The true northerner., 1898-11-02
POSTAL service Report.
Immense Work Accomplished in
the Transpor tation of Mails in
the United States.
NUMBER OF ROUTES AT CLOSE OF YEAR
Use OF Pneumatic Tubes I'm cities
Commended-Cost Of Railway and
Ocean Service-Estimates of EN-
penditures for Next Yenr-F"ith-
fuIess of Employees Recognized. ,

Washington, Oct. 31.-The immense
work of transporting the mails
throughout the United States is dealt
with in the annual report of Second
Assistant Postmaster-General William
s. 5. Shallenberger, which has been
made public. The main feature OF the
report is a vigorous arraignment on
existing star route methods. Mr.. Shall
lenberger refers 10 the present system
of speculative bidding for star routes
as "discreditable to the government.
The report shows the number OF mail
routes al the close of the yea was 33795
total mileage 4SO.46l. am averaging on
each route nine trips per week There were
43l, 1892 69l miles Travelled on these routes.
costing almost $l07 per nate OF length each.
or almost Sl2 per mile travele'. The total
annual rate OF expenditure for both routes
within the UnEed States and In the foreign
mail service Vas S53 o2S454.
The report 'cmmends the use OF pneu-
matte tubes, but 'oices regret til IN some
cases the tubes are not tIlly utilized This
service In Boston is esnecially cited as OPP
Grating p hours daily ald carrying all the
frst-class mail The New YORK postmas-
ter, however, takes the pCsitio 'hat ii has
not been possible to max such reductions
in the regular Ill wagon trips as |: was
thought would result from instituting tube
service
The expenditure to railroads for mail
transportatio so far as show by ac-
counts stated TO September 3d. was 80 49,
SS7. and the estimate for railroad trans
portation for the fiscal wear ending June
30, 1900, Is $33, ,2.S 900. A deficienc7 OF nearly
81 000 900 In this fiscal wear for transporta-
tion Is probable.
Concerning tic railway mail service, tbs
report shows there were l,26S miles OF trav'
cling post offices and recommendation Is
made for a reclessificetion of the service
legislation requiring lewspape, publish
ers TO make primary 81 pdration OF theil
papers and periodicals Itr mailing requir'
ing postal clerks 10 wear a ba tge instead
OF the preseri regulation cap and for gen
eral esta blishment of postal stations IL
railroad depots
For ocean mail transportation In TIE rex
fiscal year $2.l54,00 Is estimated over IA
100000 letters and post cards have peer
distributed in transit IN cur irternationa
sea post Offices and Nnll l.500 errors wer,
reported. Negotiations are now pendlni
looking to securing recprc cal benefit from
Great Britain In the way OF seA post of
flee on the Curard aui White S'Lr lines II
the near future These two English line
carry a very -ge amount Of mall ant
will extensively profit by separation OF mai
IN transit AMI the consequent early dis
patch and delivery Of mall by the harbo
boat service al ew York.
Mr.. Shallenberger submits estimates 70
his entire service Of S5e, ,S4t 200 for mex yea
and says the estimated expenditures tn
present year III be S5i210,7SS Special rec
ignition is given to the courag and faith
fulness of he postal Jerks ano other OF
ficials who during the We, ow fever epidemi
in the south reL aimed their posts