New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-02
THE CHINESE POSTOFFICE.
CURIOUS USAGES OF IT'S SERvICE;-THE
LETTER SHOP"
From The ST. James's Gazette.

From The St. Jamess Gazette.
The Chinese Government--so a recent teegra phic
message from Picking informs us-has requested
TOMS reorganize the postal system of the En-
pire This decision affords another proof that China
is awakening at last to proper consciousness or
its backward state. and allows one TO indulge the
hope that efforts will soon be made IN other direc-
lions to bring the country more into line with mod
progress. The Chinese post. as IT stands is al
together different from anything be found in any
other country which pretends TO civilization 1t Is
In the hands Of private individuals There is spe
edcts and other official dispatches; but this CORE
spends 10 the corps Of Queens messengers which
tnct from the postal system An exception must
be made also in the case OF treaty ports. where the
different nations have their own postofiices the
various consuls being regarded as the postmasters
for their several countries. They take charge Of
countries and they are responsible with limited
jewellers in the district which their jurdsdc-
ton extends. Foreigners living In the interior or
arrangements for transmitting their letters and
packages TO the nearest Consul. who will see that
they forwarded. Save when friend or neigh
the only course at their disposal assuming that
they do not care to employ special messenger-is
to intrust the matter to native letter shop
These letter shops are found in great numbers In
every town OF the Empire. and not even the most
insignificant village Is without more. In
the rates of transmission are kept low by reason
Of the competition. For this same reason the shop
ford is. under the difficult nature OF the crcun-
stances singuary sa tisfactory. They cannot afford
much for the system. as 1t IS carried out, that
those foreigners who are under the necessity OF
avaiing themselves OF speak well OF IL In regard
to security though naturally they do not say much
for IT in the matter of rapid delivery. The letter
shop men do not stamps but their particular
chop seal is always affixed 10 the envelope or
carried and they VIII insure the sender against
loss When given I'm at letter shop the con
and stamped with the chop OF the shop. Charges
for transmission OF valuabes are made a
percentage OF declared value. and. with letters
these differ according to the distance 10 be carried
comes responsible either for its safe delivery with
unbroken seal or for it's return to the sender.
that exists In large cities and thicky populated dis
trics. this Is necessary N the shopkeeper hopes II
retain his customers In some parts OF the Empire
about twothirds OF the expense of transmission is
paid by the sender. the remainder being collected
from the receiver: thus the shop liz secured against
entire loss from transient customers Another feat
OF keeping open account with the shop Charges
entered against regular customers and settle
dom necessary to call In the aid OF courts. the
force Of competition being sufficient 10 ensure reas
enable settlement The employees OF the several
shops go from house To house seeking customers
In the northern provinces, where horses plenti
full and roads relatively good. the letter-carriers
commonly horses or donkeys. which are sup
plied at stations about ten miles apart. Each mes
senger carries from seventy TO eighty pounds OF
postal matter and travels about five miles an hour
When he arrives at a station a few minutes only
allowed to change horses and he IL on again
Till the end OF his route Is reached. when the bag
IL given 10 fresh man. who starts at once, no
matter What may be tho hour OF the day or night
he too. has completed his service and handed the
parcel to third messenger and thus II reaches It's
destination. For short distances and In all the
central and southern parts OF China the messenger
travels on foot at rapid pace This service would
be liable TO highway robbery but the robber bands
Of each district collect biackma. and for the sums