The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1897-10-28
POSTAL MATTERS.
Abstract Of the First Assistant Post
master Generals Report
STREET CAR LETTER BOXES,
The Experiment Held to Be Successful and
win lie Extended Rural Free Deliv-
ery-Gen. Miles Report-No-
vember Pension Payments.

! WASHINGTON, Oct. 23.-The report of
! First Assistant Postmaster General
Perry 5. Heath for the fiscal year end
ed June 80 was made public to-day.
| The following is an abstract: So much
is gained by our recent policy OF con-
solidation of post offices and the estab-
ment or extension of the free delivery
that urge such action by congress as
will give greater latitude of discretion
in the use of specific appropriations
On July there were 3,733 presidential
post offices, embracing l69 frst-class,
$50 second-class and ., ,sl4 third class.
The estimates for the fiscal wear
ending June 80, 1899, embrace $40, 250,-
900 for compensation of postmasters;
for clerk hire, sl1, 300, 600; rental and
purchase of cancelling machines, sl25,-
900; rent, fuel and light, 81, 750, 900;
miscellaneous items and furniture,
$4,000, and advertising, $40, 600. The
estimate for the free delivery service
for the fiscal year ending June, 1899, is
1850, 400. Since the close of the fiscal
year 1897 the service has been estab-
lished in more than 40 offices, and be-
fore the close of the current year all
ceive the same.
Domestic and international money
orders issued aggregated 26,13,24O,
amounting to SlSs, ,071 ,O56; aggregate
number of payments and re-payments
%, $50, 500, amounting to $50, l41 ,66O.
There were 5,96, $3.50 pieces of original
unclaimed matter received at the dead
letter office, decrease of 27G, ,4O3.
The special letter and collection
boxes operated in Baltimore in connec-
. tion with the public street car service
iis held to be successful and when ap-
preparations permit will be extended
ito other cities Rural free delivery
has been put TO the test of practical ex-
pertinent in 30 states and over ~ differ
ent routes. The cooperation of the com
munities served has in every instance
been effectively given. The general
satisfactory results suggest the FEAST
bility of making rural delivery per-
manent feature of postal administra-
tion in the United States, not immedi-
ately or in all districts at once, but
in Some gradual and graduated form
regulated by the present experiments.
Sooner or later the United States will
have to follow the lead of the more
densely populated countries and estab-
lish delivery service over all the set
tied portions of the vast territory.
Under wise restrictions it can be ex-
tended with great advantage to class
of our citizens who rightly or wrongly
deem themselves neglected in leg isla-
tion-the agricultural class-and with
IL. -. L.
Gen. Miles Report.
WASHINGTON, Oct 23.-Gen. Miles
commanding general of the army, has
made his annual report to the secre-
tary of war. He commends the effi-
cheney of the army and speaks of the
progress that has been made in both
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts in the
matter of Notifications. lie asks that
congress authorize two more regiments
of artillery to garrison the new fortif-
cations and also five additional regi-
ments of infantry. He devotes con-
siderable attention to Alaska and says
the waters of Alaska should be
thoroughly examined by the naval
forces and that there should be at least
three military posts established in the
territory to support the civil authori-
ties. He refers to the improved con-
dition of Indians and recommends that
the policy of employing army officers
as Indian agents be continued. He
makes recommendations in detail for
the protection of coast points and says
the maximum peace footing of the
army should be one enlisted man to
every 1000 population and the mini
mum one to every 1000.
November Pension PAYMENTS.
WAsuINGToN, Oct % The secretary
of the interior has made requisition
for Sl4, 100000 to pay pensions Novem-
ber 4. The amounts are distributed as
follows: New York, S1,S75, 900; Phila-
delphia, s., ,225, 600; indianapolis, ST.
900, 900; Knoxville, $1,000, 900; Louis.
vile, Sl,110,0 900; Topeka, $4,000, 600.
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