The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-03
SENDING MAIL TO THE FRO NJ.
How tho Men or the Army and Navy Got Their
Letters and Papers.
From the Boston Erentn0 Transcript.

How tho Men or the Army and Navy Get Their
Letters and Papers.
From the Boston Erentno Transcript.
KEY WEST, June 2s.-The past week has seen
the perfecting of a system of mail distribution
for the fleet in West Indian waters and for tho
army on Cuban soil which will be Of great ser.
vice and Of great Joy to many q man whose
thoughts turn TO the loved ones at home.
Through the courtesy of Mr.. c. s. Beaver,
the chief clerk of the service between Jackson
vile and Key West. your correspondent was
enabled to learn something of tho system, tho
efficiency of which is in large measure duo to
MIR. Beavers long experience In q similar capR-
Pittsburg. The amount of mail matter handled
represents the mail matter OF a city of several
the camps at Jacksonville and Tampa, the fleet
from Key West to Santiago and the troops now
and navy Of letter writer's comprising probabIyy
amount that Of II city Of 100000 people. Tho
going mail from Camp Cuba Libre averaged 600
letters per day for each regiment in the camp.
The separation and classification Of the mail
for the army and navy begin practically when
It leaves Washington, and with every stage Of
tematic condensation until it reaches Key West,
which is now the ultimate Post Office on United
States territory. Mail for Camp Cuba Libre is
separated from that for points further south
before it reaches Jacksonville. 1t, is also
separated from the local mail for Jacksonville
ull Ia llO ullGTChb BdCkb anu
pouches. according to the different regiments in
the camp. and so is not subject to any handling
the real work and the final system comes into
operation. The Tampa mail Is sorted out and
kept separate from the military mail. just as it
is Mt Jacksonville. SO that the local office is not
burdeneu with the army matter. That army
matter is sorted out and tied up for each com
letters pouched and locked, and tho papers
sacked. ready for delivery to the ,rog,inental
the d%s'P reri9enta an' ch 1GslisiDn is w Ssa"l the nr5'd t4 Ro
camps disposed of there still remains mall mat
ter by the ton. destined for the West Indian
fleet and for the troops engaged in Cuba. This
mass has received q partial separation and as
scmbling in the mail cars along the route. but
from Jacksonville via Miami, and the east
by way Of Tampa. AS steamer TT'A days ~ from rom
these two points alternate there will be con-
stituted a daily service to Key West, excepting
Sundays. The process of mail handling will be
the same on both lines.
At Tampa the mail for the navy and for tho
to tho steamer Mascotte of the Plant line, the
regular mail and passenger boat to Key West.
large statcrooms have been knocked into one
and all ber,hs and, fixtures removed. leaving q
large room. which has been fitted up with
sacks and pouches. In and around this room
tho mater Is piled as 1t comes from the train
ceiycd by two, clerks, quick men, of clear in
telligence an3 long experience. For the greater
IhTI VI INC tlBHJCCU nOuTS OF inc run THESE mon
are busy emptying, sack after sack upon their
tables. and with nimhle fingers, sorting. bun
ding. and pouChing letters and papers.
Upon one wall OF the room is a set of pigeon.
holes with a compartment for each ship plainly
marked with the name of the vessel: The let
tiers after being sorted into these holes
are bundled in tho usual manner of the Post
Office service and deposited in their proper
the same way, the unit OF the packages being
the company organization. Provision is mado
for which, have been divided. but
This nrOViSiOn ia made nv the railway anrvira
on shore. Each car has what may be called
a military directory. kept as accurately as
Of the Forty,second has gone TO Cuba;
x Troop has s'GbS Been sent to Fort Mc;pS S@o
som this directory would follow the location of
inSly. That for c Troop would go on board the
Mfscotte for Key West and be tied in its own
special package. and, in company with that for
were at the front. be forwarded 10 that part of
the rggimeRt wherever it. might be:
service" begins. All being ready for delivery.
despatch boats receive the sacks and pouches.
precious freight proceed eastward and south
ward. AS the carrier delivers his load from
house TO house, so the despatch boat delivers
blocknding feet at Havana. Then it goes
The squadron at Santiago. Delivery is made
wherever the vessels arc found, whether IL he
IN haPbOr or on Inc nlBh seas. Tho army mail
follows the army. If a part of Gen. Shafter's
command be landed at Guantanamo and "A part
at Santiago aud IL part be left on shipbonrd,
this marine mail carrier will find It's customers
and make delivery to each.
Al present the outward mail from Tampa in.
Cludcs some 1000 letters to the navy and some
1000 TO the army on each trim to Key West.
This docs not include the tons OF papers. maya.
zines, and PACKAGES. As the army at the front
is increased the mail facilities will be Increased
To Keen pace with its growth. So far MS II IL
possible 10 accomplish such u result, it is the
tiXcl intention o! I nclc Sam to see that his boys
AZ the front get their letters without delay or
complication. The same general plan is opera.
tive for return letters. They will be- collected
by the despatch boats centred at Key Wes',
and forwarded from there by the first steamer
going 10 Tampa or to Miami. An efficient in.
speCtOr viii cover the whole territory. and
none but tried and experienced men will be en-
sGgcd In this important service.