New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-18
TRANSPORTATION or MAILS.
MR. sHALLENBERGER DESCRIBES THE
WORK OF THE YEAR. AND COM
NENDS POSTAL TUBES.

Washington Oct. 1.-THE annual report Of VS.
shanenberger. Second Assistant Postmaster-Gen-
era made public tonight gives an interesting re-
view of the principal developments In the entire
postal transportation service Of the United states
and connecting foreign mails. 1t shows an aggre-
gate of authorizations for this large part OF the
Dostal service for the current year OF S5loil-1S;
the probable deficiency is SSOOo0p making the esu-
mated expenditures this year Sol.of12 's. ms VIII
he 81 63 O45 3 per cent more than Tor the hsca
wear lust closed. The estimate for the fscal year
1899 Is sJ3 go which is 81 6.O2l more than the
estimated expenditure for the current year The
annual rate of expenditure for the inland mail ser
vice in the year just closed was Si9H52"'f ana lot
foreign mail service 81 I91l1o. after deduc'ing
s25S O29 for intermediary service TO foreign coun-
tries a summary Of all classes OF service IN opera
ton June 30 last follows:
Number of routes 81, 491; length Of routes. 40
or miles: annual rate of expenditure, S49s6"o'4
number Of miles travelled per annum. 42osoo4'?'
rate of cost per mile travelled 1lsi cents; rate or
cost per mile Of length. sos os; average number OF
trips per week. SO
For star mail service the estimate for the fiscal
year ending June 80 1899. is Sj.495.ODO Last year
there was an of $3.50 40 miles of travel
I'm star service. essential 10 rural districts.
current year deficiency OF $3o,VD is estimated for
the steamboat mail service. The estimates for the
fiscal year 1880 include: Steamboat service $40
600: mail messenger service. 100000; transporta-
ton by pneumatic tubes or other similar devices.
nv purchase or otherwise. SS25,OD and wagon ser
xice x7J0 600 Last year there was only one pneu-
matte postal tube in operation in the country that
IN y phi hes psHscused in Phadepha
Boston, and between New-York and Brooklyn
cGnSsps 4s aae
second third and fourth class matter as well az
first. when 1t can be made profitable Extension
10 stations several miles distant IRON Inc main
Office eventually, will clerical force as well as
expedite delivery in distant cies from I~e ,r 10
reyenue 10 the Department Will be the large In
crease Ct local correspondence and special delivery
letters The extension of the tubular system WIZ
be necessarily slow, and probably confined to popu-
The amount reported withheld from the Pacific
railroads on account Of transportation Is xl3l2U3
The estimate for railroad transportation for the
fiscal wear 1899 Is $50, 10000 No estimate for
specal fast mail service is submitted II Is stat
specjal facility appropriation Is discontinued. The
estimate for electric and cable-car service is $3i5
900 and 139 applications for establishment of new
service Of this character are on file.
AS 10 foreign mails the report makes an estimate
of 81 sol $50 for transportation. and Sli2oO) for
balances. due foreign countries The aggrega.e
276 for transatlantic. and S179l32 for transpacihc
service.
M per mail and plan TO make the proiits short
hauls offset the long General Snalenbereer
saws: There seems TO be no good reason why the
great bulk OF legitimate newspapers carried by the
S:overnrncnt M great loss 10 remote places should
be permitted to be taken away from the malls by
railroad and express companies. whenever there Is
profitable TO the Government. The carriage OF
newspaper packages. etc. by railroads and express
companies may have been justified. perhaps. years
ago when the railway mail service was less eff
Client: but with present facilities such as may
easily be obtained. | am convinced that the De.
partment and should carry the great bulk or
from the mails and sent in baggage-cars and spe-
cial express trains