now under negotiation with al the Central and
South American. The increase Tor correspond
euce with foreign countries during the past three
years IS gratifying and l. especially nOtab c and
exceptional with the Central and South Amer
lean States and with Mexico. As the greater
part OF mail matter exchanged with these c0un-
tries Is commercial II its character, this increase
ls evidence OF the improved business relations
with them.
The practical operation Of the parcel post con
YeutlOns, so Tar as negotiated, has served 10 fulfill
the most favorable predictions as to their bene-
Ht<. In January last Il general postal convention
was negotiated with the Dominion Of Canada,
which went into operation on March I, and
which practically makes one postal territory Of
the United states and Canada. Under i uer-
chsndise parcels usy now he Transmitted through
the mails al E0IT he ass rates OF postage. 1t is
not possible here 10 touch even the leading heads
OF the great postal establishment, 10 illustrate
the enormous and rapid growth of its business
and the needs for legislative rGadjBstment Of
It's machinery that u has CutgrOWu. For these,
and valuable recommendations o. the postnas-
ter-general attention i earnestly invited 10 his
report.
4 department whose revenues have increased
from cl5-17ZUlu Iu $50 10 $50 200 600 IN I-~~
despite reductions Of postage. which have en0r-
nous y reduced rates Of revenue. while greatly
increasing It's business, demands ne careful CON
s!6eTatiDn of COuZr. % al matters suggested
BY those familiar with Is operations and which
are calculated TO increase It's efficiency and use
fuiuess.
A bill proposed By The postmaster general was
introduced IT the lsst session Of the Congress by
which uniform standard in The amount OF
gross receipts would tx the right OF 4 commuui-
ty 70 puolIc building 70 he erected by the gov
eminent for rost-oElce purpose. u was demon
slrated tnat aside from The pu5Hc convenience
and the promotion OF harmony among citizens
invariably disturbed by change Of leasiuss ana
OF site, II was q measure Oh the highest economy
and Of sound business judgment. Il was found
that the government vas r6ylug IN rents at The
rate OF TO u per cent. per eEuun on what the
cost OF such public buildings would be. a very
great Advantage resulting from such q law would
be the prevention OF @ large number Of bills
constantly introduced for the erection Of pubic
buildings at places aud involving expenditures
not justified By public necessity. I Trust thst
this measure will become law at the present
session Of Congress
Of the total number of The Tos,masters s. ,s7l
are Of the fourth class. These. OF course, re
CsiTe no allowances Eaatey5r for expenses ia the
service and their coupeusati0u is liked y per-
ceutage on receipts iu their respective Office
Inis Tste Of mpeusat-on may have been and
probably was, az some time, lgst. ButtEe stand
ard las remained unchanged through the sev-
eEsl Tedg ctous lu the rates Of postage. such re-
dLeLOls have necessarily cut down the compeu-
satlou Of these O.t-e.a.s while u u1dgubled in
creased the business performed by them. -iu-
pie Justice required attention 10 this subject 70
the end That TOUR. hclss D stmas'eIs may receive
sc least equivalent 70 that which the IaW it.
self fixing he rate intended Hor them
Another class Of postal empioyez whose cOndi-
tcl seems 10 demand legislation, IS that Of
c.sEKs in 1ost-0tiCes and call especial attention
% Be repeated recommendations Of the post
ussyer-geueral for their c.asslf cation. Proper
legislation OF this character toT the relief o. car
Tters in TIE tEee delivery service las been fre-
Queut Provision is made Tor their promotion;
for substitutes for them On vacation, for su5sti
t8tss fOI mondays and limiting tCeT hours Of
labor. seven million dollars las been apprO-
pristed foE the current year 70 provide Tor them,
though the total number OF Offices where they
are en- pl8ved - bat SIS for the past 1sCzl year
VITA az estimated increase for he current year
Of 4a@, whlls tas current approp pTistsou f5r al
c.eTks thToGza0 the United states is $50, ,061.
The legIsiEttoa EEeClbg the relations q he
e1Tsrlaaelt With railroads e IN need oE revision.
While lcr the Elczt part the railroad companies
throughout the country nave cordially co.
pperated with the Fostoasce DepaTtEasut in
rendering excellent service, under the lzT a. IL
stands while the caLa TeEzsatio - item fof carry
ing tie mail ts limited ssQ regulated zu7
@ --10ug1 rs1lTSsas are MADE poztrosdz - lsFs
there Is TO authority Fepose@ aayH here 10 COM
Pc the owner % EaIlr0sd = take and Garry the
United STATES lgfl. Ia= only alternative pro
vtded BY sct o. Congress in ease u Eetu>e f for
the pOstI8aste.- general 70 seTsd matl forward ~
Tcay express. This i bat az Illustration Ct
Hitting legislation ragso1sb z and pTepfr at the
tirns % Its e4SetaeGs bar long slLCs OuigEOTu
and requiring read sstE.eal
II .s Erstifs 7us 2 note .FoE tie carefully Pc
pared statistics seCez1 papgirg The post asseE-
esHeT2Hs report t5Gf. uotr zta2fz zn1tDg tee great
expsnzi6u q tbe ssrF1ee ff= rae of expenditure
hss kesE A-es&E91 s4G e1.1ieEcE has been iH1-
Proved Sc sskgT EFzEess Ia fEaGa and cr1E1e
have dser sSss1 tsst lcsses rom he mails have
b9eu Eee1 Essnce5 and tass th- number of con-
paints q tas se1Tles made 80 postnaasters aud
= zEe 6eusrg1szE are lsz l55s than ever before,