The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-08
PEOPLE AND THINGS
The International Pont.

The unwilling Of a monument at Berne.
Switzerland, will commemorate the
founding OF the International Postal
Union. No better medium for improving
international relationship has ever been
devised. II brought order and system
out Of conditions that had previously been
confusing and in many respects burden
some. 1t substituted uniformity and def
initeness for the Old plan OF separate
conventions OF one country with another.
method that was fruitful OF friction
and Encouragement TO correspondence. II
established uniform and lower rates than
had previously prevailed, and relieved
diplomatic relations between govern
ments OF a vexing responsibility II not
an actual burden. It is appropriate that
this monument should stand in Berne.
II was the late Montgomery Blair, who,
as Lincoln's Postmaster General, made
the proposal that led TO the meeting OF
the international Postal Commission IN
Paris in 1863 from which these later and
larger developments have sprung He also
introduced the money order system, free
delivery in cities, the sorting OF malls
in the cars. and other improvements Of
benefit TO the public, and his memory
will deserve conspicuous recall In the
coming celebration.
Free Delivery and Good Roads.
There Is some CONSERVATION but much
approval IN Kansas over the order TO
withdraw rural free delivery OF mail
when highways are neglected. But II
Is argued that the farmers should be
willing TO expend some labor for the
benefit II is estimated that rural free
delivery enhances the value Of any large
farm at least $1,000 and that II Is worth
800 a year for a farmer 10 get his mall
delivered without the loss or time and
the annoyance Of going 10 town after IT,
That the order viii be Immediately ef-
fective Is quite probable, Tor It is sim
ply an application 10 rural routes OF the
practices in a modified form In the cities,
Urban carriers are not required 10 de-
liver mail 70 inaccessible places; they
are not compelled 10 climb more than
one flight Of stairs; they are not required
to deliver mail 20 houses in the yards
OF which vicious dogs are kept, and there
are other regulations protecting the car
riers and expedlting the service, or which
the element OF time Is such an important
consideration The order should be made
10 apply generally. as well as in Kansas.
Steamboats, on the Lakes.
The Hudson-Fuiton celebration excites
Renaissance OF the beginning OF steam
navigation on the Great Lakes. The first
steam vessel 20 pillow the inland seas was
the Observation-Disclosures. Built at Black
Rock. Mich. she arrived in Detroit on
August q, 1915 She was hauled up the
river by men on the bank. From Detroit
she took a week 10 cruise 10 Green Bay.
Soon after she was wrecked The first
steamship 10 reach Chicago was the Shell
don Thompson, under command OF Capt
A. Walker. she brought Gen. Winfield
Scott and a detachment Of soldiers for
tho Black Hawk war. and landed them
on July 10. 1872 This event which might
have been a gala one IN Chicag0s his
tory, In reality was one Of the blacklist
that its early annals have 20 reveal; for
the sheldon Thompson brought with Il
Asiauc cholera. The disease broke out
at Mackuaw, and dragged down its vic
TINS with fTightful Tapidity. not spending
its force until 100 soldiers on the ship and
at Fort Dearborn had died.