The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-12

free delivery in the smaller cities and towns
The results of these experiments have
been satisfactory that the postmaster
general recommends, and | concur in the rec
concentration that the free delivery system be
at once extended to towns of 5000 population.
His discussion of the inadequate facilities ex-
tended under our present system to rural COM
munltles, ana his suggestions with a view to
give these communities a fuller participation
i'll the benefits of the postal service are worthy
of your careful consideration. II is not Just
that the farmer, who receives his mail at Il
neig hboIing town, should not only be compelled
10 send to the post-ofice for it, but 10 pay a
considerable rent for a box III which TO place IT..
or to wait his turn at general delivery win
dow, while the city resident has his mail
brought TO his door. 1t is stated that over 5i,-
900 neighDorhoods are. under the present syS-
TEN, receiving mail al post offices where motley
orders and postal notes are not issued. The
extension of this system to these communities
Is especially desirable, the patrons OF such
offices not possessed of the other facilities
offered in more populous communities for the
transmission OF small sums of money.
have, in message to the preceding Con-
gress expressed my views 10 ii modiDed use
of the telegraph in connection with the postal
service.
In pursuance of the ocean mail law of March
s. 1891, and after most careful study OF the
whole subject and frequent conferences with
ship-owners boards OF trade, and others, at-
vertisements were issued by the postmaster
general for fifty-three lines of ocean mail seTv
ice-ten 10 Great Britain and the Continent,
twenty 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 is not. of course, expected that
bids for all these lines would be received, or
that service upon them all would be contracted
tor. Ii was intended, i'll furtherance OF the act,
TO secure many new lines possible while
including in the list most or all of the foreign
lines now occupied by American ships. 1t was
hoped that q line 10 England, and perhaps one
10 the Continent, would be secured; but the out
lay required to equip such lines wholly with
new ships of the first class, and the difficulty of
establishing new lines i'll competition with hose
already established, deferred bidders whose
interest had been enlisted. II is hoped
that way may yet be found of overcoming these
difficulties. The Brazil Steamship Company. by
reason of a miscalculation as TO the speed of its
vessels. was not able 10 bid under the terms OF
the advertisement. The policy of the depart
ment was to secure from the established lines an
improved service as condition of Giving TO
them the benefits of the law. This i'll all in
stances has been attained. The postmaster
general estimates that an expenditure in Amer-
can ship yards of about SO 000G00 Will be neCcs-
sary TO enable the bidders To construct the ships
cBled for 10y the service which they have accept
ed. | do not think there Is any reason for dis
couragement or for any turning back from the
policy of this legislation. Indeed, a good be-
ginning has been made, and, as the subject is
further considered and understood by capital
lists 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 shipping interests, ana the recovery
of fair share of the carrying trade of the
world. We were receiving for foreign postage
nearly S2, ,00g under the old system, and the
outlay for ocean mail service did not exceed
5000 per annum. II is estimated by the post
Inaster-gencral that, II all the contracts pro-
posed are completed, it will require S247i5i for
this year. in addition to the appropriation for
sea and inland postage already III the eSti-
mates, and that for the next fiscal wear. ending
June 80, 1898, there would probably be needed
500, ,OUC.