The midland journal., 1902-09-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.

the most important division of the work
of the government is performed by the
Post Office Department, for the reason
that its efficiency affects every citizen.
For number of years the extent to which
civil service reform methods have been
carried out in this department have been
proverbial, and when the present post
master general assumed Office he announc-
ed that thereafter no fourth class post
masters would be removed except for
cause. But it is, perhaps, in other direc-
tions that the greatest progress is being
made. The extension of the rural free
delivery system has progressed with mar
velous rapidity. At the present time the
rural routes cover an aggregate territory
of over $50, 900 square miles and in that
area some 5000, 900 people enjoy the priv
ilege of receiving their mail daily at their
doors. Congress has been liberal in its
appropriations for this purpose and there
is every evidence that the people are
grateful. One of the most remarkable
features of the extension of rural routes is
the great increase in the number Of letters
mailed in the districts served. 1t would
seem that daily delivery and collection
of the mail had served TO impel all the
residents of the locality to write to their
friends at least three times as often as
had hitherto been their custom, aud this
great increase in the amount of mail car
rled is not limited to the first few months,
but continues steadily, although in some
what diminished ratio. The only OBJ
jectors to the extension of the rural de-
livery routes are star route carriers whose
business is injured thereby. some coun-
try merchants who claim they have suf-
fered falling off in trade because the
farmers are no longer compelled to come
frequently to town for their mail and GER
tain politicians and their proteges, who
see in the extension of the rual routes
necessary dirinution in the number of
small cross roads post offices, the post
masters for which the politicians have
always named and have regarded as es-
sential TO the furtherance of their polit-
ical fortunes
-
An interesting feature of the extension
of the rural service is the gradual plating
of the United States. maps having been
already made for the large area where the
delivery now prevails, each map showing
every residence, store, shop, etc These
maps are produced at an exceedingly
small cost from data and drawings fur
nished the post Office department by local
assessors, and other officials. They are
reproduced by cheap process and their
value when the whole area of the United
States shall have been so mapped, will
prove incalculable. The traveller in the
rural districts can easily ascertain the best
roads, the most settled districts, etc, by
consulting the post Office map. Another
benefit growing out of the rural delivery
system is the improvement in country
roads, reasonable improvement being
essential to the establishment of new
routes.
Another evidence of tie spirit of prog
ress exemplifed by the post office depart
ment is furnished by the system of pre-
paid postage which is being developed by
second assistant postmaster general Shell
lenbarger. Briefly stated, the proposed
plan consists of the sale of envelopes hav-
ing value of cents and multiples
thereof, each of which will bear on its
face coupon which will be redeemable
in. any country belonging to the postal
union, in stamps of that country of sim.
liar value. An International clearing
house is to be established at Berne, Swift
zerland, where these coupons will be re.
deenable by the country issuing them.
By their use the resident of the United
States can purchase for 10 cents a return
postage envelope and in it mail letter to
Germany. The recipient of the letter
can take the empty envelope to the post
office there and exchange it for postage
with which to mail the answer to the
United States. There are some further
details of the plan but these will suffice to
make it clear. These are but two of
many improvements which are being
inaugurated under the energetic and bus.
inesslike administration of Postmaster
General Payne.
*x*
A new cloud has appeared on the ho-
rizon of the Panama Canal project in the
form of a threatened encounter between
Columbia and Nicaragua. According to
reports received at Washington, Colum-
bia will demand a formal explanation
from Nicaragua of the alleged assistance
furnished by the latter to the Columbian
revolutionists. This news is surprise in
the light of the recently announced en-
tente cordiale between the two countries.
1t transpires, however, that the entente
was only partially contemplated and that
it did not cover the difficulties referred to
here. 1t seems that frequent reports
have been received at the Columbian
legation in this city to the effect that the
Nicaraguams were furnishing arms and
ammunition to the revolutionists and
promised investigation on the part of the