Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-16
The Chinese POst-Omce.

lSt. James GaZette.)
The Chinese Governments a recent
telegram message from Picking informs
us-has requested Sir Robert Hart, Of
the Imperial Maritime Customs, to re-
organize the postal system Of the em-
pire. This decision affords another
proof that China is awakening at last
10 a proper consciousness Of its back
ward state, and allows one to indulge
In hopes that efforts will soon be made
in other directions 10 bring the country
more into line with modern progress.
The Chinese post, as il stands, is al
together different from anything TO be
found in any other country which pre-
tends TO civilization. 1t is I'm the hands
OF private individuals There is a spe-
cial courier service for the conveyance
OF imperial edicts and other official dis
patches; but this corresponds 20 the
corps Of Queens messengers which we
have In Great Britain, and IS altogether
distinct from the postal system. An ex-
ception must be made also in the case
OF treaty ports, where the different ma
tons have their own post-ohices, the
various consuls being regarded as the
pOstmasters for their several countries.
They take charge Of and transmit COM
munications intended for foreign coun-
tries, and they are responsible with
limited responsibility for communica-
tons addressed 10 jewellers in the dis
trict over which their jurisdiction eX-
tends. Foreigners living in the interior
or away from the treaty ports must
make their own arrangements for
transmitting their letters and packages
to the nearest consul who will see that
they are forwarded. Save when
friend or neighbOr is making a journey
70 that particular place, the only course
at their dispOsal-assuming that they DO
not care 70 employ a special messen-
GERS 10 intrust the matter 10 ma
tive "ietter-shop."
These letter-shops are found In great
numbers IN every town of the empire,
and not even the most Insignificant VIII
lage is without one. II Shanghai alone
there are something like go, and rates
Of transmission are kept low by reason
OF competition. For this same reason
the shopkeepers are very obiiging and
the service they afford Is under the diff
ncult nature Of the circumstances singu-
larry satisfactory. They cannot AFFORD
to risk their reputation by bad work,
and IL says much for the system, as IL Is
carried out, that those foreigners who
are under the necessity OF awaiting them
selves Of II speak we'll Of IL in regard 10
security. though naturally they do not
say much for ii in the matter Of rapid
delivery The letter-shop men do not
use stamps, but their particular chop
or seal is always affixed to the envelope
or package-for packages of moderate
size and weight are carried; and they
will insure the sender against loss. When
given I'm at 'letter-shOp' this contents
OF an envelope are displayed before it is
sealed and stamped with the chop Of
the shop. Charges for transmission or
valuables are made on a percentage or
declared value and, as with letters,
these differ according 10 the distance to
be carried. A receipt is given, and the
shopkeeper then becomes responsible,
either for It's safe delivery with unbroken
seal or for it's return TO the sender.
Owing. as we have limited. 10 the com
petition that exists I'm large cities ana
thickly-populated districts, this IS neces-
sary. II the shopkeeper hopes TO retain
his customers.
In some parts OF the empire about Two
thirds of the expense OF TRANSMISSION rs
nafd nv the sender. the remainder Deins
collected from the receiver, thus Inc shop
Is secured against entire loss from udH
slent customers. Another feature Hucn
appreciated by native merchants IS thaI
n 7
charges are entered against regular GUS
toners and settlements are made month";
w. In case of loss II is seldom necessary
TO call in the aid OF courts, the tofce OF
competition being sufficient 10 insure rea-
sonable settlement. The employees OF the
several shops 20 from house 70 mouse
seeking customers. In the northern pro,
yinces. where horses are plentlIui ana
roads relatively good, the lettet-carLlers
commonly use horses or donkeys, Wnlch
are supplied at stations about ten miles
apart Each messenger carries from
seventy 10 eighty pounds or postal mat
ter. and travels about nve miles an hOur.
When he arrives at station rev MIN
utes only are allowed 10 change horses,
and he Is of again till the end OF his route
h reached. when the bag Is given 10. a
fresh man, who starts at once, no matter
u,bat NAV be the hour OF the day or
night. and regardless OF wind rain. heat.
or cold until he too, has completed his
service and handed the parcel 10 a third
messenger, and thus II reaches it's dest-
nation. For short distances, and I'm an
the central and southern parts Of China.
the messenger travels on foot at a rapid
pace. This service would be liable 10
highway robbery; but the robOer bands OF
each district collect blackmail, and for
the sums paid them regularly they not
only do not modest the messengers them
selves. but agree TO keep others from
doing so.
There are two kinds OF stamps known
among the dealers as Cnlnese stamps. Inc
first was introduced by Sir Robert Hart
who is TO reorganize the whole SYSTEM,
and Is used only IN the customs service.
The other is a local Shanghai stamp. used
by a company carrying letters about the
city OF Shanghai and TO outposts where
there are foreign consus. chiefly on the
Yanktze river and 10 the ports OF Ningpo
and Foochow In the south. Cheloo, Tlent-
sin. and Picking In the north. These two
systems are entirely in the hands OF for
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