The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-03-11

nded. Accustomed to express trains
I'D Geographic messages, we are apt
forget the fact that the great ma
brity of our postoffices are not yet
erved by railroads. but are situated
b stage routes, or are reached by
orse carriers. or even by footmen,
kho penetrate to businesses where it
impossible to urge horse with
hfety. In winter many of them
ravel by snowshoe and with dog
aeds like those of the Esquimaux. The
lew territory of Alaska, now within
be postal confines of the United
tates, has twenty-five postoffices in
ocular operation, but they are no
bore remote than are many in regions
10 the Eastern and earliest settled
States.
ia This principle of universal extension
% the postal service fairly rivals the
bolporteur methods of the Christian
Religion. The aim of the government,
Regardless of expense to it or of labor
Upon the part of its servants, is to
2place within the reach of all citizens
The refining and humanizing influences
% newspapers. of home and social let
:ters, without which men, when exiled,
Ind to ignorance and brutality. No
>opestion as to what revenue will be
& arrived from the new Office has weight;
2 he consideration is: VIII it be of sub
& 1tantial benefit to grant postal facili-
Hes, and, if so, then Supplies are sent
10 the point and bids invited for carry
8lng the mails.
IA AS an Inspector visited Lees Ferry,
ID Coconino County, Ari. The Office is
On the Colorado River. Being in Utah
We went by the mail route southwark
from Salina, where early on March
lay we took stage for Kanab via Pan
mitch. The ride occupied three full
ays and at the end of the 205th mile
Ne stopped at farm house late at
light, thoroughly chilled and worn
nt. Thence to the ferry was SO miles,
nut fortunately we had q day in which
D rest before proceeding on our jour
l/Dey. Had De Foe made the same trip
y am sure he would never have Sc
locted the cheerful island of Juan
hernandez as the type of a
pnesomc place. For over two
nndred miles we traversed Sec
On of the American desert upon which
here is little water, scant vegetation
I'D few people. The latter are special
praiscworthy for being hospitable
pm SO meagre store. 1t is of the
me character of country that Stan
IN and his party of brave surveyors,
[~hen wrecked on their first disastrous
|4Qyage down the Colorado, crossed
loot to the Mormon settlement which
heltered the survivors and sent them
Rfely home. The solitude of the ex-
edition unhinged the minds of the
Zen, 1t is not surprising. At Lees
ere scarcely dozen patrons of the
lice, and it costs the government
hany dollars for every letter aud pa
er that crosses the route. But the
eople at the ferry are Americans and
Ivy must have letters; and further,
10uld an obstruction occur on that
aplated route an agent of the govern
ent must investigate it, personally
necessary, with the same alacrity
bat is observed when trouble arises
the city Of New York.
In Wisconsin and Michigan when
e roads are blockaded with snow
fits the mails go forward with regu-
Pity by snowshoe and dog sled car
brs Such methods of locomotion,
lough primitive, are not as slow as
light be supposed. Many of these
dian carriers will make fifty miles
day and their paths are not nearly
arduous as the bride paths of the
Astern mountains, where in spring it
almost impossible for man to find
footing. Throughout the swamp