The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-06-23
CITIZENS CARRY MAILS.
Postal System on Cebu
Island.

The operations of the former Spanish
postal system On the Island of Cebu,
In the Philippines, are interestingly
portrayed in letter dated April 8, just
received by Postmaster General Smith
from Director of Posts Vaille, at Man
Tia, who writes:
"When our forces took possession of
the town of Ccbu it was done contrary
to the wishes of Filipino officials in
Filipino officials continue to admins
ter all departments excepting that of
the captain of the post and the Cebu
post Office. This will probably be
changed to a considerable extent at
once, as officers detailed to administer
affairs there went to Cebu on same
steamer with me, but had not taken
hold when left.
THE Filipinos had in effect service
modelled exactly after the plan of the
Spanish service on the island. Each
village or city has chief called 'presi-
dente local instead Of, as formally, un-
der the Spaniards, the 'capitan mu-
nicipal,' or 'gobernadorcillo.' 1t was
made part of the official duties of the
presidente local to handle all mail,
registered and ordinary, to provide car
riers for taking the mails to the next
village on the route, to keep a record
of such service showing time of ar
rival and departure and to keep on
hand supply of stamps, for which he
paid cash, buying them of the secretary
of haciendas at a slight discount.
"On the Island of Cebu there were
eight routes, covering about all the vii
lagos on the island. At the head of the
route the mail is tied up into one pack
age, with bill stating the number of
letters, papers and registers inclosed,
wrapped in brown paper and sealed.
This packet is opened at each village
and resealed with a new bill. The car
riers are changed at every village, one
man having to carry only from his
own village to the next one on the
route, distance averaging not more
than four or five miles, and in no place
exceeding ten miles.
Every citizen is required to perform
is days service each year for the gov
ernment, and the only pay the messen-
gers get for carrying the mail is that
such service is credited to his account
against the is days due. AS the trip
to the next village is credited as Days
work, and is much easier than a full
days work on highways, bridges or
public buildings, the mail service Is
much sought after, and there Is a reg
ulation to the effect that no citizen can
perform more than six days work as
mail carrier in one year. The presi-
dente local arranges for these car
riers, and they are changed every Mon
day, service being daily, except Sunday.
"The time made is very good indeed,
and as mails are carried on foot is a
fair indication of the amount of mail
matter carried. One carrier takes the
mail for Is or 20 towns.
"While l was at Cebu l saw the mail
put up for dispatch to one of the neigh
boring cities by boat. OF 13 letters sent
out every one was official. Every boat
leaving a port was required to carry the
mail. AS it is desired to have affairs in
as settled condition as possible, in
structed our clerks at Cebu TO continue
exchanges with local towns where pos
sible, collecting single rate of postage
only on matter received without
stamps, as there are no stamps to be
bought outside, ,"-Washington Star.