The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-31
STAR ROUTE METHODS
sHALLENBERGER's ANNUAL REPORT
SAYS THEY ARE ROTTEN.
Immense Work of United States Mail
Transportation Interesting
Iy Reviewed.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 80 - The immense
work of transporting the mails throughout
the United States is dealt with in the an
nual report of Second Assistant Postmaster
General William S. Shallenberger, which
was made public to-day. The main feature
of the report is vigorous arrangement of
existing star-route methods. Mr.. Shallen-
berger refers to the present system of spec
ulative bidding for star routes as "discred-
liable to the government"
The report shows the number of mail
routes at the close of the year was 49, 795,
the total mileage 4S0, 461, and averaging on
each route nine trips week. There were
434, 1872. 691 miles travelled on these routes,
costing almost SLOT mile of length each,
or almost $12 a mile travelled. The total
annual rate of expenditure for both routes
within the United States and in the for
eign mail service was $53, OPS asa.
Discussing Alaska, Mr.. Shallenberger says
the mail service ON the overland route from
Juneau by Dyea to Circle City, providing
for letter mail only, was extremely unsat-
isfactory, the contractor failing to Grender
the required number of trips and those per-
formed were irregular and unreliable,
serious complaints following. The arrange
ment with the Canadian Postoffice Depart
ment regarding a monthly exchange of let
ter mail between Dyea and Dawson also
fell below expectations. To seizure regular
services in the Alaskan interior relay sta
tons were established at frequent inter-
walls along the routes and equipped to meet
all emergencies. This was attained with
the consent of Canada The establishment
of an overland mail route from Cooks in
let or Prince William sound through the
interior to the Yukon river has been con-
hut IC nf NY nf n OF n h
lish 1T at present.
The report commends the use of the pneu-
matte tubes. but voices regret that in some
cases the tubes are not fully utilized. This
service in Boston is especially cited as OPP
Grating tWenty-one hours daily and carry
ing all the frst-class mail. The New York
postmaster, however, takes the position
that it has not been possible to make such
reductions in the regular mail-wagon trips
as 1t was thought would result from insti-
tuting tube service.
The expenditure to railroads for mail
transportation, so far as shown by ACCOUNTS
stated to Sept. 80, was 30,449S47, and the
estimate for railroad transportation for the
fiscal year ending June &c. 1900, is 1913, 275, 000
deficiency of nearly 100000 in this fiscal
year for transportation is probable.
Concerning the railway mail service, the
report shows there were / ,26S miles of trav
cling postoffices, and recommendation is
made for a Reconsideration of the service,
legislation requiring newspaper publishers
to make primary separation of their papers
and periodicals for mailing, requiring postal
ent regulation cap, and for general estab-
lishment of postal station in railroad depots.
For ocean mail transportation in the next
fiscal year $2.154OC0 is estimated Over
1900 coo letters and postcards have been dis
tributcd in transit in our international sea
postoffices and only 1900 errors were
ported Negotiations are now pending
looking to securing reciprocal benefits from
Great Britain in the way of a sea postoffice
on the Cunard and White Star Lines in the
near future. These two English lines carry
a very large amount of mail and will eX-
tensively profit by separation of mail in
transit, and the consequent early dispatch
service at New York.
Mr.. Shallenberger submits estimates for
his entire service of $50, 944 900 for next year,
and says the estimated expenditures the
present year will be $542l5,73S. Special
re ognition Is given to the courage and
faithfulness of the postal clerks and other
officials. who, during the yellow fever
epidemic in the South, remained at their
posts.
Mr.. Shallenberger also submits a special
report on the investigation recently con-
cluded by him in Great Britain, France and
Germany, into the character and cost OF
their railway mail. transportation. He says
railroads here is three times greater than
in Great Britain. The United States carries
double the number of pieces of mail mat
ter Of all classes Great Britain does, has
over fifty thousand more poStofficeS and 80
cents greater per capita expenditure for
mails. The postal system of France is not
equal to the United States in many respects.
are largely under government control, and
the German system of parcels post, pneu-
matte tube service and telephone branch of
the service, are especially commended.