The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-12-19
ERWIN REPORTS ON
CARRIER SYSTEM
TELLS HOW WE HAVE GROWN TO
LIKE IT AND THE CHANGES IT
HAS WROUGHT.

The San Francisco Chronicle says:
After a years trial of the free mail
delivery system Honolulu has found
that even under the conditions which
exist there, the most unique of any
district covered by the free delivery de-
partment, the system is an inestimable
benefit and now altogether indispens-
able. Free delivery was established
there on August 10, 1901, and ten car
riers were allotted to the Service. ]. w.
Erwin, assistant superintendent of free
delivery for the Pacific Coast, returned
on the Sierra and reports that he found
it necessary to mount four of the car
riers in order that the entire residence
portion of the island city may be cover
ed in one day.
When Erwin went to Honolulu more
than a year ago to establish the system
to which the volume of postoffce bust
ness entitled that city he was not met
with enthusiasm. The most unusual
conditions prevail there Every five
days a steamer arrives from 1.-The
states" Then the Postoffice is over
whelmed with business, and clerks and
employees work many hours without
rest. With the mail disposed of there
was little to do until the arrival of the
next steamer and few people visited the
Postoffice in the interim. But Erwin
saw wherein the service would work a
benefit and he put it in. Now the peo-
pie see. Upon his present visit which
was occasioned by report that the ia
cilitieis must be increased, he was con-
graduated upon the success of free de-
| livery 1t has been a boon, for one
| thing, to local correspondence. Pre-
| viously no one went to the Postoffice
except after a steamer, and drop let
| ters might be five days old before they
reached the party to whom addressed.
With delivery such mail reaches it's des-
| tination within a few hours. A volume
of local correspondence has sprung up
and merchants find it a great cOnve-
nience. By giving four of the car
riers horses the districts can still be
covered in a day by ten men.
The matter of rural delivery routes
was investigated, but found impracti-
cable ait this time, owing mainly to road
conditions. A mail route must not be
greater than twenty-five miles in length
and serve not less than 100 families.
A highway for which a route was de-
sired was found to run out of Honolulu,
| meandeT for seventy-seven miles and
then suddenly to terminate in Honolulu
again.
Erwin says the people of Honolulu ca
gerly await the opening of the Pacific
cable, from which they expect great be-
nefits. The Hawaiian islands rise and
| fall with sugar, and the advantage of
being put in direct communication with
| the markets of the world are obvious
II is thought Honolulu will become a
! famous resort when it's wire connec-
lions will enable visitors to keep in
touch with their home affairs and not
depend upon mail which may be many
days old when it comes to hand. The
way residents regard the future OF
Honolulu is indicated by the new hote
and business block being erected by
Alexander Young on a half-block be-
tween King and Hotel streets. 1t is a
magnificent structure, costing more
than $4,000 900 and will be ready for oc-
cupancy in the spring.