Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-31
TRANSPORTING THE MAILS.
Second Assistant Postmaster General ShaIien-
berger Dsnounces Star Route Methods.

Washington. Oct. 30--The immense
work of transporting the mails through.
! out the United States is dealt with in the
annual report of Second Assistant Post
master General William shaiienberger
which was made public, today The main
feature Of the report. Is vigorous ar
raignment Of the existing Star route
methods. Mr.. Shallenberger refers to the
present system Of speculative bidding for
Star routes as "discreditable to the gov
ernment., He says the bidders cut a
little under the old contract prices and
risk being unable to sublet at a profit
The. competition results in the greater
part OF these contracts being awarded al
very low rates. the excepted bidders or
their agents often using deceit and mis-
representation in securing sub-contracts
from poor and ignorant men as principals
and sureties.
"Then there are the INSCRIPTIONS con-
tractors it is added, who fail to pay
their carriers, which causes hundreds of
claims against the contractors filed IN
this Office and necessitates youminous
correspondence to get the claims adjust
ed. Again there will be bidder who, in
his fnexperience and eagerness, will make
his bids at rates lower than those for
which he can secure Sub-cOntractors
There follows general failure to per-
form the service awarded him and the
department is put to the trouble and ex-
pense OF arranging temporary service and
reletting the contracts"
The conclusion drawn is that the profit
to contractors must be considerable and
IL tIc department cOuIu zeal directly with
the men who do the work, the total
amount paid by the government being put
into the service without any margin TO
speculative middlemen, il would undoubt-
edly produce better mail service.
1t Is conceded that exclusion of specu-
lative bidders would increase the cost TO
the government and recent examinations
at the request Of Congress indicate that
the additional cost would be 81, 500, 00o
which, however, would gradually go into
effect, The belief Is expressed that con-
portation would be well expended If it
resulted in improved equipment, as
many of the horses and vehicles now used
in carrying the mails present such a
as 20 be a strong argument in condemna-
ton of the present system"
Legislation Is recommended requiring
ali such bidders to reside on or contigu-
agree to so reside and personally super
wise the service and authorizing refusal
to accept bids deemed excessive.
The report shows the number of mail
routes at the close Of the year was 33795,
total mileage, 4s0,4al, and averaging on
each route nine trips per week. There
routes, costing almost si07, per mile of
length each. or almost IL cents per mile
travelled. The. total annual rate of ex-
penaiture for both routes within the
Tinted States and in the foreign mail SER
vice is $50, 023, i54
Discussing Alaska Mr.. ShalIenberger
says the mai service on the overland
route from Juneau by Dyea to Circle City,
providing for letter mail only. was ex-
tremely unsatisfactory, the contractor
failing TO render the required number of
trips, and those performed were irregular
and unreliable. serious complaints fol-
lowing. The arrangement with the Cana
dian post Office department regarding a
monthly exchange of mail between Dyea
and Dawson also fell below expectations.
To secure regular service in the Alaska
interior, relay stations were established
at frequent intervals along the lines. This
was attained with the consent of Canada
The establishment of an overland mail
route from Cooks Inlet or Prince William
sound through the interior to the Yukon
river has been considered, but it is not
practicable to establish it at present
The expenditures to railroads for trans
porta ton, so far as shown by accounts
stated to Sept. 80. was $50, 449 SS7. and the
estimate for railroad transportation for
the fiscal year ending June 80 1900 is
So, 2.5. 600. A deficiency of nearly $1,000, 900
in this fiscal year for transportation is
probable.