The National tribune., 1903-03-19

by some classes OF poStal eilpiose es. II
is certain that the work of Railway Mai
Clerks is not only extremely hazardous
but is performed under Il severe menta
and physical strain. The efficiency recort
of these clerks is Il splendid exhibition OF
the skill of well-trained men, who reflect
the greatest credit Oh their Government
They stand hours at n stretch in swayng
rapidly moving trains. working under artl
fetal light largely, in cramped, close quar-
terS and subject to a score.of other serious
disadvantages. SO perfectly are they
drilled, however, that the ratio is only one
error to 10.G26 pieces correctly handled
Seventy FER cent. of them obtained ap
pointment through the Civil Service. The
condition of the men has been vastly I'M
proved since the Civil Service Commission
has acted upon the suggestion of the DE,
partment and rejected those whose physi
cal defects would impair their usefulness
Other qualities are required, both of body
and mind. than those devoted to peren,
NAL output of chatter-a continuous sym,
postum of baby talk and class yells.
EXACTING DEMANDS OF POSTAL SERVICE
Clerical work in many branches of pub
lie employment is largely mechanical, but
in the postal service it is well nigh n
learned profession. The qualities required
for success are of high order; on the
CLERKS lHleiflSeHCe. HleliioTy anu aCCuldCt
hang the engagements of the business and
social world. These must all be supple
mented by tireless industry-the postal
service is no place for the sleepy. the slug
gish or the Indifferent. One wasted minute
or one letter thrown into the wrong
pigeonhOle may mean disappointment OIL
pecuniary loss a thousand miles distant
Under Civil Service law and regulations a
system of apprenticeship and promotion
is contemplated which produces motion
throughout the clerical ranks. from lowest
grades to highest. The Post-office is Il
school for the Railway Mail Service. the
Inspectorships and Division Chiefs III the
Department. BY long and patient training
eXnert knowledge of all details is de-
veloped, and by selection from among the
highest grades of experts, executive ability
is secured equal to the most stupendous
enterprises. The merit system, as organ
lied under the Civil Service law. provides
for public employment merely the Just and
successful principles which prevail in the
management of railways and all other
great business institutions in corporate
or private hands.
British employees called "sorters." cor
responding to our Railway Mail Clerks.
work on a different basis as to salary and
allowances. The work of a day occupies
about eight hours, and for each day
trip performed a sorter receives a sub
sistence allowance of three shiilings. Thus
a man travelling from London to Carlisle
600 niles one day and returning from
Carlisle to London the next day would
receive six shillings allowance for the trip
out and home, whilst man travelling from
London to Crewe and back GIG miles in
alb on the same day would receive an al
lowance of three shillings for the trip out
and home. Our Railway Mail Clerks have
no allowance fofeypenses when absentfrom
home. Their salaries are somewhat higher
than in England. but are far from Excess
siye, considering their labor and risk.
THE GERM OF A SYSTEM.
We are prone TO accept our postal SER
vice as a matter of course. When we see
the splendidly-equipped railway mail car
gliding across the continent at the rate of
mile minute. freighted with its pre-
cious load of messages of public and pri-
vate interest; the magnificent ship laden
with tons of international mail NATTER our
immense beehives of poSt-ofiices with thou
sands of employees working day and
night: and our sturdy letter carriers, faith
full fellows. with their brass buttons and
neat uniforms, tramping through the busy
thoroughfares of cities bringing joy or sor-
row to the rich and poor, we can scarcely
realize that it was not always thus. Every
thing has a beginning at some time and
place. In history We find that foot and
mounted messengers We're used at very
early period for the transmission of cores
pondence. In medieval times individuals
corporations, or universities, also employed
this service. but not until early in the 18th
century was there any distinct Govern
ment establishment. This was n relay of
horse and foot routes for the transmission
of mail for the Government and the higher
classes; the common man had no part or
lot in it, except to pay the taxes. and
contemplate the radiant region his de-
scendantS might some day be permitted to
invade. In the supervision of these royal
messengers lies the germ of the present
office of Postmaster-General,b ut its func-
tons Gave expanded and multiplied until
the >,-1nd with difficulty grasps their mag
nitude.
A CURIOUS FOREIGN DEVICE.
Mails in different countries are trans
ported by devices undreamed of BIZ the
American whose travel has beel.restricted
to the environs of this country. One of
interest is reported from Germany On
the River Elbe are steamboats, that move
up and down for 290 miles. from A[adge-
burg in Germany to Menick in Bohemia.
without paddle-wheels or propellers. They
have their Own machinery but that ma
chinery clutches a chain stretched on the
river bottom from one city to the other.
and the boat moves by pulling itself along
on the chain. This process seems like
gong back TO primitive times. But while
apparently clumsy, it is the best method
possible for ships on the Elbe. The stream
goes through much mountain country, and
is very narrow and swift Steamers using
only their own motive power would expend
all their energy in efforts to hold their
own. But with the chain steamer can
tow six barges holding from loo TO 500
+ tons, at speed that powerful tug-boats
kcannot attain, and consuming only about
gone-third the fuel required by free running
vessels. This is an application of the .'end-
less chain that would hardly justify a
fraud order from the postal authorities.
But, as compared with our fast mail
trains, it is ludicrously crude and ineffi-
Gent.
EARLY DAYS OF THE "RAILwAY MAIL"
The following extract from the annual
Report of Amos Kendall Postmaster
General, for 1885, shows the small begin
nlngs and modest expectations from which
our present colossal system has grown:
The multiplication of railroads will
form new era in the mail establishment.
They must soon become the means by
which the mails will be Transported on
most of the great lines of intercommunica-
ton; and the undersigned has devoted
some attention TO the devising of a system
which shall render the change most useful
TO the country. The means of transporta-
ton between Washington and Boston are
now so complete that this system might
be advantaSeously introduced. at least DUR
ing the season of steamboat navigation.