The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-07-13
BETTER POSTAL SERVICE
PLANS FOR INTRODUCING NEW
METHODS.
New Mail Pouches and Distributing
Racks-Completer Distribution Of In
coming and Outgoing Mail.

Postoffice Inspector NJ. H. Flint is ng-
uring on a great number of changes
and innovations, all i'm the nature of
Improvements, both in the local and
foreign mail service Of the Islands
Among these are number of new fur
nishings for the postofhce itself, for
which he is now getting up the speci-
fications on which the acquisitions will
be based.
For one thing, the style Of mail bags
will be changed. The mail bags now
in use are not locked, but sealed. IN
der the new regime the leather pouches
which lock, will be introduced for letter
mail, and bags for newspaper mail.
For the Territory of Hawaii a distinc-
tive key will be used. The key for the
mail pouches on the Mainland have an
eagle stamped on them. The key for
the Hawaiian mail pouches viii have a
distinctive symbol or device and will
differ in other respects.
1t is also proposed to have the latest
improved distributing rack. The pres
ent rack is a series of boxes arranged
in a semi-circle into which the mail
is thrown, and then it is taken out of
the boxes and put in bags and the bags
sealed. In the new rack, the mail will
be thrown directly into the bags, and
when distribution is complete, the bags
are taken off the racks and locked al
most with the same operation. The
racks are so arranged also, that as soon
as bag is full it can be taken out
without disturbing the others.
1t is also proposed to provide a new
case for distributing letters, so that
distribution here, before letters are sent
away, will be more fully made than it
is at present. For instance letters are
distributed here now for San Fran
cisco distribution" eastern dstribu-
ton" etc. 1t is proposed to carry this
farther and distribute here for New
York" Chicago" and as many places
as the amount of mail for such places
will justify. This will save handling
at San Francisco, and so expedite de-
livery at the other end.
Mr.. Flint hopes to secure the services
of mail clerks on all mail steamers ply
ing between here and the Coast, so that
mail will arrive here ready for deliv-
cry. With free delivery this would
mean that for the most part letters
would be delivered at residences or
places of business within an hour after
the mail steamer arrived.
mail clerk on steamers going the
other way would accomplish the same
end in regard to outgoing mail
The policy of the United States mail
service is expedition" The effort to
secure faster transportation is con-
SldllllN accompanied ny an ellOTI 10
utilize the time required for transpor-
tation in distributing mail, so that af-
ter having hurled mail across the con-
tinent by the fastest long distance
trains in the world, delivery shall not
be delayed by having the letters re-
main in the postoffice of destination
while the local distribution is being
made.
One question which will come up in
the Islands in regard to the postal SER
vice will be unique. That question will
be to whom does the pOstoffice build
ing belong? The United States owns
or rents the postoffices on the Main
land, or else they are owned or rented
by the postmaster. But the Honolulu
postoffice building has been the prop
erty of the Republic of Hawaii, and the
question will now be whether it is the
property of the United States or of the
Territory of Hawaii