The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-04
GROWTH OF POSTAL SERVICE
senerns Discussion of Domestic
Matters, With Recon- me ndations
for Retirement

The continued and rapid growth OF the
postal service Is sure index OF the great
ana increasing business activity OF the
country. It's most striking new develop-
ment " the extension of rural free deliv-s
cry; This has come almost wholly with
In the last year. At the beginning OF the
fiscal year iS99-1900 the number OF routes
IN operation was only 39l. and most of
these had been running less than twelve
monthes. On the 18th Of November. 1900
the number had increased to 2.6ii reach
ing into forty-four states and territories
ana serving a population OF s0i "a The
number OF applications now pending and
awaiting action nearly equals all those
granted IN TO the present time. and by
the close OF the current fiscal year about
1900 routes viii have been established.
providing for the daily delivery of m sIis
at the scattered homes Of about three and
a half millions OF rural population
This service amellorates the isolation
of farm life, conduces 10 good roads and
quickens and extends the diss sminatiop
Of general Information. Experience thus
Far has tended 10 aliay the appreben-
sion that II would be SO expensive as 10
forbid its general adoption or make II
a general burden. Its actual application
has shown that II increases postal re-
eeipts and can be accompanied by re
ductions In other branches of the ser
vice, SO that the augmented revenues
and the accomplished savings together
materially reduce the net cost.
The evidences when point 10 these con-
illusions are presented i'm drtail In the an
nuai report OF the postmaster general.
which with It's recommendations Is rec
commended 10 the consideration OF the
congress. The full development OF this
special service however requires such
large outlay Of money that II should be
undertaken only after careful study
and thorough understanding OF all that IT
Involves.
An Emci~nt Navy.
Very efficient service has been rendered
By the navy in connection with the tnSur-
rectiou In the Philippines and the recent
A very satisfactory settlement has been
made az the long pending question OF the
able price has been secured aud the neces-
sity for government Rrmor pant
avoided
seefssAsr, OF the navy for new vessels and
for additional officers and men which the
required Increase OF the navy makes nee
eEsary.
/ commend 10 the favorable action Of
the congress the measure now pending
for the erection Of statue 10 the mem
ofy OF the late David u. Porter com.
mend also the establishment OF nauonal
navy reserve and Of the grade 81 vice al
tntrat Provisions should ne MADE a.
recommended By the secretary, iof SUIT
able rewards for special merit Maas ~
guishcd service during the recent Wat
with spain have received IN return no
recognition from the congress
The total area OF public lands, az given
nv the secretary Of the interior Is ap-
nFoximNtely i0fi .SSi .see acres. Of which
an SIS $50 acres are undtsposed u aud issl-
rs 80 acres have hecu reserved Tor war;.
nus purposeAs The public lands dsp9@ed
az DURING the year amount 70 - 10 ~ y
acres including & t&.W Acrrr ot inoiA"
lands. an Increase Qf t&'l'fhNV VNet Nn'
Pf Tss tS,ai receipts from the sale u pub
lie lands during he pseal year Net" ~
g9g KS 90. an increase 81 NeaN,a-N''R "f'F
M me y results o6taiaed from our torres.
,,e,icv have demonstrated It's wiFaom and
no necessity ~ the interest ~ the public
~ ~ continuance and increased sppro-
nriatlnns bN the congress for the earrFlng
IN "a the work On June ~. ise theFs
we're thirty seven Ief9ss Ian ss,,'a
nader section 20 81 the act q March ].
iSaf embracing an AREA ~ - - NJ acrts
During tho p2si year NJ, W 1. S'.l'' Is
rearrea rs 9sa acres having Us present
arwa al 81 $40 acres Tne PRESCOTT T.
serve. in Arlrena was IN frA f,, g..n
reserve, Ia Wyoming, wAs'tncfcasts from
! ~ $40 acres 60 iNa SO aeres new
reserve the santa lgsS q tal't',nla I'm
80 ai,r,riy fhls YEAR. On October 20. llss
tbe Grow Greek forest reserve To We
,ntnr. VAS created. with an arfa of %sl-p
acres.
..,h. .,A AZ ,b, fiscal year there were
s., IN -nsusi0n ron SH - names met in-
,.,sase ~ e0i0 ever the n@fNl NrAF tNs'
Ths number added % the rolls dafank tss.
- - EaN The amount difbarsssi
80 a,,,,V t,rrslons dpring thiF year as
asa -sa ~ "A and fof navy pensions - tei.-
~ AZ "a total - SIS - - - sgaAtas IN
ffnesuf nded balance u $50" = % r.
t INTO ths treasury. which shows
80 f-,r..ss.. over the previous YEARS ~
,,swdifures - Siesps3. ~ AArrc MrFt ~
names added 10 the ~. Le.' t.s' ~. M,
hv special acts pAssra al ta' "'7'
49, EtftVa sixth cons -