The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-26
~PosToFFICs AT cAvITE.
Uncle Sans Ready for Bust
ness.


The new Philippine station of Uncle
Sans ~postofice is in full operation. II
is only a branch Of the San Francisco
office, but II is as busy in a way as
the head concern. The postmaster ts
+. w. Vail, who is an inspector In
the railroad postoftice, with head
quarters at Portland. ore. He came
down on the china with 10 clerks and
a safe full of good things i'm the way
of stamps and supplies, registry books
money order forms n all that a we'll
regulated pOstofice should have, for
this is going to be a big office. When
IL is established in Manila with the
business of 10000 soldiers to look af-
ter. as well as that of the city, II Will
have a lot to do. The 10000 soldiers
will provide almost as much work for
It as a town the size Of Omaha.
Mr.. Vail had a notion all the way
over that his outfit would be the first
thing landed from the ship. But he
was disappointed. There are other
things more important To an army In
the field than a postoffice. There is
the debarkation Of troops, and that re-
uuires all the cascos that might be
used for taking a safe fun or postage
stamps ashore. After the men are all
in camp. their stores must follow, n
as the stores are always loaded hit and
miss IN a lIObDSHiDs 81 NldA NA'S
be handled two or three times in order
TO get out what Is wanted, Ii takes a
lot of time TO get the army things out
and be ready at last to handle the post
masters safe. Then. too, the post
master wants an office. He must have
IL. Now the buildings in an army post
are in the custody OF the quartermas-
ter, and the quartermaster is just now
the busiest man In the lot. He is In
charge Of a few hundred other things
as well as the Buildings, and all Of
them require his immediate attention.
He is the big boss Of the fleet Of cascos
and the tug mlsnamed Rapido. and he
lust has TO make Ice cream" all the
time. with no chance whatever to look
after the selection of postofhce build
ings.
Besides. NATL is a matter OF secondary
or tertiary impOrtan nee to an army in
the field. II is a fine thing TO get a
lot Of letters, especially letters from
Polly" but the heads Of affairs are
old. gray-headed men, who ceased TO
be troubled by considerations Of Pol
w. long ago. and are more intent on
getting army work lone than they are
on getting letters or writing them.
Which. undoubtedly. is good for the
army. however the spruce young West
Pointers and their numerous "Pollies'
may feel about IL.
So you see how naturally Mr. Vail
was mistaken. But troops and Stores
were finally put on shore. and the quar-
termaster found time TO pick out a
building for the postofice and a cascO
10 bring the safe ashore. In the mean
time there had been two mails by the
transports City Of sydney and Austria
Tia. but every fellow had to take his
own chance Of catching them. There
was no postofice to help him.
The building given to Mr.. Vail was a
brick storehouse that stands on the
south side Of the plaza in front Of Gen
aral AudersOn's headquarters. and h.
only a few yards from the headquarters
building. There was "a lot Of work 10
do In citing II up. and all o: II - not
done vet. but the office was formally
opened for business yesterday AFTER
noon. There was a floor 70 be put In.
mail racks 10 be built. and = rack Ter
the mail sacks II takes "A naLIye car
rsnter a long time 20 get anything c0n..
rartICulaTly when ne is wording with
teak. for the wood o. 50 hard that 90
ruins ordinary tools. and nails 1ent and
rrumple when one tries 20 drive Them
through IL. a thorough skirmisn
through Cavite brought TO light three or
four old sets OF pigeOnhOled shelves
which do fairly well for box racks. and
in an abandoned EChO0lhouse was found
a form with its bench. which serves ad-
mlraoly for the general publv desk.
which rs a necessary adjunct OF any