The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-04-13
ghe aqita Daily EAGLE Saturday 7,rine April g. 1885

exception Of the Great Britain exhibit.
all the foreign stamps were contributed
uncanceled SO that the individual fea-
lures are plainly visible, which makes
them all the more valuable as collec-
ton. Besides the contributions Of
stamps many of the foreign nations
have contributed large exhibits which
show in detail the workings of their
mail systems, and these form an i'm
portant part of the museum
Jrst in front of the door leading into
the museum room is life-size repre-
seutation of the almost obsolete pony
express. The rider is seated on lie
size horse; he wears a large som brero
hat and is dressed in clothes typical Of
the western frontier districts where
this style of postal delivery was SO long
in vogue. The postman carries large
revolvers in his belt. At the rear OF
the saddle, and tightly fastened to it,
is the mail bag. This figure of a
mounted postnlan represents the man
ner OF mail carrying which prevailed
when Buffalo Bill was boy, and be-
fore the Pacific railroads SPAWNED the
continent
Probably the most beautiful object IN
the whole collection is the model of the
great ocean greyhound, City of Paris,
built at cost of s., 600 and donated to
the government for use in this exhibit.
1t is placed IN the museum with a model
of the old Southerner. which was the
first steamship to carry United States
mali across the Atlantic. A striking
contrast is formed by the exhibition of
these models of the first and last of the
ocean mail steamers. There are several
other models OF mail ships, and among
them is fine specimen of the hat-bot-
tom steamers which are used in the
shallow waters of Florida.
While pleasing picture is formed by
tie exhibition of the models of the
City of Paris and the Southerner, it
might be said that another contrast is
effected in the exhibition of rough
toboggan sled and miniature railway
car, representing probably the slowest
and fastest method OF carrying our
mail to-day. These toboggans are used
in Michigan and other northern states
to carry mail over the country when
the land is covered with snow. The
model is realistic in shape. The dogs,
three Tin number, are stuffed speci-
mems, and saw actual service in Michi-
gan, having been killed TO be exhibited
with the toboggan at the worlds fair.
They are attended by an Indian wear
ing snowshoes and dressed In clothes
of multifarious colors. The miniature
railway postal car is one of the hand.
soonest models in the exhibition. It Is
complete in every detail and was built
by the government at a cost of So, 900.
1t is one-fifth of the size OF the regula-
ton postal car. The top of the model
is removable to reveal the inside work.
ings of this swift-moving post Office.
iOpe portion Is fitted up with cots and
reserved as a sleeping apartment for
the clerks, while the remainder is filed
with desks, tables, shelves and pouches
to receive the mail as it is distributed.
Miniature electric light lamps are also
shown in the model
To ses the exhibit of looks which have
been invented to protect mail pouches
one would think 1t impossible for rob-
,bers to procure any booty from railway
mail car even after the train has been
held up and an entrance effected This