The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-14
WESTERN )! MAIL SERVICE.
First Assistant Postmaster General
Clarkson Has Something to
Say About It.
The Government Has Not Kept
Pace With the Growing
West.
A Trip Of Inspection Of the System-Pros-
pect Of Increased Appropriation for
tho Northwest.

Among the guests at the hotel Helena are
First Assistant Postmaster General Clark
son and party who have been on an ex-
tended tour to the coast. The visitors ar
rived from the west late on Saturday night
and spent yesterday in sight seeing. Dur
ing the afternoon they visited the Hotel
Broadwater where they had lunch. and
watched the merry throng of bathers at the
natatorium. General Clarkson was busy
receiving callers at the Helena last night.
Among those who called on him were E. D.
Weed, United States attorney, A. j. Selig-
man, chairman of the republican state
committee, Mrs. Seligman, and Mr.. and
Mrs. E. w. Beattie. The general, who
says he belongs to the newspaper crowd
left his visitors long enough to- grant an
interview to reporter of The INDEPENDENT;
Mr.. Clarkson, who is of medium height.
somewhat inclined to be portly
has frank open countenance
and has many of the characteristics of the
western man. He considers himself as be-
longing to the west. and has made several
night, 81 never fully realized what the west
was until made this Journey" He had
never been out in this part of the country
before and what he saw created deep i'm
preston upon him of the great and as vet
but imperfectly developed resources of the
northwest.
"What has been the object of your trip?''
he WAS asked.
"Well, the principal thing that has
brought me out here was to look over all
the large offices and examine into the service
generally. The railway mail service is
something that comes closer to the people
than any other branch of the government
and they soon become aware of deteriora-
ton in that part of the service. 1 have
given the matter as much attention as DOS
sible. and it is plain that the government is
not keeping pace with the marvellous de-
velopment OF this wonderful northwest. The
main cause of this has been the lack of suf-
ticient appropriations to carry on the serv-
ice rs it should be. think that the de-
partment will be able to secure an increase
of $4,000, 600 for the service in the north.
west. This will enable us to do something
handsome toward securing better facilities
and increased efficiency of the entire sys-
tenn in this part Of the country
Mr.. Clarkson did not say that his trip
had any political significance nor that he
was taking notes among the brethren. The
new states are not by any means secure to
the republican party. and the administra-
ton would court friendly relations with
them. Of course the genial first assistant
postmaster general did not give utterance
to any such sentiments. He is not that
kind of politician. When he submits to
an interview he tells nothing that he wishes
to keep to himself. He would say nothing
about about anything . bordering on politics, but
calls Puget sound the Mediterranean Of
America and is completely enrap-
tured with its beauties. The entire
sound country possesses a great
charm for him. The vast timber resources
OF the region he said were something won
coil Vrou kt,o l..
had ever seen. All the way, up and down
the coast from the sound to lower Califor-
mia, he said the country which he saw
opened his eyes as to the great west.
Mr. Clarkson had good word to say for
Montana, also. He has not seen much of
subject of irrigation. "To the west I CON
slider that greater question than that of
silver" he said. All that the soil needed
was water to make it produce abundant
harvests. He thought that the control of
the water supply should be under the direc-
tlon OF the government, and that under the
present conditions much of it was wasted.
By means of the storage system he thought
enough water could be collected to irrigate
vast extent of country and make homes
for thousands.
What have yon. to say, general, about
1T is in splendid shape. It's model
office. Everything is managed in an excel
lent manner. Mr.. Curtis has made first
rate postmaster and is a credit to the ser
vice. observe that he not only runs his
office in very satisfactory manner but
that he is public spirited citizen who takes
an interest in everything of Importance to
your people. No, don't know how it is
about a new postmaster. I believe Mr..
Curtis time has expired, but I have been
away from nv Office so long that don't
know much about such matters"
Mr.. Clarkson and his party left for the
National park last night, where thew intend
to spend week looking over the attractions.
From there they will 60 east, making short
stops at Chicrgo and the cities between that
town and Washinctor