The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-06-09
CITIZENS CARRY THE MAILS.
Director valIIe Csscribls The Postal System on
The Island OF Cebu

The operations of the former Spanish
{ postal system ON the Island of Cebu,
i'm the Philippines. are Interestingly
portrayed i'm letter dated April s. just
received by General Smith
from Director OF Posts Vaile, at Man
liza, who writes:
When our forces took possession Of
the town of Cebu il was done contrary
to the wishes of Filipino officials ia
charge, but without armed opposition.
Filipino officials continue 10 administer
all departments excepting that of the
captain of the post and the Cebu post
office. This win probably be changed
TO considerable extent at once, as oih-
GERS 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 had a chief called presi-
Gente local instead of, as formerly. un-
der the Spaniards. the captain muni-
cipal or gobernadorcillo.' 1t was made
part of the official duties OF the presi-
dente local to handle all mail, registered
and ordinary, TO provide carriers for
taking the mails To the next village on
the route. to keep a record of such SER
vice showing time of arrival and de-
parture and to keep on hand supply
of stamps, for which he paid casDi, buy
ing them OF the secretary of haciendas
at a slight discount.
ION the Island OF Cebu there were
eight routes, covering about all the VIII
lagos on the island. At the head of the
route the mail is tied up into one pack
age with a bill stating the pumbor OF
letters, papers and registers inclosed,
wrapped i'm brown paper and sealed.
This packet is opened at each village
and resealed with 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
fifteen days service each year for the
government. and the only pay the mes
sengers get for carrying the mail is
that such service is credited TO his ac-
count against the fifteen days due. AS
the trip to the next village is credited
as days's work. and is much easier
than q full days work on highways.
bridges or public buildings, the mail
service Is m hcuosugth haqrvQr EFT
service is much sought after. and there
Is regulation 10 the erect tnat no citl-
zen can perform more than SIX days
work as mail carrier in one year. The
presidcnte locale arranges every Mon
day, service being daily. except Sum
day.
"The time made is very good indeed.
and as mails are carried on foot Is
fair indication of the amount OF mail
matter carried. one carrier takes the
mail for fifteen or twenty towns.
while l was az Cebu ! saw the mail
put up for dispatch to one Of the neigh
boring cities by boat OF thirteen let
tcrs sent out every one was official.
Every boat leaving port was required
to- carry the mail. As II is desired o.
have affairs I'm ~ settled condtio -
possible I instructed our clerks at cehu
Ia continue exchanges with local towns
where possible. collecting single rate of
postage only OF matter received with
out postage. as there ore no stamps a.
lie -bnught outside