Arizona republican., 1903-02-16
MARINE POSTAL SERVICE
E. J. Carmody of the Detroit Offite
 Visiting Phosnix.

Among the winter visitors in Phoe-
 nix is E. J. Carmody Of Detroit, Mich.
 AIr. Carmody is an employe of the Uni-
 ted States marine post conducted
 under the supervision of the postInGst-
 CT of Detroit He has worked hard
 and faithfully fer several years and is
 spending q few weeks in recuperation,
 though he is not an invalid.
 There are few people in this part Cf the country perhaps trat have any adc
 quate idea of the importance of the
 marine postal service along the De
 troit river and many no doubt never
 heard of it. The traffic through the
 Detroit river connecting Lakes Erie
 and Huron is something stupendoUs
 and many of the large boats stop at
 but very few landings. scme perhaps
 tt none of the ports from one end of
 he journey to the other along the
 lakes. The mail service referred to in
 wolves the intercepting of these large
 vessels by little mail steamer under
 a postoftice official fer the exchange of
 mails. This does net at first seem to be
 such a large industry but it grows on , -he reader when he appreciates the
 great number of boats that are con tinually passing and remembers that their arrival may be in daytime or at night. in sunshine or in storm. The work of the marine postman therefore makes him Cf necessity Q sailor as well
 as 8 postofice clerk and often subjects him to great dangers and discouraSing difficulties.
 Of the growth of this service from 1895 to 1860 the Postal News says:
 The Marine free delivery service on the Detroit river. which is operated as an adjunct to the postal system of the Detroit pOstoffice. was inaugurated on
 June r. 1895. This service was d. signed to afford vessel owners. captains
 and crews Of vessels, as nearly as prac- ticabie, the advantages in the use of the mails that Were enjoyed by persons on iand. The remarkable growth of this service has far exceeded the ex- pectations O. the department and those interested in it's introduction The great increase in business from year to year and the appreciation of the service by marine men generally establishes this water service as 2 per manent feature Of the Detroit rostaI institution.
 In order to furthe- accommodate sailors and others ltno might wish tp send money through the mails from passing vessels. provision was made at
 the opening of navigation in i9G) for he sale Of money orders.
 To fully understand the volume of business done by the marine poztolicc.
 the amount Of mail handled each year should be stated. The service hogan with but few pieces of mail fer delfv- cry and some hesitarcy on the ps.rt of the benefciaries to avail themselves of it's advantages. At the close of naNi-
 Sation. however, it was found that A. GG0 pieces Cf mail had been handled. During rhe season of 1896 1-G0G0 pieces
 were h2rdied, aa increase of 400 per
 cent. In 1897 the total reached 239.9i5 pieces. and 1S9s showed 25:,.554 pieces
 1899 gave .9o.6l6 pieces service having been made b 22.f3t vessels. While the business last year was very large. the prospects for 1900 are still better. For the first twenty days of May there were 1 - S1 pieces of firrt-clas, handled. as against 25. 762 pieces for tho same pc riod last year. Tn addition to carrying mail matter, this service handles ! thousands of reports for the weather bureau, S6,7O0 having been handled last year.