Evening journal., 1897-10-18
POSTAL STATISTICS
Annual Report Of General w
s. Schallenberger.
FIGURES THAT ARE OF INTEREST
Summary of aud conlnsnt on the TX
penditsres and Estimates, tho Tari-
Gus Modes OF Service aad the
New Preumatio Tubes.


report Of w. g. Shallenberger. second |
assistant postmaster general, made
public last night. gives an interesting
review Of the principal developments in
the entire postal transportation service
OF the United States and correcting
foreign mails. IT shows an aggregate
of appropriations for this large part OF
the postal service for the current year
of $5l. .Oii. .23S. The probable deficiency ie
$500, 600, making the estimated expendi-
lures this year $51 ,541 1885, This win be
81 ,e23 04s or 81 per cent more than foI
the fiscal year just closed. The esi
mate for the fiscal year 1899 IS $59,SS7
260, which is 81, 1893 O21 more than the es-
timated expenditure for the current
year The annual rate Of expenditure
for the inland mail service In the year
just closed was $49,962,O74 and for for
eign mail service Si79i,17O. after de-
Quoting S25s,029 for intermediary serv-
ice to foreign countries. The summary
Of all classes Of service in operation
June 80 last follows;
Number of routes. s2,49i; length OF
routes, 47O.032 miles; annual rate of
expenditure, $49,S62,O74; number Of
miles Travelled per annum, 40, ,S50i7
rate of cost per mile travelled, il.Si
cents, rate of cost per mile OF length,
Sl060S; average number Of trips per
week. S.6O For star mail service thee
estimate for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1Sg9 is So, 495 600. Last year there
was an increase of $780, ,749 miles OF
travel in star service, so essential TO
rural districts. A current year deh-
ciency OF $50, 600 Is estimated for the
steamboat mail service. The estimates
for the fiscal year 1899 include steam
boat service, S470, 900; mail messenger
service, S950.O00; transportation by
pneumatic tubes or other similar de-
vices, by purchase or otherwise. S2s9,-
600, and wagon service. $3.50, 900. Last
year there was only one pneumatic
postal tube In operation In the country,
that in Philadelphia, Since then four
more contracts have been executed, in
Philadelphia. New York, Boston and
between New York and Brooklyn.
Concerning this new postal feature
General Shallenberger reports; 1t Is
quite possible to carry second, third
and fourth class matter as we'll as
first. when II can be made profitable
Extension Of stations several miles dis
tant from the main office. eventually
viii saves clerical force as well as ex-
pedlte delivery in distant cities from II
TO "a hours. The most important source
OF revenue to the department will be
the large increase of local correspond
ence and special delivery letters. The
extension Of the tubular system Will be
necessarily slow ana probably confined
to populous centcrs."
The amount reported withheld from
the Pacific railroads on account OF
| transportation is $l,312.023i estimate for
| railroad transportation for the fiscal
year 1899 is $50, $50 600. No estimate for
| special fast mail service is submitted,
/ as it is stated this service in general
will be better if the special facility ap-
| proprlation Is discontinued. The esti-
mate for electric and cable ear service
is $685. 600, and 1S9 applications for es-
tablishment Of new service OF TINS
| character are on file.
AS to foreign mails, the report makes
an estimate of 81 sol. .260 for. transporta'
ton and S142. 600 for balances due for
eign countries. The aggregate cost o
this service was s2,04e. .oe9. including 81
l06. .276 for transatlantic and sl79l32 TO
transpaoiic service.
The report takes an important posi-
tlon as to newspaper mail and piai
to make the profits on short hauls on
set the long runs. General Shellenberg
er says;
There seems TO be no good reasol
! why the great bulk of legitimate news
papers carried by the government a
great loss to remote places should b
. | I, tulf
mails by railroad and express cOmpa
MES whenever there is a short haul tina
would make the carriage of them prof
liable to the government. The carriag
, OF newspapers. packages, etc. by raj
roads and express companies may hav
been justified, perhaps, years ago. whe
the railway mail service was less eff
cient,- but with cur present facilitle
such as may easily be obtained, l al
: convinced that the department can an
e should carry the great bulk of news
a paper matter that has been for yeal
t withheld from the mails and sent
= baggage cars and special eXprel
e trains"
r An abstract Of the annual report
e the general superintendent of the raj
- way mail service follows:
S At the close of the year there we
c l.164 railway postofice lines, mann'
n by 5s54 clerks: % electric and cab
n lines with 102 clerks; 42 steambo
+ lines with 81 clerks, making the tot
i number of lines ]. .239 and the total nun
: ber of clerks 5e2,
o In addition TO these there We're 3
= clerks assigned 70 duty an importa
e functions and depots and 23S detail'
" 20 clerical duty in the various ofic
y of the service, making grand total
% 602 clerks.
Is The miles Of railroad covered by ra
q way postofiice car service was 154,2
2 OF electric and cable 3Os and OF steaI
s. boat lines 7.45a The grand total
- niles Travelled of all classes OF servi
vas 2S2. .Ss0.09i
There were 65f whole cars in use a'
ia Ia reserve. and 2,026 apartments
y cars in use and 540 in reserve.
l. The number of pieces OF all kinds
IL mali matter distributed on the ca
Is during the year was 1871. 5sO,6S0. e
n elusive of registered matter and ci
a mail OF registered matter there W.
er ie. 2agefa pieces in all. The amount
ne city mail distributed for stations a
carriers during the year aggregat
AGO asa Gsa s.f=aae The increase of ,