Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-11-17
DRlSTOW'S REPORT.
Work Of the Fourth Assistant Post
master Generals Bureau.
NUMBER OF CHANGES RECOMMENDED
sevsrer Penalty Asked for Post Once Elm.
pl0yes " no Embrzxle or Destroy News.
paper Mall the Mailing OF Green
GOods an Obscene Matter

Washington. Nov. 1.-THE report Of
Fourth Assistant Postmaster Genera
Bristow for the fiscal year ended June
80, 1898, is briefly summarized as fol
lows:
There were ut the close Of the fiscal year 73
$40 post ofess in the United States. 1913 presi-
Dental and 9.,6i fourth-class The net in.
crease in The numD.r Of post Offices for the
fiscal year was a.54s The state having the
largest number OF presidential post Offices Il
New York with $780, followed by Pennsylvania
with .si. Illinois VITA 81 Iowa with 2l3 and
Ohio with :. 4 The states having the smallest
number Of presidential post offices are Wyo.
ming and Nevada with each Utah with 10
Arizona with II and Delaware, Indian territory
and New Mexico with II each
The states having the greatest number Of
f0urth-cass post offices rank as follows: Penn.
sylvania heads the list with ASH. New Y0rh
next with 1894. Virginia with 1926. Ohio with
BIO and North Carolina with 1893 The states
having the smallest number Of fourth class
post offices are, the scale rising as follows
Rhode Island, l35. Delaware, l6J; Nevada, i73;
ARIZONA, lVl' wyoming. 2Sa
very interesting table In the report Is one
showing the compensation OF fourth-class
rOstmasters by states. In this table Massa.
rhusetts heads the list, showing on average
compensation for her fourth-class postmasters
Of 1885, " per annum followed by Rhode Is
land, 3g3, and Connecticut. s28348 The
state showing the smallest average compensa-
tion for her tourth-class postm lsters is North
Carolina, Sl72 the scale rising with Ten.
nessee, S!JS, second, and Alabama, i0a II,
third The fourth-class post off ,e Is the post
Office OF the masses The great mass Of the
American people patrOnze these officet and
the average compensation Of fourth-class post
masters shows quite clearly the extent to
which the mails are used by the masses Of the
people in the respective states
Another very interesting table sets forth the
amount expended per capita in the use Of the
mails by the people OF the various sta es In
this list Massachusetts stands first with an ex-
penditure of 1881 per capita in the use Of the
mails; New York second, expanding l227;
District OF Columbia third. 2 49, Colorado
fourth Sl93 Connecticut fifth, isl The
state, ranking lowest in this table are. South
Carolina, sl.25 per capita. Mississippi, 81 cents;
Alabama, 81 cents. Arkansas, 81 cents; North
Carolina, Al cents
The total number OF appointments made
during the fiscal year was 25,8&
The report sets forth the fact that large
number Of inspectors we're detailed to appre-
bend depredators upon soldiers mail and to
take charge Of stations established for the pur-
pose Of distributing mail to the soldiers
Another interesting feature Of the report is
the postal facilities for Alaska Inspectors
were detailed to reOrganizs the mail service In
this territory, which resulted In the establish
ment Of u line Of post offices from the Cana
dian borders to the Behrins sea, distance Of
about 1000 miles, and many other needed i'm
provements were made In the mail service In
Alaska upon the recommendation Of these In
spect0rs
A number OF recommendations are made by
the fourth assistant postmaster general which
are worthy Of attention, one being that a
severer penalty be provided for employees Of
the service who may b. found guilty Of embez-
cling or destroying newspaper mail Another
recommendation is that more stringent statutes
be enacted covering tn, transmission Of green
goods and obscene matter through the mails,
and that special stamped envelope Of superior
material Of the denomination Of 10 cents be
adopted in lieu Of the present system OF register
ing letters Many losses occur in the mails be-
cause Of the poor quality OF the envelope in
which the articles are inclosed strong en-
velope Of the value Of 10 cents as registered
envelope, Is recommended instead Of the regis
a.