The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-01-11
The New Postal Service Estap-
iished in Cuba.

itSItS0 W. O1DN
n the remolding Of the government ior
the island Of Cubs much interest attaches
to ;he work Of the postal eopanrent- AZ
the very start the president saw TT, iro"
the nature of things, to separate from the
military government the postal department
and place Il in the hands Of civilian
thereby creating a sePerste and distinct
department 10 be known as the depart
ment of posts. Hon. 4. &. Rsthbone was
placed in charge Of the work With the ,'ue
of director general Of the department oil
posts, and on the lst Of January, 1879
commenced what at the time seemed AL
most hopeless task-the establishment
Of modern postal system for the island.
There was absolutely nothing lett by the
Spanish administration in the way OF
records that could serve as finger board
to point the way; not postage stamp nor
a cent of money was left. The oficisi
papers and documents consisted OF nothing
that was of value to the department, being
old, obsolete pamphlets and documents
that we're of absolutely no use. 1t was
confused mass Of chaotic stuff turned over
to the new director out Of which be cCuia
not hope for assistance IN his great under
taking.
The first annual report of the depart
ment Of posts for the island OF Cuba mas
lust been issued for the fiscal year, enoing
June ], 1899, showing what work has been
done in the first six months OF the depart
ment work. The report is ct particular
historic value, as 1t contains not only 'ne
statistics and workings ofthe department.
but an interesting account OF the customs
prevailing under Spanish rule ana the
difficulties surmounted in changing the
system. In his report the director generai
saws: mo one could possibly foresee oil
that was necessary to he had in the num-
Der of men and amount Of supplies in the
oneration of such work as had been given
us to iuaugurate and carry OH in tue
island. On the first day of January we
found ourselves in the midst Of an almost
homeless task. There were postofhces, oil
course, and postmasters in charge OF them'
but these men knew nothing of the meth
ods which were to be introduced, and In
some instances were indifferent to the
present or proposed methods"
The first work attempted Was to obtain
a name of all the postoffices on the island
and the names of the pOstmasters IN
charge of the same, but even this initial
step it was impossible to accurately per-
form. This information, meager ana
largely incorrect, was the nucleus on
which the work Of establishing new sys-
fem WAS started. Letters we're sent ont to
! the postmastsrs with blank form OF oath,
list of questions asking for such infor-
nation as was needed by the department,
to get thorough knowledge Of the exist
ing conditions. Many of the postmasters SO
addressed had left for Spain, others had
moved away or died, and still a great
many others refused to give the iniorma-
ton asked for. Those who refused the
information asked also refused to take the
oath of allegiance. In less than one
months time, however, 1913 Offices were
listed as in fairly good condition and in
operation under the direction of native
postmasters. 1t was found almost at first
that il would be almost impossible to dc
ANYTHING with the Spanish system and the
sooner that the United States postal sys'
tenn was adopted throughout the island
the better it would be. On the 10Th OF
February the military postofices were con-
sol;dated with the local postofices and
wherever it was possible the native post
master continued as assistant postmaster
The first consignment of stamps SEN
from Washington for use il the island wal
600 600 one cent stamps, 2,OOO,OOO two
and-a- half cent stamps, 400,OOO ten-ceh'
stamps. A peculiar condition of affairs
existed in regard to the transportation o.
mails. Nearly all Of the railroads were
required by the government to carry thu
mails free of charge, but with the steam
shin companies it was very different ant
enormous sums were paid the steamship
owners for the privilege. After con-
ference with the steamship companies, al
of the important ones entered into con
tracts with the government to carry the
mails free until June 80, 1900. One o.
the members OF large steamship company
remarked, I'VE can afor1 to contribute
this much toward rehablitating the bust
ness of the island, which will ultmatel,
rebound to our benefit, besides, we will
get Whatever protection is thrown about
the mails"
In Cuba the steamship companies are
very important factor in the transporta'
ton of mails, owing to the lack Of rail-
road facilities. There are seven steam
ship routes and eight companies employed
in handling the mails, and the contract
price was reduced from about Sal ,l29 pc