Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-03-04

because they are hauled small av-
erage distance, are likely to be car
ried over the short, light weight
routes instead of the main railroad
lines. AS a matter Of fact, it is the
main lines that enter large cities,
where newspapers are published,
while the short, light weight routes
seldom touch large cities. The fall
lacy of the associations whole con.
tention is conclusively shown by the
OF all classes carried on these short,
light weight routes, is little more
than ten per cent OF the weight of
newspapers alone carried on all the
railroads.
He further contends that the pay
for these short, light weight routes
has an enormous influence in raising
the average cost of railroad trans
portation per pound. in reality, the
total pay for these light weight routes
is ony two and one-half per cent of
the total compensation for railroad
service.
Proper Allowance for Equipment
The estimates made by the asso-
cations representative as to the
amount of equipment required for Sec
ond class matter are based on the
assumption that Is to $50 pounds of
mail are carried in each sack, while
the departm figures show that
the average weight of second class
matter to the sack is only 40 pounds.
According to his own statement he
assumes that the pouches used to
carry first class mail on trains weigh
over II pounds. while as matter of
fact pouches of that weight have not
been carried on railroads for many
years. The heaviest pouch now fur
nished weighs less than 4 pounds.
He stated that the department made
no allowance for equipment, but
charged second class matter on
basis of 6391 Der cent. This state
sment is likewise untrue. The DE
partment was careful to make the
proper allowance for equipment.
Still more remarkable is Mr.. Wild
er's statement that the weight of
equipment carried in postal cars is
Is times as great as the weight Of
the mails. He apparently fell into
this extraordinary error by taking the
departments record. of the weight of
mail posted at railway stations and
on the railway mail cars, which is
an insignificant part of the total
amount of mail TRANSPORTED. If he
had comoared the weight of all the
mail carried in the cars with the
weight of the equipment. he would
have found that the mail was far
heavier than the equipment.
1T is not surprising that an inves-
tigator capable of making so slaring
and so reckless an error as the one
last mentioned. should depart far
from fact in his general conclusions.
No Additional Cost for Fast Mail
Trains.
The associations representative de-
clares that second class matter is be
ing charged with added cost Of main
tanning FREQUENT and expeditions rail
road and other transportation servi-
ces. including the fast mail trains.
Evidently he is unaware that the de-
partnent does not pay the railroads
any additional compensation for eX-
ceptionally frequent or expeditions
service. Not cent additional is al
lowed for the fastest mail train that
runs.
Other Transportation Facilities.
With equal inaccuracy Mr.. Wilder
assumes that the cost Of foreign mails
has been charged against second
c'ass matter. Such is not the case.
No part whatever of this cost has
been so charged
Furthermore, he contends that no
part Of the cost of starroute and
steamboat service should be charged
against second class matter, alleging
that such services are not paid for
bulk are material factors in determin-
ing the mode of conveyance in these
services, and they therefore affect the
contract price.
Similarly he claims that no part of
the cost of mail messenger service
should be charged against second
class matter, and makes the statement
that this service is performed by
0ostmasters and that they are paid
for it by the government. Second
class matter forms the principal bur
den of mail messenger service, mater
tally affecting it's cost and frequently
necesstating the use of vehicles that
would not otherwise be required. The
law absolutely prohibits postmasters
from being interested in mail con-
tracts. and for this reason they can
receive no pay for messenger ser
vice.
Another statement surprisingly err
roneons is that the cost of wagon ser
rfe in cities is chargeable only in
" minor degree to second class mat |
ter on the ground that the large |
publishers deliver their periodicals at
the railroad stations. AS matter Of
fact only small portion of the per-
io5icals is thus delivered. About 20 |
ner cent of all second class matter
in New York City is hauled to the