The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-14

to another train. It Is cheaper to run
the large car through from Edgemont
to Billings, and It does so, though not
drawing any rental for the car on the
run between those places.
Rental Necessary.
If the railroad mail service head
quarters were divided and part Of the
Lincoln force transferred to Billings,
the postofice department would then
have to pay the $40 per mile west OF
Edgemont, where 1t 4voids this ex-
pense under the system now employed.
AT the same time, some Of the clerks
and helpers running between Lincoln
and Edgemont would have their pay
reduced, as part of the work they now
do would be performed on the Edge
mont-Billings run-the pay being in
proportion to the total amount Of mail
matter handled on each division.
ut is understood that the men who
would be affected r solidly opposed
to the change, az they do not want to
leave Lincoln or accept a cut in sal
aries. The railway mail service off,
cials are not inclined to favor it, as
they can see no benefit which would
be likely to accrue from the increased
expense"
Gives the Other Side.
In commenting on the remarks Of
the Lincoln paper, MI. Decker said
yesterday:
81 notice that the Lincoln News
claims the change in service that we
ask for would involve increased ex-
pense to the government. The very
opposite is the case. From Lincoln to
Edgemont the distance Is All miles
and a fraction. Omitting the frac-
tional mile and reducing the actual
distance to even numbers, It will be
seen that the government pays an
nually the sum Of $1s,840 for each car.
The distance between Edgemont and
Billings is 365 miles. At $40 q mile
this would amount to $l4, 900. a saving
OF 1920 on each car annually. BY, a
shifting about Of clerks, as contem-
plated in the change asked by Bill
ings, there would be another saving
in salaries Of $4,000. OF course, Uncle
Sam is rich and such .tritles may not
appeal to him; all the same, 1t Is con.
siderable Of an item, especially when
1t is considered that this is not In
tended to apply for only one year, but
for years to come. But this is not all,
There is another matter that should
be considered:
Mail Goes Past.
Under the present arrangement
mail is almost daily carried past itf
destination. Take what is known Of
Belle Fouche mall which should be
transferred at Edgemont. Instead. il
very often comes In the Montana man
causing 1t to be carried along until the
clerks this side Of Edgemont car
work 1t and then send It back on 9
return train. causing delays In it's De
livery from "a to 48 hours. Then
kagain, mail intended for eastern Mon
tana points, say such ohices as Broad
dus, Decker and others in Custer
county, which should be t~ransferre:
at Arvada, Gillette and Sheridan, II
brought on because Of inability ,or
the part Of the clerks to distribute 4
before reaching those points. Tht'
means that 1t must be held until thu
next train going east. During a rusl
Of business. such as occur during tn.
holidays season. It Is not uncommon
for whole sacks Of Montana mail to y.
brought into Billings and dumped onts
Northern Pacific trains, to be worked
by the clerks going west and then sen
back. AS Postmaster Prickett viii
say, often there Is Billings mail il
those sacks. Hence Billings, as wei
as well as points to the east OF US
suffers.
"Eastbound conditions are not mucl
better, II any. Owing to the irregu
larity with which trains arrive from
the west, often mail INTENDED TO
Huntley. Ballantine and points on tn
Worland and Cody branch cannot b.
distributed before either the frs
named place or Toluca is reached, $
that transfer may be made for tn
branch line. Only one thing remains
mail must be carried by and the
brought back on the next train com
ing from the east.
Wyoming Has "kick Coming"
'But we are not alone in SUFFERING
under the present arrangement. TIL
people of northern Wyoming ais
have q cause of complaint. Becaus'
Of the immensity OF the mail that
single clerk Is expected to handle, IN
stances are almost Of daily occurrence
where mail for Sheridan, Dietz AM
other points in that territory is cal
lied by and not delivered until tn
next day, when. after. having bee