The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-10
THE POSTAL. SYSTEM.
Extension OF FREQ DeIivery-What Ship
ping Subsidy Law VIII Accomplish.

In the report of the postmaster general some
very gratifying results are exhibited, aud
many betterments of the service suggested. A
perusal of the report gives abundant evidence
that the supervision snd direction of the pos
tai system have been characterized by an intel
ligent ami conscientious desire to improve the
service. The revenues of the department show
an increase of s50,000.000, while the estimate
for the year OF 1893 shows surplus of receipts
over expenditures.
Ocean mail postofices have been established
upon the steamers OF the Norrh German
Lloyd and Hamburg lines. saving by the dis
tribution on shipboard from two to fourteen
hours time in the delivery of mail at the port
OF entry, and often much more than this in the
delivery at interior places. SO thoroughly
has this system, initiated by Germany aud
the United States, evinced it's usefulness
that it cannot be long before 1t Is installed upon
the great ocean mail-carrying steamships Eight
thousand miles of new postal service has been
established upon railroads. The car distribu-
ton to sub-stations in the great cities has been
increased about y per cent, while the percent
age OF errors in distribution has during the past
year been reduced over one-half.
An appropriation was given by the last con-
gress for the purpose of making some expert
ments in free delivery in the smaller cities and
towns.
The results of these experiments have been so
satisfactory that the postmaster general recon-
mends, and / concur in the recommendation,
that the free delivery system be at once ex-
tended to towns of 5000 population. His dis
cussion of the inadequate facilities extended
under our present system 20 rural communities
and his suggestions with view to give these
communities fuller participation in the bene-
fits OF the postal service are worthy of your
careful consideration. 1t is not Just that the
farmer, who receives his mail at the
neighboring town, should not only be
compelled to send to the postoifiee for ii. but
to pay considerable rent for box in which to
place it, or await his time at n general delivery
window, while the city resident he's his mail
brought to his door.
1t is stated that over $4,000 neighborhoods are,
under the present system, receiving mail at
postof!ices whera money orders and postal notes
are not issued. The extension OF this system TO
these communities is especially desirable, as
the patrons of such offices are not possessed of
the other facilities offered in more popuous
communities far the transmission OF small sums
OF money.
have, in a message to the preceding congress.
expressed my views as 70 a modified use OF the
telegraph in connection W til the mail service
Ia pursuance OF the mail law of March 81,
1891, and after most careful study of the whole
subject and frequent conference with such
officers, advertisements were issued by the most
master general for fity-three mail lines to Great
Britain and the continent and twenty-seyeu to
South America, three to China and Japan, four
to Australia and the Pacific islands seven to the
West Indies and two to Mexico. 1t was not, of
these lines should be received. or that
service upon all would be contracted for 1t is
intended, in furtherance OF the act, to secure as
many new lines, as possible. while Including in
the lit more or all of the foreign lines now oc-
cupied by American ships. 1t was hoped that
line to England, and perhaps one to the CONT
nent, would be secured, but the outlay required
to equip such lines wholly with new ships of
the first class, ana the difficulty OF establishing
new lines in competition with those establish d.
deferred the bidders whose interest had
been enlisted. 1t is hoped that
way may yet be found of over
coming these difficulties. The Bra
lillian Steamship Company, by reason of
miscalcuation as to the speed of its vessels,
not able 20 bid under tie terms OF the adj
vcrti>ement. The policy of the DEPARTMENT
was to secure from the established lines an i'm
proved service as Il condition OF giving 10 them
the benefits of the law. This, in all instances.
has been attained. The pOstma>ter general
estimates than an expenditure in American
ship yards of about 100000 will b. necessary
70 enable the bidders to construct the xbips
eallei for by the service which they have ac-
cepted.
do not think there is any reason for dis
couragement or Tor ANY turning back from the
policy OF this legislation. Indeed n good ne
ginning mas been made, and the subject ia
further considered and understood bv capitaI-
lists and shipping people, new lines viii be ready
to meet the future rro> poets, and we NAV date
from the passage of this law the revival of
American shipping interests and the recovery
OF fair share OF the carrying trade Of the world
We were receiving FOR foreign postage nearly
100000 under the old system. and the ontIav
for ocean mail service did not exceed 5000 40
per annum. Is is estimated by the postmaster
general that IL all the contracts proposed are
completed 1t vii. require S2E i54 for tAis year In
addition TO thu appropriation Tor sea and inland
portage already in the estimates aud that for
the next fiscal year, ending June 30, lSa3 there
would probably be needed about $4,000.