The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1889-11-28
Improved Railway Mall Service.

In recent conversation with Hon.
gressive Superintendent of Railway mail
Service for New England, we learn that
great and important improvements are
being made that will greatly facilitate the
movements of the mails, and the transsc-
ton of business in all parts of the
country.
One of the most important arrange
ments accomplished by Postmaster Ger
eral wannamaker and Gen. Superintend-
ent Bell, and one that has long been de
sired but not attained, Is train made up
exclusively of Postal cars to run from
ocean to ocean. This has just been &C
complished without the expenditure of
dollar above the general allowance for
weight of mails and car space.
This train leaves New York at the close
of business at . O'Clock p. m. daily,
and corresponding train leaves San
Francisco at the same hour, making the
run In los hours and 3 IN nutes, arriving
II will be observed at an early hour ready
for early delivery in each city, and con-
venient for distribution to the surround
ing country. The morning train from
Skownegan aud other towns and cities
that reaches Portland at noon makes close
connection with this train at Albany,
n Y.
This arrangement will make saving
of two days time to trsns-continental
mail to all New England, each way, over
anything that has heretofore been, some
thing Of great value TO the business In
terests OF both coasts.
New England has been greatly favored
in increased railway mail facilities. A
new line of postal cars have been estab-
lshed between Boston and Albany, max
ing important connections with all parts
of New England. A new line Of cars has
been authorized via the Shore line be-
tween New York and Boston, bringing
New York early morning papers to
Boston at noon and as far east as Au-
gusta the same evening. Postal cars have
also been put on the Old Colony r. X.
system between Boston and Plymouth,
Boston and Fail River and Boston and
Newport, for the first time in the history
of the Country, as this road has always
heretofore opposed it and declined to
make contracts to carry mails.
The suburban towns and cities around
Boston that heretofore were each sup.
piled from Boston office as distributing
centre, are now supplied direct 5 times
each day by recently established railway
services. This change benefits popula-
ton of about l75 900 and Is great I'm
provement, as heretofore a day was
liable to be consumed In getting letter
from one town or city to the adjoining
one via. Boston.
Gen. Corse, postmaster of Boston, is
reported to have stated that these recent
arrangements mark greater progress in
the railway mail service than had prcvi-
ously been made for ten years A strong
endorsement by Democratic official.
Postmaster General Wanamsker Is de-
voting himself to improving the postal
service In every possible way, and seeking
counsel from prominent men Of expert
ence. He is making 1t a constant study
and is applying business principles to
public affairs, with marked success.
1t is probably we'll known to our read
ers that railway mail service was placed
under civil service rules the first day of
last NAV 1ls..-sa w ni,n time these rules
nave been strictly lived up to. No person
enters the service except under the
rules adopted by the Commission.
An order has recently been issued that
hereafter, in order to supply long felt
want of competent men to act as substi-
tutes In case of sickness or sudden death
of postal clerks the Civil Service Commits
sion will appoint substitutes in different
parts of each state who will act as postal
clerks and be paid by such absent clerks
until regular vacancy occurs.
Substitutes proving competent will be
given the first vacancies, and new substi-
tutes appointed in their places.
This will enable the department to
always have on hand competent corps
of men ready to fill any vacancy from
the date of their appointment.
The above arrangement must commend
itself to all who remember so well the
disturbance and decentralization to mail
matter that came about by replacing
skilled clerks by green men, some four
years ago, and that must necessarily &C.
cur In all such cases.
The handling Of the mails Is matter
of the greatest Importance and comes
down closer to more men, women and
children than any other public service.
1t is therefore subject for graduation
that it is In the hands of men who have
an interest to make 1t of the greatest
good to the greatest number.