River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-02-11
Uncle Sans Mails.

SCi SaAhif Oh6ht W hho" "hNAocA ~ -
speaking, has recently been discussing
Mr. Wanamaker's administration. He
criticiZes very little, and has Ruch
praise to give in regard to the improve.
ments that have been made and sug.
gested and the increased efficiency OF
the department. The post-office de-
partment is always the butt of many
complaints. There is as much salts
faction and more safety in growing at
the government than at an individual.
People in general must have some
thing to .skick" about, and 1t is very
convenient to take the post-office de-
partment and its workings. The small
est farmer in the farthest backwoods,
whose only mail consists of an occa-
sional circular, or postal card from
his aunt ''daoun Saouth," thinks he
must complain of the slowness of the
mails or the high price of postage
stamps.
The adoption of Civil Service Reform
methods, as far as it has gone, is a
great gain. 1t is becoming plain to
every one that the post-otfice depart
ment must be run as business affair,
and not as a political deal. merit
system of promotions, with examina-
tions, as used in Washington and the
larger offices, will do more than realms
of paper to bring about realization
of this fact.
Among the improvements and bene-
| fits of Mr.. Wanamaker's administra-
ton we notice the following. The
post-office department has become al
most self-supporting, and it is estima-
ted that next year there will be a
small surplus of about twelve thousand
dollars. instead of the deficit of six
millions in 1889. And this in spite of
the loss of the lottery business, which
has diminished the receipts some over
a million dollars.
In order to establish cordial rela-
lions between the department and the
smaller offices, postmasters from
neighboring large office, usually a
county seat, have been requested to
visit and inspect neighboring offices,
more for the sake of friendly encour-
agement than criticism. This is be-
lieved to have accomplished the end
| desired.
In the west the mail service has
been increased over l 400 miles.
On many routes time has been saved.
Between New York and Boston four
hours, mail from the west day, be-
tween Chicago and New Orleans five
hours, and in many other places.
The law for the suppression of lot
terry matter has been most emphatl-
cally enforced, and it is now almost
impossible to send any by the mails.
The Postal Aid Bill is designed to
arrange for the carrying of American
mails under the American flag. 1t is
hoped to secure quicker and more
regular foreign mails.
Mr.. Wanamaker's pet scheme, rural
free delivery, has been tried with good
results. When all the farmers get
their letters, papers, and magazines
regularly and often, and are put into
communication with the outside
world, there will be much more in.
ducement to young people to stay at
home on the farm, and much
healthier and happier state of society
would come about.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General has been appointed in WASH
ington, to have charge of appoint
ments. This is step which will not
be appreciated SO much by the public
at large as by those who are lin it,.
A Postal Museum has been estab-
lished at Washington, with contrbu-
lions from France, Great Britain,
Germany, Australia and other coun-
tries. This is for the sake of gaining
better understanding of foreign
postal modes and methods. There are
specimens of machines and imp!e-
ments, photographs, books and pam
phlets, and models of mail wagons,
letter-boXes, etc.
Sea post-ofiices have been estab-
lished on ships, so that foreign mails
can be sorted before coming into port,
great saving of time.
The number of money order post
offices is about to be doubled. Post
marking machines have been placed in
most of the larger offices. Two new
sizes of postal cards have been made,
one larger and one smaller than the
present. A uniform system of post
Office accounts has been devised, which
is great help to both postmasters and
inspectors.
Many of these improvements are
things that people do not think much
about until their attention is specially
called. But in the aggregate they
show much improved service, and
an honest and earnest desire to i'm
prove it yet more. Since March 4th,
1889, the number of post offices has
increased 6,42l; of free delivery Off.
ces, $50; of Presidential offices, 465; of
length of routes of mail service, 25,-
$50 miles.
Mr.. Wanamaker now suggests the
following improvements, which it is
hoped may be soon brought about:
Postal Savings Banks, for small earn.
ings; house letter-boxes, with future
possibility of collections from house to
house.; indemnity for lost registered
mail; branch dead letter office on
the Pacific coast; the employment of
corporate instead of personal surety
ship for postmasters. MIR. Wanama-
ker also recommends that the Govern.
ment should have charge of the tele-
graph and telephone lines, consoli.
dated with the post office. But this is
a step in advance of most people.
A Remedy for the Grippe Cough.