Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-25
IN FAR-OFF ALASKA
HOW POST OFFICE SUPPLIES ARE
NOW SENT.
Very Different Methods From 1898,
When It Took Two Years and
Over to Get Them.

Send US more record books. more money
order blanks, more supplies OF every char
acter," IL the appeal which reached the
Post Office Department today from far
away Alaska.
| The appeal was contained IN telegram
received from Post once Inspector John p.
Clum. who is making his annual tour
through Alaska in the interests of the pos
tai service. The request is now being con-
sldered and IL is possible that the much
needed supplies will be sent from the post
office at Seattle.
Inspector Clum's telegram was fled the
same day 1t was received here, and II the
supplies are sent Immediately they should
reach the town Of Fairbanks In the very
heart of the territory. within two weeks.
Different in 1898.
This is quite different from the condition
which obtained In 1898. when the Post
Office Department began active work in
undermining and making efficient the Alas
kan postal service. In those days the miners
and merchants would congregate In a
certain locality to the number of perhaps
5000. They were attracted TO this particu-
lar place, of course because of the discov-
cry of gold in that vicinity, and when their
camp had become permanent they would
! write to the Post Office Department, re-
questing that post office be established at
the place and postmaster appointed.
This letter or petition would slowly work
its way to civiliza ton. for the mails were
not transported swiftly across the glaciers
and around the snow-covered hills. The pc
tition would reach Washington in the fall
of the year four or five months after 1t
was mailed at the Alaskan town. Then the
official red tape would unwind and in the
course of human events an inspector or spe
cial agent would be dispa tched to investi
gate the condition and see whether an Of
flee should be established. The agent would
reach the town the next summer and his
report would reach Washington the next
fall, carrying with II recommend a ton for
the appointment of a postmaster.
More Delay.
This report would pass down the line OF
postal officials and finally would be APP
proved. The blanks for formal application
and the blank oath of office would be sent
to the prospective postmaster for his sig
nature. The blank form of bond would be
sent also. These would arrive at the Alas
kan town the next spring. and would be
filed out, signed and Misunderstanding
Washington the following fall.
Two and a half years have been occupied
in these proceedings. In the meantime the
1000 miners have been digging gold for all
they are worth and getting their mail from
private carriers, who charged anywhere
from 81 to so per letter. The creeks are
btSiHiIiIS 10 run cry Oh their RotutH treas
ure and the citizens are looking for new
fields to conquer.
Another gold strike is made-hundreds of
miles away-and all the permanent citi-
Zens of the first town. including the pros
pective postmaster. leave for the new dig
gins
The next spring the pOstmaster's commits
sion arrives, along with several pouches of
post office supplies, but there is no one TO
receipt for them. The cabins are deserted
and the tents have been taken away The
commission is returned to Washington and
the three years work avails nothing. The
miners at the new "diggins'' want a post
office too and the same thing is gone
through with.
Now It is Different.
That is how 1t used to be. Today IT is
different Inspector Clum goes through the
territory clothed with authority to estab-
lish post offices. appoint postmasters. APP
prove their bond and furnish them with
mail key and postal supplies on the spot.
One day, and sometimes one hour, now ac-
composites what three years failed to do
decade ago The offices are established
where the need is grea test, and next year,
if the population has moved. the office can
be discontinued. The conditions in Alaska
are extraordinary. and the Post Office De-
partment has adopted extraordinary meth
DDS of administration in handling them.
Inspector Clum states In his telegram
that the record books are exhausted at
Fairbanks If a new supply is sent from
Seattle within week it should reach falr-
banks by the middle of August-three weeks
from the date of the Geographic request.
The Post Office Department is showing
pleasing progress in all parts of the coun-
try. but nowhere has 1t accomplished so
much and made more stanch friends than
in Alaska.