The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1898-11-30
OUR MAIL SERVICE.
Postmnster-General Smiths Report
How the Service Followed Our
Arms and Our Flag.

uHo naval ACiuS, Is the report Oh ttSludS-
ter-General Charles Emory Smith. Aside
from the discussion of the regular branches
of the department, 1t tells of the work &C.
complshed and policies adopted in our ter
ritorial acquisitions. The postmaster-gen-
eral says:
1.-THE war entailed the necessity of a mill
tary postal service, and prompt measures
were required for handling the mails of en-
army of quarter of million men. Large
post offices were suddenly created ct the
camps of concentration, the exigencies of
constant changes and movements were
met and the military and naval forces on
active service in the West Indies and Phil
ippines had prompt and constant postal}ss
communication with home These military
post offices were clothed with all postal
powers. Some of the larger camps IN
creased the volume of postal business TO
that of cities of high rank. Quick and IL
telligent management was demanded and
trained clerks detailed from available
points Railway mail cars were stationed
at convenient points on side tracks as post
offices. To provide bonded officials and
postal supplies these offices were consu-
tuted branches of some city office At some
camps temporary rural free delivery serv-
Ice was operated A special appropriation
of $4,000 by congress for military postal
service was inadequate, and with our cam
paigns on remote soil already has been ex-
hausted."
Continuing, the report says: when our
troops advanced into Cuba the postal serv-
Ice also advanced with them. When Santa
go surrendered United States Postal Agent
Eben Brewer took possession of the post
office Of that city, which was made the mill
tary post office He removed the Spanish
director and ten of its large force of clerks,
retaining some as interpreters, and gave
the office far better footing with a much
smaller force. Now there are four deiiv-
cries in the business portion of Santiago
city and regular mail communication has
been established with Havana and inter-
mediate seaports and with Jamaica and
other West Indian islands. Service also
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, until
now there are IL military postal stations
there, having postal connections with many
smaller places. They are under the direc-
ton of a superintendent detailed from he
railway mail service, who acts in conjunc-
ton with the military commander, with a
force of six railway mail clerks, three pos al
agents and thirty-two clerks, including four
Spanish tranSlators. In the Philippines
two military postal stations have been es-
tablishad, at Manila and Cavite, supervised
by veteran division superin tendent de-
tailed from San Francisco and conducted
by force Of railway mail and post office
clerks and agents, assisted by details from
1.-THE acquisition Of Hawaii has not thus
far been followed by any change in our
postal relations with that country. The
absorption of it's postal system into our
own and the exercise Of our control, like
the Incorporation of other features of it's
local administration, have awaited the -
port of the congressional committee and
the legislation which win follow. There
was the more rea son for observing this ohii-
cation, as Hawaii already has good mail
WI r t4h Is klav1 -olf
ing"
Regarding the effective work of auxiliary
cruisers and merchant marine in the war,
the postmaster-general says: THE great
value of the aid contributed during the
war by steamships employed in our nail
service and converted under the act of
March 8, 1891. into auxiliary cruisers is uni
versally recognized. Our recent experience
has illustrated and emphasized the i'm per-
lance of this resource and has demon
strated that one Of the most effective and
economical bulwarks of naval power Is the
possession Of swift mail steamers capable
of immediate conversion into armed cruis-
ers. In the further development of our
naval force this factor cannot fairto re-
ceive consideration, and n sapplShfents
and strengthens the reasons for govern
mental action which are found in the wis
dom of promoting the upbuilding of mer-
chant marine The advancement of our
commerce requires that we shall have car
Tying "A commercial marine Is
not only vital to commercial expansion, but
1t provides the best source for the expen-
sion of the naval force which becomes nee
essary in time of war. From every poin.
Of view it is thus legitimate object of gov
ernmental concern, and the adoption of
practical and reasonable measures within
our power for the promotion of this object
seems to be dictated by every considera-
ton of public interest"
Postmaster-General Smith calls attention
to the rapid and amazing growth of the
postal business in all it's branches In the
last fiscal year the gross revenue was $780,
Oh, 61S, against 3315,479 in 1880, and the
gross expenditure $9S033,523 against $780,
542,S04; the number of post offices 1900.
against $4,000. Within this period the pop
ulation has increased about so per cent,
while postal business has multiplied near
ly threefold. The general increase of ex-
penditures for the past year has been little
more than the preceding one, despite he
fact that nearly $1,OOO,0O0 earned in mail
transportation by the aided Pacific rail-
road companies was paid this year direct
ly out of the department appropriations
There was an increase in postal receipts
Of nearly S6,500000 over the aggregate Of
1897, which is cited as proof the country
is again prosperous.
The estimate of revenues and expend-
lures for the fiscal year ending June 20.
1900 follows: Total estimated revenue,
$100, 95S 112; estimated expenditures, $685.
224, 900; deficiency for 1900, estimated, $4,-
265, SSS. But for the gross abuse of second
class matter privileges the deficit would
have disappeared long ago. and its present
and promised decrease is in the face of this
abuse.
The most marked advance in volume of
money order business in the history of the
system was this past year. the increase be-
ing 100000 in number and sl6,000,000 in
money carried. There were q, 753,4l2 money
orders issued; face value, $204, 1891 Leg
islation is asked for at the next session OF
congress to correct the evils growing out
of the practice OF bidding for star route
service. There were Is, ,220 pieces of mail
matter registered at the post offices during
the year, and the aggregate of $99S, I9a in
fees collected, was an increase Of over
seven per cent. over the previous years
business.
Discussing rural free delivery, the post
master-general says replies to circulars
sent out suggest some assurance of the per
manence of the service. A revision and re-
arrangement of the service established