The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-10
POSTAL IMPROVEMENTS.
ME-. RUSSELL rs CERTAIN THEF VIII
BE MADE.

Letters TO he Sent for One Cent-The Tcie-
graph and Savings Bank In Connection
with the Department Other Interesting
Facts.
TINES reporter in his rounds yesterday
called on Postmaster Russell. In answered. his
query as to whether there was any news in
BIS department.. Mr. Russell said:
Yes, there is always something rev in the
postal service. but It i Of q general character:
each year something is added to the stock of
information about this great arm Of the pub
he service.
It will not be very long before we will add
three more great public benefits to the already
brilliant record of this department-viZ.. the
one-cent postage. the postal telegraph and
the postal savings banks.
II is interesting to review the past history
q this department.
When our Postofie Department began in
l7sg. II was only temporary, and not perma-
ncnt. for Congress expressly provided in its
cnaciments. that il should last until the end
of the next session Of Congress, and no
longer" which was renewed from year to
wear until 1874.
II was Alexander Hamilton, then Secretary
Of the Treasury. who labOred for o perma-
uent postal establishment. Of greater eff
~ fNN. All tuAt TIME, lfN3. Tie tItlfe NpIh Ol
he department was performed in one room.
Now IL takes a grand four-story building,
covering a whole square in Washington, % &C
c0mmodate the work There was less than
repositories ut that time now there are ga,
J00 and the receipts of the service under the
First POstmaster-G General. under the Constitu-
ton Samuel OsgOod). was less than $4,000,
while those of our present Postmaster-Gen-
Onl John Wanamaker, in 1850 was 100 00O,-
mn
HOW IT WAS CARRIED.
Then the mail was carried by the postboy
on o lazy and tired horse. on a line Of post
routes less than 1000 miles in length. Now
thcmaiG are transported almost with the speed
q thought on innumerable routes. the aggre-
ga.' ength of which is calculated to exceed
farfr.One times the entire circuit Of the earth
each working day Then the total business
dii not exceed 900 letters IA day. Now let
tcrs and packages are pouring into the differ
ont postoflCcs al the rate of 5000 q minute.
giving employment 10 $50. 900 postal employees.
While our postal service has reached the point
e beng the largest of any nation in the whole
world But We are still deficient ia the one
cent postage, tho postal telegraph and the
postal savings banks
II il officially stated that the United States
and Germany ore the only great nations Of the
world without the postal savings banks at this
time.
Dfhclal reports show tnnt IN treat Britain
last year the deposits in their postal saviugs
banks amounted 10 800 900, 600, and $1,000
new accounts were opened.
FOREIGN SERVICE.
The last report from France shows n deposit
Of $4,000. 600. In Belgium It was $50 900 600
The Netherlands md Sweden also made fine
showing, and this Government u not going to
remain behind the others in this respect much
longer. it is inevitable. only question Of time.
There i something connected with the
Postoflice Department IN Washington. ID. c.,
not geuomlly known. and that is the Post0fflce
Museum In the Dcad-Letter Office.
TOsTOFFICE MUSEUM.
There can be found iugots of gold, spcci-
mems oi valuable ore. kid gloves from the
wreck Of the Oregon. imported cologncs
wrapped in herbs 10 conceal them from the
customs officers Indian pipes and tomahawks.
q birch bark crnoe, lava from the M0dOc beds,
cocoons Of the silk worm agate from Lake
Superior reading cards for the blind, birds
eggs. cakes. frluts. medicines, knives. pistols.
rings, watches, live bees, serpcnts. horned
frogs. centipcdes and a varied assortment Of
other articles.
Yes we expect 20 have az this Office some
time this year one Of tho large stamp-cancel-
hing machines. which, with one man. will do
tho work Of Ave men. This has been promised
me by the department