The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-03-29
German Post.Ofice Department.

German POSt-O1nce department.
Editor Waterman 1T has not seemed to
me that true patriotism required OF
traveller in foreign land that he should go
to and fro with the speech of braggart
ever upon his tongue, aud with his nose
babitua ly elevated in proud disdain. Let
him rather Journey with eyes and ears open
to the actual facts. While he does not for
get the good he has left behind, let him see
aud around him; and If he chances to sug-
gest as a result of his observations some
thing which his own country can copy to
her ADVANTAGE, let that attest that he Is
most truly loyal son.
One of the institutions which is brought
to ones mind more frequently than almost
any other when he Is far from his home is
the post-office department. He depends
upon it constantly for business and for
pleasure. He is sending and looking for
letters of courtesy and affection, aud is re-
ceivng magazines and newspapers through
its agency almost daily. Its reliability and
promptness are OF the utmost Importance
to him, and he is in position to appreciate
highly its excelences.
/ question whether the postal system Is
nearer perfection anywhere in the world
than in Germany. Let me mention few Of
its good points which have been brought to
my notice here in Berlin. Besides the prin-
cipal offices, there are more than a hundred
subordinate post-offices in this city of per-
haps 100000 inha bitants, and the force of
employees is in the aggregate enormous.
Letters are delivered ten times day, and
the carriers climb three, four, and five long
flights of stairs to reach those to whom they
are addressed. The service in the city and
its suburbs is very prompt, and one can be
quite confident that letter mailed by nine
o'clock in the morning will be delivered in
the ordinary course of transmission in dis
tant part OF the city as early as three P. M.
but, IL he is in hurry, the adding of five-
livery" or delivery by special messenger,
within two or three hours. Or one may
take advantage OF the "Rohr- Post" or
pneumatic tube delivery-trains dispatched
avery hour-for seven and half cents ex-
ira. If an "express delivery" letter is
meant for distant town, the officials must
send it off by the first train, even II that is
not a mail train. In that case it is given in
charge to the conductor of the train, who,
on arriving at the town, hands 1t at once to a
post-office employee. The standard weight
for letters by ordinary mail is about half an
ounce. On letters weighing more, up to an
ounce, double postage Give cents) is re-
quired within the empire; but il letter is
quite heavy, it is taken at the rate for par
cells. In the case of foreign letters, how
ever, the rate is FIVE cents for each hall
ounce. Small villages, and even the rural
carrier, as well as the cities. A money.
order for any sum up to 1875 is delivered
within the limits of the empire for about six
cents 1.-TWO and a half cents more each adj
ditional $3.50, and the carrier will travel
up hill and down dale to leave the money
at the door of the person for whom it is in
tended
The administration of the post. office in
cludes that of the telegraphic and telephone
systems of the country, and also an i'm
mense parcels. express business. There are
more than dozen telephone centers in the
city and vicinity, where any one can com
muncate with persons connected with the
system, at charge of six cents for five
minutes; and Berlin contains about sixty
telegraph offices, the central Office aud those
at the chief railroad stations being open all
night. For twelve and half cents 1 car
send by post package of any weight up tC
ten pounds to any place in the empire fol
instance, from Memel to Mulhausen, which
is about $40 miles-and it will be carried tC
the house or office Of the person addressed
who pays one cent more for its delivery. A
package was sent to me &C. o. d." from
Dresden. The carrier brought it to me
collected the money due for it, gave
my payment to the sender. l paid hin
twenty-five cents, which covered the
charges for 1.-THE carriage of the parcel fol-
the collection of the money and for its trans
mission to Dresden. On its delivery abou
cent more was paid by the recipient If i
was brought by the carrier to his place O
business. But, if the person addressed haC
| given standing order that all parcels anC
money orders for him should be retained al
the post-offce until he sent for Them ht
avoided this last little charge. If package
supposed to contain dutiable articles come.
by mail from another country, the person
| addressed is notified either to appear him
self at designated Office and open it, or tt
authorize the post-office employees to opel
it. By doing the latter Zee two and a hal
| cents) he saves time, trouble, and probably
expense; and soon the carrier brings hin
the parcel and collects from him the duties
that have been charged One can buy pos
tage-stamps of the postman at his door, ant
can through him subscribe for newspaper
| which he will deliver regularly.
Thus 1t Will be seen that the officials o
the postal department here do very mucl
| more for the public than do their fellows i,
the United States. The regulations here
many OF them at least - are especiali,
| adapted to saving the time of busy men
| and removing the hindrances from the wa,
OF the inexperienced and the ignorant. TIL,
numerous carriers do much of what eacl
man is expected to do for himself in GU
country; and their patience, courtesy, &C
| curacy and trustworthiness are most com
| mendable. A large share of them hav,
served in the army from three to ten years
and, Notwithstanding the vast expense in
| Cured in maintaining this system in sucl
efficiency, it is said TO be source of con
siderable revenue to the government. Ant
the government seems well content with i
as it is, for find some people complaining
that this and the railway system are now a
a stand-still that there has been little o.
no improvement in either within the las
few years. Jew.
Berlin, Prussia, March 7. 1893.