The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-26
THROWING IHE NAL
Postal Operations for the Year
and Their Cost.
EXTENDING THE SERVICE
To New Acquisitions = Fast
Mail Steamers in War.

some years, owing to its operations in
military and naval fields, is the report Of
Postmaster General Charles Emory Smith.
Aside from the discussion of the regular
branches OF the department it tells Of
the work accomplished and policies adope-
ed in our new territorial acquisitions. The
postmaster general says:
'"The war entailed the necessity of mil
itary postal service, and prompt measures
| were required for handling the mails of
an army of quarter of a million of men.
| Large postoffices were suddenly created
at the camps Of concentration, the ext
gencies of constant changes and move
ments were met and the military and
naval forces in active service in the West
! Indies and the Philippines had prompt and
constant postal communica ton with home.
These military postoffices We're clothed
with all the postal power. Some of the
| larger camps increased the volume of
postal business to that of cities of high
rank. Quick and intelligent management
was demanded, and trained clerks were
detailed from available points"
POSTAL SERVICE IN THE ANTILLES
Continuing, the report says:
When our troops advanced into Cuba
the postal service also advanced with
them. When Santiago surrendered Unit
ed States Postal Agent Eben Brewer took
possession of the postofice- Of that city,
which was made the militar ypostofflce.
! He removed the Spanish director and ten
/ of its large force of clerks, retaining some
as interpreters, and gave the office a far
better fooing with a much smaller force
Now there are four deliveries in the bust
ness portion of Santiago city and regular
mail communication has been established
with Havana and intermediate points and
with Jamaica and the rest of the islands
| Service has been extended into Santiago
province.
THE postal service accompanied our
arms and our flag to Porto Rico. From
Ponce it was extended as rapidly as differ
ent places passed into our possession, I'M
/ til now there are twelve miliJar ypostal
stations there. having postal communica-
| ton with many smaller places. They are
under the direction of a superintendent
detailed from the railway service who acts
in conjunction with the military com
mander with a force of six railway mail
clerks, three postal agents and thirty
| two clerks, including four Spanish trans
lators. In the Philippines two military
postal stations have been established. at
Manila and Cavite. supervised by a vet
eran division superintendent detailed
from San Francisco and conducted by a
force of railway mail and postal clerks
and agents, assisted by details from the
army of occupation
METHODS OF OPERATION.
Referring to the methods of extending
the postal service in the acquired terri
tory. the report says:
"The general postal service was associ-
ated with the military postal service and
operated by the same machinery. No
new appointments, save in one or two
instances. were made. Trained men
from our home service were detailed as
superintendent and agents and placed in
charge OF the larger Offices. retaining
such of the old employees as were needed
or could be made available. In the small
er places the old pOstmasters were retain
ed OF local officers are found. There has
already been a great Improvement over
the old Spanish service and the work has
only just begun.
NO CHANGE YET IN HAWAII.
1.-The acquisition of Hawaii has notthus
far been followed by any change in our
postal relations with that country. The
absorption of its postal system into our
own and the exercise OF our control. like
the Incorporation Of other features Of its
local administration. have awaited the re-
port of the congressional committee and
the legislation that Will follow.
There was the more reason for observ-
ing this obligation. as Hawaii already has
a good mail service which is more than
self-sustaining.
FAST NAIL STEAMERS IN WAR
The report refers at length TO the serv-
ice rendered during the late war by the
auxiliary cruisers and merchant marine.
and says:
Our recent experience has but illustrat-
ed and emphasized the importance of this
resource and has demonstrated that one
OF the most effective and economical bull
warfls of naval power is the possession
of swift mali steamers. capable OF imme-
date conversion into armed cruisers. In
/ the further development Of our naval
Z force this factor cannot fail 20 receive
consideration. The advancement Of our
| comerce requires that We shall have car
rytng facilities. a commercial marine IS
not only vital 70 commercial expansion,
but Il provides the best so~rCe for the
I EXPANSION of the naval force, which be
! comes necessary in time OF war From
| every point Of view IL IS thus a legitimate
object OF governmental concern, and the
adoption OF all practical and reasonable
/ measures within our power for The promo
{ ton o. this object seems 20 be dictated
4 by every consideration OF public interest
The act % 1881 invested the postmaster
( general with authority 20 enter into such
contracts for the carrying Of the mails
/ on American steamships as in his iudg-
/ raant VIII bast subServe ard promote the
vostai and commercial interests q the
/ United states. Tire Arst fruits OF this sct
we're the powerful steanlrs. which. con-
ve-tea into armed cruisers. rendered such
/ useful service n the AYR With Spain They
I were employed in carrying the mails
across fhe Atlantic and compare favora-
bly with the Atlantic Steamers under any
aag But the act further provided that
the mail service on lines - created should
br eaui,ably DISTRIBUTED among the Al
sautlc Mexican Gusg and Pacific ports. IN
aceorllanee with this provision lines have
been established tc ports in The Guif o.
M-N.<o and steamers recently launched
ror ants s-rv.ee aud ja=t row undergoing
inspection los q naval officer w5lI Do avs5l-
.a.e rs crus~a-s should ;h-v - needed lr
fattfr emergency. Bat ~ l-aes Rave
-.ias FAR been ess-sk- she'd Under -his agt
e., tae- P.aci,ic and the reQ1i-eue7- ef ga
esui-sble dis-Tleuslou. w5jcn eons at-
.-s,tian Ire that direction b fe-cfd susl &C.