The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-11-04
FAST SERVICE BETWEEN PACIFIC
COAST AND ORIENT.
ESTABLISH PNEUMATIC SYSTEM
Annual Report of Second Assistant
Postmaster General Recommends
Several Important Measures for
Improvement of the Service.
(By Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, Nov 4.-The annual re-
port of Second Assistant Postmaster
General William Schallenburser made
public today, provides for direct fast
mail service between the Pacific coast
and the Orient; the re-establishment OF
the pneumatic tube system generally, ana
for the closer connection of city mail
by clerks On railway trains rather than
by clerks of the mailing division after
dts arrival in the general postoffice.
Under the last named proposition the
entire force engaged in distributing the
mail ready for the carriers would be
under one management, and congestion
in a postofilce could be overcome by the
temporary detail of railway mail clerks
off duty.
Railway Mail Service.
The distribution in postal cards has
been assumed entirely by the railway
mail service, supplanting the former
practice OF having clerks from the cityr
postoffice so out some distance on the
road to meet the incoming trains.
Constant demands are now being made
for still closer separation by having
the railway mail clerk or superintendent
in charge Of the incoming mail and see
that it is eXpeditiously dispatched and
and also deliver the incoming mail
properly made up for the carriers.
Mr.. Schallenburger suggests for the
present a test of the practical opera
tion Of this proposition at postoffices
whose gross receipts are half million
dollars or more year.
Pacific Coast and Philippines.
The postoffice department has no con-
tract for direct mail service between the
Pacific coast and the Philippines, mails
being carried by government transports
or by steamers to Hong Kong. and thence
by steamers to other countries to
Manila.
at now seems probable says the re-
port, that If this government should
withdraw it's transports. it may be done
at any time, with the understanding that
Its passenger and fast freight traffic, to-
gether with the increasing volume Of its
mails. might go to the steamship COM
pany thaE would submit the most salts
factory proposal for quick and regular
Service, favora BILE contract could be
Occurred. The mail service and CONNER
Cial interests would be greatly advanced
by fast mail steamers adhering strictly
to schedule time between the Pacific
coast and Manila and calling at other
ports at regular intervals, under con-
tract with this government.
Asks for Appropriation.
The request for $4,000 appropriation
for the pneumatic service is renewed as
a basis for the beginning of the service,
which, when fully established, it is said,
will involve an annual expenditure of
approximately 100000.
The report shows that on June 80 last,
there were 267, 1857 miles Of star route
service, 1S3,35S Of railroad routes, 45,779
of railway postoffice car routes and 1000
miles Of electric and cable car routes.
The annual rate Of expenditure for all
Classes of domestic mail transportation
service has increased $6,940,2S5 since last
year. 1t is contemplated that the new
contracts for mail service beginning next
July. shall provide for delivering mail
into boxes along nearly all of the routes
The practice Of granting the contractors
general permission to sublet their star
route service, has been discontinued
There were $50 casualties in the railway
mail service during the year.