Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-18
CARRYING THE MAIL
Over $1,000 Routes in Oper-
alton.
A DECREASE INDICATED
PARCELS POST AGREEMENTS
WITH OTHER COUNTRIES.
Extension of the Pneumatic Tube
Service-Larger Appropria-
ton Desired.
A DECREASE INDICATED

ton Desired.
In the report of w. s. Shallenberger' the
Second assistant postmaster general. sent
today to the Postmaster General II Is
shown that the total inland mail service VI
tho limited States for the year 1901 cost
TIE people SCI. 931, 40. and the foreign mains
So.7I2 AL There was a total of 3l,ol3
routes of all classes in operation. having d
total length of 496.S1S miles. and the totai
number of miles travelled during the year
on all the routes was sos $50, 526. Compared
with the report for last year there is a de-
crease of about 6 per cent shown in the
number of routes. and of about per cent
81 their total mileage. Increases are shown
amounting to about 21s per cent In the
number of miles Travelled during the year:
In the rate of cost per mile travelled and in
the average number of trips per week
Cost of Star Routes.
On June 80, 1904, there were In opera
ton 1878 star routes, having a total
length of 233.392 miles: on these routes
nearly 12OOOOOOO miles were made during
the year, the rate of cost per mile Travelled
being SD cents. and the rate OF cost per
mile of length being s29.2S The average
number of trips made per week on these
routes was nearly five Compared with the
preceding year this statement shows de-
Creases in the number =. routes of per
cent and in their length of $40 per cent
Increases are shown in the rate of cost per
mile travelled of 10 per cent; rate of cost
per mile of length, 1910 per cent, and IN
the number OF trips per week 20 per cent
For star routes the appropriation last
year was $69G0OOo to which was added
the sum of $4,000. appropriated by the
deficiency act of April p 1901 making
total of 81 ,0S5, 900 available. The sum re-
ported by the auditor as expended, as
shown by accounts stated to September 30.
1904. is s. 023 1887, leaving an unexpended
balance of 500, SI6.03
The appropriat ton for the current fiscal
year is N,SJ0,OOO.
The amount estimated as necessary for
the fiscal year ending June 80 1906, is 81
10000 being $400, 600 or 5.36 per cent less
than the appropriation for the current ifs
cal year.
New Star Route Contracts
The contracts for the star routes in the
second contract section. embracing the
states of North Carolina, South Carolina
Georgia. Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Ten
nessee and Kentucky and the Island of Por-
to Rico. expired June 30. 1904. and new con-
tracts have been made for all of the star
service in those states and in Porto Rico
for the four-year term from July 1. 1904. to
June 70, 1908. These new contracts covered
5.153 routes, aggregating 80, 693 40 miles in
length and 2S.4177I6 miles of annual travel
at an annual rate of expenditure of 81 COL
800 an Increase over the annual rate on
June 30, 1904. of S59O,939 The average rate
per mile travelled on June 80 1904, under the
old contracts was 3.66 cents
The new contracts call for an improved
service. The contractor Is required not only
to transport the mail In pouches between
post offices as formerly. but also to deliver
mall into and collect from boxes to carry
private NAH bags 10 and from mail cranes
along the routes. for all persons residing
upon or near the routes who desire to avail
themselves of such service. All of these
to live within the delivery of some post Of
flee on the route and to give their personal
supervision to the performance CT the
service.
Parcels Post Conventions.
Since the last report parcels post conven-
lions have been completed to take effect as
follows: With Hongkong January 1. 1904;
with Japan, August 1. 1904, and with Nor
way. October l, 1904. Each of these conven-
lions restricts the value of any parcel to
$50 and its weight to Kilograms a pounds
q ounces). which restrictions now apply also
10 parcels exchanged between this country
and Germany.
During the fiscal year ended June 80 1901.
States 129.397 parcels. with a total weight
of 464. 69T pounds. Compared with the pre-
Nlous year this was an Increase in the num-
Der of parcels of PHI, or 26.5I per cent,
and an Increase in weight of lis, $50 pounds
or 3i.lS per cent.
During the fiscal year 1904 there were re-
with total weight of 192. 500 pounds Com
pared with the previous year this shows a
decrease In the number OF parcels of 2O.O72
and decrease in weight of 276 4i9 pounds
The parcels-poSt treaty with Germany was
modified. reducing the limit of weight to
pounds ounces, effective from July l,
1903.
Mails in Alaska
During the last fiscal year there were
some extensions and increases of service In
Alaska, besides the renewal for the winter
or summer season of arrangements similar
TO those in effect during the previous sea-
son Last winter was the first in which
was operated the overland route from
Valdez. on the southern coast by Fair
banks and Cinema. to Tanana a distance of
about go miles. two round trips a month
. me contracts made for the coming winter
over this route contemplate four round
trips a month from December to April in
elusive. besides two round trips each in
october. November and May, the maximum
weight for each trip having been Increased
to 400 pounds and the running time reduced
to twenty days each way.
Pneumatic Tube Service.
Pneumatic tube service is being extended
wherever such service is found TO be adj
vdntageous to the acceeration of the de-
livery of mails. extensions having been
made In New York, Chicago, Phladelphia
Boston, st. Louis and other cities Wash
ington being contemplated in the near fu-
ture.
The extent of the railway mail service
Is interesting, II being shown that there
are l.62l employees in that service. 4IS
lines, operated on railroads, steamboats, and
electric cars; that the annual number of
miles travelled by the clerks was 246.0iS 4l2
aud that the total mileage of the several
lines was 192.309.
The aggregate OF the appropria lions for
the office for the current fiscal wear is S74
S75. $50. being 81. 53S 800, or 4.99 per cent
more than for the fiscal year 1904
The estimate for the fiscal year ending
June 30 1906. is S7692S 500 being 81 3d.
fu.2J. or 3. AZ per cent more than the APP
preparations for the current fiscal year
-N
FRISCO NOTES.