The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-10-06
AFFAIRS.
How Postmaster General Wnnamnkor lis
Made n Great sn,lnS-Tl,c Postal Con

blade II Great snrins-Tl,e Postal CoiL
:rcss.
Special Di,pateh TO tie InteHi9eneer.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Oct. L.-The order
OF Postmaster General Wanamaker, do
Ing away with the counting OF mail
mattor By letter carriers, has now been
in force three months, and careful cal
culations show that tho annual saving
to tho PostotIice Department will be
100000. Tho frcc.dclivcry service was
inauguratcd in 1868 and from the begin
ming the custom (for there appears to
have been no law or regulation requir-
ing it) had been enforced requiring lot
ter carriers to countand keep an account
OF all letters delivered; all postal cards
delivered; all second, third and fourth
class matter delivered; all local letters
collected; all mail letters collected; all
local postal cards collected; all mail
postal cards collected; all second, third
and fourth class matter collected; the
total number OF pieces handled, and the
total postage on all local matter collect
cd, and on all local matter deposited in
postoilices, including that OH second,
third aud fourth class matter, to the
correctness OF all OF which the rcspcc-
tive postmasters were required to Ger.
tify monthly.
In 1864, when there were less than 700
curriers' in the country, tho practice OF
counting was comparatively inexpcn-
sive; but in 1891, when there over 10000
carriers employed in tho collection and
delivery service, who reported the nun
Der OF pieces handled in tho preceding
fiscal year to be 3,207, 250,G 600. The Post
master General discovered hat this
useless work was consuming m average
OF 20 minutes or more per day for each
OF tho 10000 letter carriersin the United
statcs-an aggregate Of ut least 1888
hours per day, at an average cost Of 80
cents per hour "a fair average for letter
carrier s~crv!cc) amounting to 81, 600 for
each and every day in tho year, includ-
ing Sundays and holidays. Postmaster
General W~anamaker's order, therefore,
not only makes this saving OF S350,0O0
annually, but the time heretofore thus
uselessly consumed can be employed in
extending and improving the free-dc-
livery service as q whole.
II POSTAL CONGRESS.
Col. Fred Grant, minister to Austria.
commenting in a recent letter to the
State Department upon the fact that
the next meeting OF the Universal Pos
tai Union is TO be held in Washington
City, describes some OF the details OF
the entertainment furnished to the
Austrian Government and the people
OF Vienna at the recent postal congress
held there, as follows:
The Blumen Saale, 4 hall centrally
located on the park ring, and devoted
ut certain seasons of the year TO the dis
play OF flowers and OF tropical plants,
was selected as the place for holding
the sessions OF the congress-. Such
changes as were necessary to render
this building suitable for the reception
OF the delegates were made on Q gcner.
GUS, not TO say luxurious scale. The
cOmmodlous room set aside for the
daily sessions OF the congress, was con-
vcnicntly fitted up with desks and chairs
arranged in scmi-circular form, fronting
the platform OF the Prcsidcn. OF the
congress, over which was suspended 4
handsome tull-length portrait OF the
Emperor. ,
1t presented IN appearance not IN
like the senate chamber OF the United
States. The walls were tasteiully decor
ated with flags and the coats Of arms OF
the different nations, and the floors were
neatly carpeted. Each desk was libcr-
ally supplied with stationery anC such
other c%oRvenienccs rs might tend to
contribute TO nccessaries and comforts
OF the delegates. Appropriate retiring
rooms Tor committee work and for coun-
Gil chambers, furnished on the same lib
cral plan, joined the main hall, and
there was also provided an attractive
looking buffet or restaurant from which
light refreshments were served gratu-
itously, rs they might be called ior.
An efficient police and messenger SER
vice was constantly in attendance, and
the privilege OF free postage to any part
OF the world, and OF free communica-
ton by telegraph with any part OF the
empire, was accorded to tho delegates.
IosplTAELE TREATMENT.
Moreover the government was untir-
ing in its efforts to promote the pleas
urc OF the delegates, whom it seemed to
regard, to 4 certain exteut, as its guests,
during their s~ojourn at this capital.
His Majesty, tho Emperor, entertained
at the palace the entire congress at
dinner; opportunity was taken to
enable them to enjoy, without expense,
the grand opera and the Burg theatre;
excursions were organized in their in
terest to the famous Lemmering
Pass, where a good idea may be
obtained OF the wild and picturesque
scenery OF the Austrian Tyrol; to Gas
tenn, presenting 4 peaceful picture Of
Austrian water place life, and a favorite
resort OF royalty; to Luxembourg, one of
the %emperor's summer palaces; TO the
K%ahlenbury. with its commanding view
OF Vienna and the surrounding country,
etc. In short. nothing could have cx-
cecdel the spirit OF hospitality which
the /. and R. government towards tho
congress, and it is perhaps superluous
to add that the impression made upon
the DELEGATES was both happy and per-
manent."
BAD DRAINAGE causes much sickness,
and had blood and imnronor oct;on ~