The record-union., 1898-10-31

recent examinations at the request or
Congress indicate the additional cost
would be 81, 100000, which, however,
would go into effect gradually. The be-
lief is expressed that a considerably
larger sum for faster transportation
would be well expended, If it resulted
in improved equipment, las many of
the vehicles now used in carrying the
mails present such a dilapitated and
disreputable appearance as to be
strong argument in condemnation of
the present system
TIE report shows the number of mail
routes at the close of the year as 3d.
795, total mileage $50, ,3S1, and averag-
ing on each route nine trips per week.
There were 434 332 ,691 miles travelled
on these routes, costing almost $1O7 per
mile of length each, or almost II cents
per mile Travelled. The total annual rate
of expenditure for both routes within
the United States and in the foreign
mail service was 500, 923, 454.
Discussing Alaska, Mr.. Shallenberger
says the mail service on the overland
route from Juneau to Circle City, pro-
viddng for letter mail only, was ex-
tremely unsatisfactory, the contractor
of trips and those performed were ir-
regular and unreliable, serious COM
plants following. The arrangement
with the Canadian Postofffce Depart
ment regarding a monthly exchange of
letter mail between Dyea and Dawson
also fell below expectations. To secure
regular service in the Alaskan interior
relay stations were established at fire.
quent intervals along the routes and
equipped to meet all emergencies. This
was attached with the consent of
Canada. The establishment of an over
land mail route from Cooks Inlet or
Prince Williams Sound through the in
terror to the Yukon River has been con-
sideredA but it is not practicable to es-
tablish it at present.
The report commends the use of the
pneumatic tubes, but voices regret that
in some cases the tubes are not fully
utilized. This service in Boston is
especially cited as operating twenty
one hours daily and carrying all the
first-class mail. The New York Post
master, however, takes the position
that it has not been possible to make
such reductions in the regular mail
wagon trips as it was thought would
result from instituting tube service.
The expenditures to railroads for
mail transportation, so far as shown by
accounts stated to September Both,
were $50, AS, S31 and the estimate for
railroad transportation for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1900, ie $33 81 B.,
GOO A deficiency of nearly 81 ,000,OUO
in this fiscal year for transportation is
probable.
Concerning the railway mail service,
the report shows there were l 1,26S miles
of travelling Postoffices, and contains a
recommendation for the reclassification
of the service, legislation requiring
newspaper publishers to make primary
separation of their papers and peri
odicals for mailing, requiring postal
clerks to wear a badge instead of the
present regulation cap, and for general
establishment of postal stations in rail-
road depotS. For ocean mail trans
portations in the next fiscal year
81, 2,104, 600 is estimated. Over II, 4,C00-
600 letters and post cards have been
distributed in transit in our interna-
tion sea Postoffices, and only 100
errors were reported Negotiations are
now pending looking to securing re-
ciprocal 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 derive extensive profit by sep
aration Of mail in transit and the con-
Sequent early dispatch and delivery of
mail by the harbor boat service at