The morning call., 1894-11-28
THE FOREIGN MAILS.
Quick Dispatch to All the Nations
of the World.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27.-The annual re-
port OF Colonel n. NJ. Brooks, superinten-
dent of foreign mails, contains some in
terestlng points on the service with foreign
nations. OF the transatlantic service he
says:
The entire transatlantic merchant marine is
freely rendered for the conveyance of United
states mails at the rates of compensation
offered by this department. Consequently. he
mails for Great Britain and the continent OF
Europe are dispatched by every fast steamer,
and when two fast steamers sail on the same
day or succeeding days the mails are invariably
assigned to the one whose previous
speed record gives reason TO believe
that it will deliver the malls on the other
side in the shortest time. 1t is difficult TO
imagine condition of affairs more satisfactory
from either postal or a commercial stand.
point than the practice in vogue built up
under il. Speedy transit is the only
condition considered in the dispatch
of mails, and the letter destined for
Europe which is carelessly thrown into a
street letterbox is as sure of the quickest tran.
sit as the letter for the same destination which
is prescribed TO be sent by particular steamer
after steamship schedules have been studied 10
determine just where Il should be conveyed.
Other things being equal, preference is also
given the steamers sailing under the Uuited
States flag, and these steamers are allowed for
their service all the posi- age collected on the
mails they carry from the country-Lhat is TO
say, cents a half ounce 81 so pound, or
5000 a short ton for letters and postal cards,
and cent for two ounces. s cents pound, or
$160 short ton for other articles. But If a
steamer flying foreign flag can deliver the
mails at her destination sooner than one flying
The United States flag the mails are assigned to
the foreign steamer, and she Is allowed com.
pensation at the rate of A cents pound, or
$3.50 short ton, for letters and postal cards,
and Az cents pound, or $50 a short ton, tor
other orticles. The advantage OF the present
practice Is that the mails are invariably dis
patched by the fastest vessels. every new and
fast steamer being at once placed at the dis
posal Of this department at a reasonable rate
or compensation.
The disadvantage is that the department has
no control whatever over the movements OF the
steamers, which are controlled exclusively by
The eXlgencies of trade or commerce. without
regard 10 postal interests, so that whether or
mol a vessel sails at her appointed time, or
whether or not she carries the malls which the
department tenders her, are matters entirely at
the discretion Of the Vessel-oWners.
The communication with Central and South
america is regular and reliable, at least three
times month, by vessels plying between New
York and Colon, and TO Venezuela with the
same frequency.
Colonel Brooks notes the increase OF
the Pacific Mail service in the following:
By utilizing the fast steamers sailing once or
twice month from Tacoma. Wash. as well as
the steamers sailing three times month from
san Francisco, the opportunity TO exchange
mails with Japan and China have been in
creased to four and sometimes five dispatches
during the month. This Is an actual gain of
one or two dispatches month, the additional
dispatches being made through the Post
Office at Tacoma, which office. by its zeal and
discretion, justified the experiment OF intrust-
ing to 1t the cdTe OF these important interna-
ss4ssaat mails, which are required TO be Handled
and treated in strict accordance with the stipu-
iations OF the universal postal service.
No change has occurred In our means OF
communication with the Australian colonies,
the service being regular once every four
weeks from San Francisco TO Sydney, per-
formed by The Oceanic Steamship Company
under an agr, ement entered into with the
colonies OF New Zealand aud New South
Wales many years ago, but which is renewed
from year TO year. This department is not a
party to the arrangement, but contributes
toward the support OF the service to the extent
of its ability under the statutes Ia force by
allowing the Oceanic Steamship Company all
of the postage collected on the mails carried
by its steamers sailing under the United States
flag, which amounts 10 about $55. 900 year.
Advantage has also been taken of the oppor-
tunity offeI ed for the dispatch OF correspond
ence for the colonies by means of the Canadian
line OF steamers sailing from Vancouver B. c.,
once month, so that practically the frequency
of The service has been doubled. The steamers
above referred 10 call at Honolulu and the
Oceanic Steamship Company dispatches an
additional vessel every month TO that port.
for.Japan and China calls at Honolulu, so at
there are not less than three opportunities a
month for communication by mail with Hawaii,
and generally there is not less than four