Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1891-12-17
POSTAL AFFAIRS.
Recomme ndations for the Further Inn
provement of the Service.

Provement of the Service.
In the report OF the postmaster general some
very gratifying results are exhibited and many
hetterments OF the service Suggested. perusal
of the report shows that an advance in the
pervlSion and direction OF the postal system has
been characterized by an intelligent and con-
scirntous desire to improve the service. The
revenues OF the department show an increase OF
over S5,OOO,O0O, while the estimates for the
year 1898 shows surplus OF receipts over ex-
penditures
Ocean mail postofIices have been established
upon the steamers OF the North German Lloyd
and Hamburg lines, saving, by the distribution
Oh shlpboard, from ten to fourteen hours time
in the delivery OF mail at the port OF entry aud
OF often much more than this in the delivery at
interior points. So thoroughly has this system,
initiated by Germany and the United States.
evidenced its usefulness that it cannot be long
before it is installed upon all the great ocean
mali CARRYING steamships.
Eight thousand miles OF new postal service
has been est ablished upon railroads, the car dis
tribution to sub-stations in great cities has
been increased about II percent while the per-
centage of errors in distribution has, during the
past year. been reduced over one-half An ap-
preparation was given by the last congress for
the purpose of making some experiments in free
delivery III the smaller cities and towns. The
results OF these experiments have been
SO satisfactory that the postmaster
general recommends, and l concur
i'll the recommendation, that the free delivery
population. His discussion OF the inadequate
facilities extended under our present system to
rural communities and his suggestions with a
view to give these communities u fuller partici-
patton in the benefits OF the post al service are
worthy OF your careful consideration. 1t is not
just that the farmer, who receives his mail at q
neighboring town, should not only be compelled
to send to the postotfice for it, but to pay q
rent for box in when to place it or to wait
his turn at general delivery window, while the
city resident has his mail brought to his door.
ct, t.Et hat ,TJ,,
under the present system. receiving mail at
postotlices where money orders and postal notes
are not issued. Che extension of these systems
to these communities is especially desira bic, as
the patrons of postoffices are not possessed of
the other facilities offered in more populated
communities for the transmission OF small sums
OF money. have in a message to the preced-
ing congress, expressed my views as to
MODIFIED USE OF THE TELEGRAPH
in connection with the postal service. In pursu-
ance OF the ocean mail law of March 4, 1891,
and after a most careful study OF the whole sub
lect and frequent conferences with ship owners,
boards of trade and others, advertisements were
issued by the postmaster general for 90 lines Of
ocean mail service-1O to Great Britain and the
continent, 27 to South America. 3 to China and
Japan. to Australia and the Pacific islands,
to the West Indies and to Mexico 1t was not.
OF course, expected that bids for all these lines
would be received or that service upon them all
would be contracted for. 1t was intended. in
furtherance OF the act, to secure as many new
lines as possible, while including in the list most
or all OF the foreign lines now occupied by Amer
lean ships. 1t was hoped that a line to- En-
gland and perhaps one to the continent
would be secured; but the outlay required
to equip such lines wholly with new ships Of the
frst-class and the difficulty Of establishing new
lines in competition with those already estab-
ished deferred bidders whose interest had been
enlisted. 1t is hoped that a way may yet be
found OF overcoming these difficulties. The
Brazil steamship company, by reason OF a mis-
calculation as to the speed Of its vessels, was not
able to bid under the terms of the advertise
ment. The policy OF the department was to Sc
cure from the established lines an improved
service as condition of giving to them the ben
fits OF the law. This in all instances has been
that an expenditure on American ship yards of
about $1O,OOO'OOO will be necessary to enable
the bidders to construct the ships called for by
the service which they have accepted.
do not think there is any reason for dscour-
agement or for any turning back from the policy
OF this legislation. Indeed good begi' ming
has been made, and as the subject is further
considered and underst GOD by capitalists and
shipping people new lines will be ready to meet
future proposals, and we may date from the
passage OF this law the revival OF American ship.
ping interests and the recovery of a fair share
OF the carrying trade OF the world. We were re-
celVlng Tor foreign postage nearly S2.OOO,OOO
under the old system, and thu outlay
for ocean mill service did not exceed 5000, 900
per annum 1t is estimated by the postmaster
general that If all the contracts proposed are
completed, it will require S247, 81 for this year
land postage already III the estimates, aid that
for the next fiscal yeac. ending June 30. 1893,
there would probably be needed about $780,
600.