Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-11-12
A POSTAL REPORT.
DELIVERING NAIL ON STAR ROUTES.
A Recommendation Made for Deducting
. Small Sum from Each Clerks Salary
for Creating . Fund to Retire In
anuneltntad CIorha.

Washington, Nov. 5.-Mr. W. s. Shall
lenberger, second assistant postmaster
general, submitted his annual report.
It shows that the annual rate of ex-
penditure for all classes Of mail trans
p0rtation service In this country is $685.
594,542 and that the rate of cost per
mile travelled is $3.50. There are 1,400
lines Of travelling post Offices, railroads,
steamboats, and electric cars carrying,
covering 1925 miles in length, with
10,555 employees. 1t is estimated that
the railway postal clerks handled dur
ing the year 1898, SO2,63O pieces of
mail matter, exclusive of registered
matter, and 1887, errors were re-
ported in the distribution, ratio of
one error to 1880 correct distribu-
tons. During the year there were 1913
casualties to mail cars, in which Is
clerks and four other employees were
killed and 70 clerks seriously injured.
There were 50,399,589 pounds Of paid
second-class matter received from pub
fishers and S6,3O5,SS4 pounds carried
within the county of publication free
of charge, making an aggregate Of
272,921 tons.
The department is considering the
question Of improved construction Of
postal cars. Owing to the large in
crease in the postal business congress
is urged to appoint 300 additional post
al clerks.
Statistics Of the parcels post business
with Germany showed that this coun-
try was not profiting under the old
form and the maximum weight limit
therefore was reduced to six pounds
six ounces. This government received
postage on 77,l74 pounds sent to Ger
many, while the latter received postage
on 400,2S pounds sent here and trans ,
ported long distances.
Mr.. Shallenberger says he is inclined ,
to think that the contract system Of
purchasing mail equipment should be /
abandoned and the government manu-
facture its own equipment
A deficiency approximating $450,O0O
is anticipated in the expenditures for
railroad transportation for the current
year and 100000 in wagon mail serv- I
ice.
The feature of delivering mail into
boxes along the lines Of star routes
will be extended to the entire system
Of star route service on more than TO-
900 routes, aggregating over 249,-
900 miles in length. All the new con-
tracts for star routes service, instead
Of calling for transportation of mail in
pouches between post Offices, require
the delivery Of mail into the boxes or
Of private mail bags to mail cranes
along the routes for all persons resid-
Ing upon or near the routes who choose
to erect boxes or cranes and request
that their mail be 80 delivered, and
also the carrying Of the private mail
bag from the crane to the post ONCE
The old contracts did not obligate the
carrier to thus deliver or collect mail.
The rates paid for the service under
he contracts this year average an in
,rease Of rs per cent over last year.
Attention is called 10 recommended
ion Of the general superintendent Of
he railway service to devise some plan
-hsrebv clerks Of the railway mail
srvics perln. usn, ' 6IsaSiss IN Tine Of
luty or worn out tnrvGsSS long > ID
Aithful service may retire on an an
luity. Mr shallenberger says that IL
ome feasible plan can be devised for
leducttng . small per cent Of each
Jerks salary for creating . fund for
he retiring Of ineapacitated clerks
/ would result IN great benefit to the
ervice.