The National tribune., 1903-05-28
Sir Thomas Upton,
Larchmont Yacht Club, N. Y.

The Inspector visited the sender of the
watch, who strongly protested that he
had inclosed the article. His wife also
declared she saw him do It. They pro-
tested so much that the Inspector knew
the watch was Intentionally withheld. He
told the man that the postage was just
enough TO cover the mailing of an empty
box. 4 He replied: THAT mag be, but
some of the stamps fell Off on the way.
| remember very well of putting on more
stamps
How much?" queried the Inspector.
Seventeen cents" after figuring men-
| tally minute.
YES" added his wife, 81 remember
Charley put on IL cents, because he came
home and told me that the Postmaster
gave him eight cents change for quar-
ter. ..5.--s.
"aBut," suggested the Inspector, "was
your watch a very heavy, eytra-thick sill
yer case watch, like railroad men carry,
or like mine?"
''Oh, thinner than yours-light Swiss
| watch"
"But the box and mine would only take
IA cents, and yours would have taken no
| more"
'.Oh, that's all right. because I had a
| long talk with the clerk and told him to
put on three cents extra, SO that it would
go all right. That's the way it was"
well, then, come with me and well
see this clerk about it." said the Inspec-
tor.
He held off awhile, but went down,
None of the clerks was "the clerk" While
the man was talking with the Postmaster
the Inspector drew up letter to the Dis
trict-Attorney, purpOrting to inclose the
box and letter as evidence for him to pros
| ecute the sender for fraudulent use of
the mail, but the man held out doggedly.
other matters until late that evening, but
when he vent to his hotel Charley" was
| anxiously awaiting him, watch in hand,
which was duly forwarded to the owner at
kearney.
An interesting exhibit in the Museum of
the POst-Ofice Department in Washing
ton is, the famous railway mail service
dog, .AOwney," who died several years
ago, and is now one of the postal curios.
This, dog Travelled with the clerks in the
postal cars, and has been over nearly all
parts of the country. He also made a
trip to Europe o few years ago. Owney
was nearly blind. having but one eye, yet
he always knew the trains that carried
the postal cars. Many tags and cards and
all kinds of brass checks covered his body
until the weight became so heavy that it
was necessary to relieve him of some of
them.
The most curious post-ofice in America
is the one which stands in Beebe Plain. a
town half in Vermont and half in the
Province of Quebec, Canada. The old
post-ofIice was built about rs years ago,
exactly on the line between the United
States ard Canada, so that it stands in
two countries, and serves IN the postal
service two nations. The cellar. of the
building connects the two countries, and
some years ago, when the post-ofIice was
general store, whisky was known to be
sold in one country and delivered in an
| other without having gone out from under
| the roof of the old structure. The combi-
| nation pcst-oa, re is now being run by par
eDt and child, the father being Postmas-
ter for Canadian Quebec and daughter
Postmistress for Vermont. Standing in
front OF this strange poSt-Office is a large
post, which marks the boundary line, and
it is said that one time man who want
ed to get roadway to his premises moved
this post, and maDs thousands of dollars
and no little time we're spent to establish
the exact line again.
Even In Alaska, within q short dis.
tance of the Arctic Circle an exceptional
rural service was operated during the past
Summer between Nome and Gold River
for the accommodation Of thousands of
miners congregated in that vicinity.
A partnership or corporation always en-.
deavors to keep its accounts in such a
manner that the profits OF losses on each
branch OF its business may be readily as.
certained. After the facts are known good
policy dictates that an effort be made tc
change losses into profits. Unfortunately
in several branches of the postal service
heavy losses occur. but we have in our
present accounting system no method of
ascertaining exactly what those losses are.
In other words, the different features are
SO interviewer, that the profitable elements
of the problem are made to carry the un-
profitable elements, with little or no at
tempt to apply a remedy.
The entire volume Of the public busi-
ness of the country transmitted through
the mail, including documents. correspond
ence, even heavy cases of freights, such
as postal cards, postal supplies, type writ
! ers, canceling machines, printing presses,
etc.. Is carried Without any compensation.