The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-10-23
POSTAL


ter-General, Giving an Interesting Re-
view of the Principal Developments In
the Entire Postal transportation Service
of the United States aud Connecting For
eIgn Mails
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1S.-The annual
report of w. 5. Shallenberger. second
assistant postmaster-general made pub
lie last night, gives an interesting re-
view of the principal developments in
the entire postal transportation SER
vice of the United States and connect
ing foreign mails. 1t shows an aggre-
gate of appropriations for this large
part of the postal service for the cur
rent year Of S51, O4l ,23s; the probable
deficiency is $500, 900, making the esti-
mated expenditures this year S5l.541,-
23S. This will be Sl,623, O45, or 81 per
cent. more than for the fiscal year just
closed.
The estimate for the fiscal year 1899
is $50, 237, 200. which is 81, 796. 021 more
than the estimated expenditure for the
current year. The annual rate of ex-
penditure for the inland mail service
in the year just closed was $40. S62, 074,
and for foreign mail service 81, 791, 40,
after deducting S25s, 029 for inter-
mediary service to foreign countries.
The summary of all classes of service
in operation June so last follows:
Number of routes, 80, 491; length of
routes, 40, OBJ miles; annual rate of ex-
penditures, $40, s62, O74; number of miles
travelled per annum, 420, $50, Az; rate of
--1l 1 o. ,a -
of cost per mile Of length, s1O6.O s; av-
srage number of trips per week, $50.
For star mail service the estimate for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1899, is
s., 495, 900. Last year there was IN in
crease of $3.50, 749 miles of travel in
star service, SO essential to rural dis
tricts.
A current year deficiency of $50, 900
is estimated for the steamboat mail
service. The estimates for the fiscal
year 1899 include steamboat service
S470, 900, mail messenger service, $780,
900; transportation by pneumatic tubes
or other similar devices, by purchase or
otherwise, S225, QUO, and wagon service
ESQ, 600.
Last year there was only one pneu-
matte postal tubs in operation in the
country, hat in Philadelphia. Since
then foul more contracts have been
executed in Philadelphia, New York,
Boston and between New York and
Brooklyn. Concerning this new postal
feature, Gen. Shallenberger reports:
1T is quite possible to carry second,
third and fourth-class matter, a well
as first, when it can be made profit
able. Extension to stations several
miles distant from the main Office
eventually will save clerical force as
we'll as expedite delivery in distant
cities from II to "a hours.
The most important source of rev.
enue to the department will be the
large.increase of local correspondence
and special delivery letters. The ex-
tension of the tubular system will be
necessarily slow and probably con-
fined to populous centers-
The amount reported withheld from
the Pacific railroads on account OF
transportation is 81, 312, 023; estimate
for railroad transportation for the ifs
cal year 1899 is $50, $50, OO0. No esti-
mate for special fast mail service is
submitted, as It'll stated the service in
general will be better if the special
facility appropriation is discontinued.
The estimate for electric and cable car
service is $50, 900, and $50 applications
for establishment of new service of
this character are on file.
As to foreign mails the report makes
an estimate of 81, 9O1, $50 for transpor-
tation and S147. 900 for balances due
foreign countries. The aggregate cost
of this service was 81, 0i9, 1879, including
81, LOG, go for transatlantic and SITS, 1872
for transpaciic service.
The report takes an important posi-.
ton as to newspaper mail, and a plan
to make the profits on short hauls off.
set the long runs
Gen. Snallenb berger ssys: "There
seems to be no good ease why the
great bulk of legitimate newspapers
carried by the government, at a great
loss, to remote places should be permit
ted to be taken away from the mails
by railroad and express companies
whenever there is a short haul hal
would make the carriage of them
profitable to the government. The
carriage of newspapers, packages, ETC.,
by railroads and express compan-
les may have been justified,
perhaps, years ago, when the railway
mail service was less efficient. But
with our present facilities, and such as
that the department can and should
carry the great bulk of newspaper
matter that has been for years with
held from the mails and sent in bag
gage cars and special express trains"