The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-12

I the service in operation. as we'll as that contemplated by existing contracts, will be found in the report Of the second as- sistant postmaster generala.
 There were 255 regulation or screen wag- on routes in the cities, covering 1151 miles in length, with an annual travel Of 4671, ,- l 025 miles. at a cost of $1.09A0671s Com pared with the previous year this shows decrease in length of routes of 100 miles, but an increase in annual travel of 64419 miles and in annual cost of s234.- 82O. The contracts for the service in the second contract section (southern states), expired June 30. 1904, and new four years beginning July 1. 1904, under which the annual rate of expenditure was | increased by Ss22s4.11.
 Railroad Transportation.
 On June 30, 1904, there were sOOS railroad routes, the total length of which was 19e,907 miles with an annual travel of 353,0Ss 397 miles, costing $S9177, 37652 per annum. The increase in length of routes was 4055 miles, In annual travel 19548, 7l3 miles, and in annual expenditure s2,569,- S51.T2.
 Last year the malls were weighed on all of the railroad lines in the second contract section. embracing eight south ern states and the island of Porto Rico. and the result of the regular quadren- nial readjustment of pay for railroad transportation in those states for four years beginning July 1. last based on such weighing, was an increase in annual cost of S501. .2S4.36 or 12.32 per centp whicS represents an average increase of about per cent a year for the four years intervening between this and the previ- ous weighing. The increase in the vol ume of mail matter carried by railroad companies Is indicated by the increase in postal revenue. The average increase in postal revenue for the four years ended with 1901 was 20 per cent and for the next following four years (the remain der of 1905 being estimated). 40 per cent, whereas the average increase in the cost of railroad transportation and of railway postoffiee cars combined in the 1 first named period was 19 per cent. and in the next following period 1T per cent.
 Railway Mall Service.
 l Extent of serviee.-On June SO 1904, I there were LAS lines of travelling post offices covering 1929O9 miles in length; the number of employees in the service was 11,621; the annual distance travelled i by clerks in cars and boats, 46,04S, 412 miles. To accomplish this 4,175 cars and 1 apartments were used on the steam roads, besides 24 cars on electric lines under the supervision of the railway mail service, and SS apartments on steamboat lines It i is estimated that these clerks handled l IT, 230 pieces of ordinary mail and I 3G, 699264 packages and cases of register ed mall The errors by clerks in hand ling the mail as reported. indicate but one error for every 11,1S1 pieces correctly distributed.
 Casualties-There were 37S casualties to mail cars last year. in which either clerks or mails, or both, were injured. There were killed IS clerks. substitutes, 1 mail weigher, and there were 90 clerks seriously and 34S slightly injured. Con- gress made provision in the last three 1 appropriation acts for the payment of $1000 to the legal representatives of any railway postal clerk killed while on duty, or who, being injured while on duty, shall die within one year thereafter as the result of such injury. The last appro- priation act for the current year extend ed this provision to the legal represen- tatives of substitute railway postal clerks as well, and provided further that such payments shall be exempt from the pay ment of debts of the deceased.
 Car onstruction.-Investigati has | been made as to the latest and best con- struction of railway cars for the pur- pose of determining whether improve ments could be made over those now in use in the postal service. Much time and
 
 during the past year. Some of the best master car builders of the country, includ- ing experts on car construction not con nected with railroad companies, have l been consulted. This resulted in the adoption of new plans and specifications for the construction of railway postal cars which shall hereafter be placed in the service, which it Is believed will embody the greatest elements of strength and s-pf f..NH fa aAr4sa 44.4x. Consideration has been given to the ques- tion of using cars constructed entirely of steel, and 1t is expected that one or more will be placed in the service for the pur- pose of making practical tests of such cars
 Improvements-New and improved ser vice on lines of full railway postal cars or apartment cars was applied to 45,S23 | miles during the last fiscal year. Service 1 over 16000 miles of this total was sup piled by apartment car lines, which in a | general way represent the introduction of l distribution service by clerks on the cars l in supercedure of the system of dispatch l ing malls by closed pouches Full railway postal cars have displaced apartment cars on more than 1900 miles, Ten thousand miles covered by full postal cars have been improved by additional lines of such 1 cars Apartment car service to the extent 1 of 6000 miles has been established to sup plement the full postal-car service.
 Substitute Clerks-The ranks of the rail- way mall service are recruited from the civil service substitutes. men who have passed the civil-service examination and 1 have equipped themselves to take the 1 place of regular clerks. Under existing 1 law they can be assured of no regular employment or compensation, and they can be paid only when called upon to perform service In the place of regular clerk, although they must hold themselves called upon, and must devote their time while not on duty to memorizing the schemes for distribution of mail so as to 1 be prepared to take the place of a regular l clerk at any time. 1 approve the recom- l mendation of the second assistant post master general that, in order that a more permanent list of substitutes may be pro- vided, legislation be had so that each sub- stitute clerk may be granted a monthly salary of not less than s25, with the un- derstandng that he will be subject to call of the department for at least eleven 1 days labor, whether substitute or otherwise, in each month.
 Railway mail service relief and super annuation measure.-The officers charged with the supervision of the railway mail service have repeatedly urged the need of action by congress for the relief of railway postal clerks permanently dis abled in the line of duty or worn-out through long and faithful service. The l railway mail service Is hazardous one and it's work exacting. The subject com mends itself as worthy of earnest consid- eration.
 Expenditures. Expenditures on &C., l count of the railway mail service includ-