The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-26
OPERATIONS OF
OUR MAIL SERVICE
Postmaster-GeneraI Smith Makes His
Annual Report.
TEST OF RURAL FREE DELIVERY.
Has Proven So Popular That Congress
Will Probably Give Favorable Con-
sidcration-Changes in the Eight
Hour Law Recommended.
TEST OF RURAL FREE DELIVERY.

The annual report OF Postmaster-Gen-
eral Smith has been made public. In
opening he touches upon the great growth
in the postal business and presents hg-
ures showing how the service has in
creased. during the year the postal ser
vice mas been economically administered.
The dercit for 1860. &c is estimated. Will
bee Sl255,sSS. and but for the gross
abuse OF The privilege given by law 20
sec0nd-class matter the deficit would
long ago have disappeared.
The operations OF the military postal
service IN the war with Spain are de-
scribed at length. and details are given
of the establishment OF the camp post
offices.
RURAL FREE DELIVERY.
The initial appropriation Of $4,000 made
available for a. test of the rural free de-
livery service was increased for the pres
ent fiscal year 10 the amount OF $4,000
Rural free delivery has been enlarged in
accordance with the greater apprOpria-
tion provided. but not yet 20 the full
extent authorized.
Letters have been addressed by the
First Assistant Postmaster General 10
every postmaster within whose jurisdic-
ton rural free delivery has been put in
force and also 10 representative citi-
zens within tho range OF the delivery,
asking an expression OF their views
Their replies indicate such general de-
sire FOR the continuance and extension
Of the service as cannot fail % receive
the earnest consideration Of Congress.
FREE DELIVERY.
The extension OF free delivery IN the
cities OF the United States during the
year has been limited only by the amount
appropriated for this purpose Fifty-nine
offices which had not previously enjoyed
the benefits Of this service have been
brought within the free delivery classi-
hcati0n. This has required the appoint
ment Of 2l5 letter carriers ~ a cost or
$500. Congress provided goo o00 for new
free delivery service The propc. main
tenance and extension 81 free deivry IN
offices previously established has neces-
STATED the appointment Of f2f carriers.
There yet remain 10 offices entitled under
the law. by reason Of $4,000 gross re-
ceipts per annum or 1000 population. %
the free delivery service whose claims
could not be allowed without creating
deficiency
CHANGE IN EIGHT-HOUR LAW.
Experience has shown that the act
passed May a. lSSS limiting the work of
letter carriers to eight hours,a day. can
not be- practically applied. I'm its present
form. to meet the varying conditions OF
the postal service without causing loss
of time 10 the government and personal
Inconvenience 20 the carriers As inter
proted by the Supreme Court. the law
entities q carrier 20 eight hours work
day and 10 his pay for eight hours, even
though his work on any particular day
should not be sufficient 10 occupy him
for that length of time For any excess
OF service over eight hours I'm any one
day he IS entitled 10 extra pay
I'm order 10 avoid the making OF over
time under which head liabilities 20 the
amount OF several millions Of dollars
were unwittmgly incurred before the law
received the Interpretation Of the SUI
preme Court the department has issuel
and enforced most stringent regulations
L, has been compelled 20 base its time
schedules on the work of heavy days. so
that n loses from thirty minutes 10 am
hour on each carrier on the three or four
light DAYS I'm the week and imposes upon
them on the heavy days an amount Of
work and q rate Of speed which severely
tax their endurance. II has also been
compelled. I'm offices where the principal
mails are received early and late I'm the
DAY. 20 provide long Swings" or inter
walls between trips. thus stretching tho
work Of the carriers over range Of six
teen or eighteen hours a day.
II is suggested that these inconveni-
ences and haydships could be avoided by
o. change Of the law so as 10 authorize
pOstmasters 10 appOriion the number or
hours for each day as the requirements
OF the service demand. not 10 exceed
total OF forty-eight hours for the six
working DAYS Of the week with such adj
a
eight hours rs the exgencies Of the SER
vice may require.
INCREASE OF MONEY ORDERS.
During the year there were 2S.753.4l2
money orders issued. having a face value
OF 1904 500 500 90. These figures show the
phenomenal increase Of 100000 in the
number ~ money orders issued during the
last fiscal year. and an increase OF more
than Si6 90 900 i'm the total amount OF
money carried by this service over last
year and indicates the return Of COM
mercial activity and business prosperity.
Since the foundation Of the money order
system I'm the United States In 1866 there
has never before been so marked an adj
vance in the amount OF business trans
iotca I'm one year over the year inn
nedately preceding. The greatest annual
Increase previously recorded was 50 100000
RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE
On June 30 1873. there were l26S lines !
NJ travelling post-offices railway. steam !
BOAT and electric and cable cars) cover |
ng l67. 80 miles In length: the number |
'f clerks employed was sW4: the annual /
Tavel by them I'm crews was ISL. 4s3l s7 |
niles. adding 10 this the closed pouch |
md expresspouch service. the total mum
YEP ~ miles Travelled was 2S5.56j.3i3 There |
we're handled during the year ~. 225. 7O5. 220 |
lieces of registered matter and 591 i92 400 !
,ieces Of city mail. The Improperly adj
ressed and ilegible matter amounted 10
3 503. 4s6 pieces Of which 1850 5sj were re-
urned 10 writers or corrected and for
yarded 20 destination. the remainder be-
ng sent TO the dead letter office for DIS
position.