Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-11-03
CARRYING THE MAIL
Report of the Second Assistant Post
master General Made Public.
STAR ROUTE METHODS ARRAIGNED.
Speculative Bidding Wanted Abolished
More Money for Faster Transportation
Would BE Well Expended
OF Branches OF transportation.

would he VOL Expended-SLntBtlcb
of Branches of transportation.
Washington, Oct. 81. 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. Shalenberger, which was made
public yesterday. The main feature
of the report is vigorous arraignment
of existing star route methods. Mr..
Shallen berger refers to the present
system of speculative bidding for star
routes as "discreditable to the govern
ment." He says the bidders cut lit
tie under the old contract prices and
risk being able to sublet at a profit.
The competition results in the greater
part of these contracts being awarded
at very low rates, the accepted bidders
or their agents often using deceit and
misrepresentation in securing sub-con-
tracts from poor and ignorant men as
principals and sureties,
''Then there are the INSCRIPTIONS
contractors" it is added, 'who fail to
pay their carriers, which causes hum
dreds of claims against the contractors
to be filed in this office and neccssi-
tates voluminous correspondence to
get the claims adjusted"
1t is conceded that exclusion of spec
ulative bidders would increase the cost
to the government, and recent exam
nations at the request of congress i'm
dictate the additional cost would be
81, 500 900, which, however, would go
into effect gradually.
The belief is expressed that con-
siderably larger sum for faster trans
portation would be we'll expended If it
resulted in improved equipments las
many of the vehicles now used in car
rying the mails present such dilapi-
dated and disreputable appearance as
to be a strong argument in condemna-
ton of the present system"
The report shows the number of mail
routes at the close of the year was 49,
795; total mileage, $50, 46l, an averag-
ing on each route nine trips per week.
There were 434, 1896 miles Travelled
on these routes, costing almost $lO7 per
mile of length each, or almost 10 cents
per mile travelled. The total annual
rate of expenditure for both routes
within the United States and in the
foreign mail service was S53, 024, 454.
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 81
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 expenditure to railroads for
mail transportation, so far as shown
by accounts stated to September 30,
was $50, 449, 1877, and the estimate for
mail transportation for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 19OO is $S3, 275, 900. A
deficiency of nearly 81, 900, 900 in this
fiscal year for transportation is prob
able
Concerning the railway mail service,
the report shows there were 1,26S miles
of travelling post offices and recon-
mendation is made for reclassifica-
ton of the service, legislation requir-
ing newspaper publishers to make pre-
liminary separation of their papers
and periodicals for mailing, requiring
postal clerks TO wear a badge instead
of the present regulation cap, and for
general establishment of postal
stations in railroad depots.
For ocean mail transportation in the
next fiscal year SO, 1874, 900 is estimated.
Over $4,000, 900 letters and post cards
have been distributed in transit in our
international sea post offices and only
1900 errors were reported. Negotia'
tions are now pending looking to Sc
curing reciprocal benefits from Great
Britain in the way of sea post Office
on the Cunard and White Star lines in
the near future These two English
lines carry a very large amount of
mail and will extensively profit by
separation of mail in transit and the
consequent early dispatch and deliv-
cry of mail by the harbor boat service
at New York. Mr. Shallenberger sub
mits estimates for his entire service
at $50, 944, 900 for next year, and says
the estimated expenditures the pres
ent year will be S54, 2l5, 739.