The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-01-11
COSTS CASH TO
CARRY MAILS
DEPARTMENT USED 1916 RAIL
ROUTES TO TRANSPORT
MAILS OF NATION.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1O.-Trans-
portation Of the mails by railways,
steamship lines and various state
routes cost the government during the
fiscal year ended June 3, 1909. $685.
4s3,762.
These are the figures given in the
annual report of Joseph stewart
second assistant postmaster general,
made public today.
The number of railroad routes en-
ployed by the department was 1876,
aggregating 217,115 miles. The total
expense of the railway service for the
year was $45,054,54S. For the fiscal
year of 1911 it is estimated that the
expenditures for railroad transporta-
ton will be $46,26O,OOO.
The result Of the readjustment OF
pay for railroad transportation, effec-
tive July 1, 1909, for the ensuing four
years, based upon weighing of mails,
shows a decrease of $494.36O.41, or
sos per cent; and for railway post
office car pay a decrease Of $3,195.97
or 20 per cent.
1t has developed that electric street
railway companies in some cities de-
mand extortionate rates for carrying
the mails. Concerning this situation,
Mr. Stewart says:
Motor Wagons Used.
In view of the demands made by
electric car companies for higher
rates for service, it is found desir-
able, in some cases, to substitute
motor wagon service"
AS the appropriation made by con-
gress for the railway mail service
cannot be used for a motor wagon
service, it is recommended that $780,
600 be appropriated for the latter
service.
The total expense of the foreign
mail service for the year was $2,734,-
655. The rates payable to the steam
ship companies for the sea convey
ance Of letter mail were 80 cents
pound to American steamers and four
francs a kilogram to foreign steam
ers. During the year 355,S59,2S3
pieces of mail were sent from the
United States to foreign countries.
and 270,20O,32O pieces were received.
The amount collected by this coun-
try in postage on mails sent abroad
was $ss,e27, os5.
In a general discussion of the for
eign mail situation Mr.. Stewart says:
"Over 70 per cent of the vessels
carving our mails to the orient fly
foreign flags, and not single one
carrying them to Australasia and
South America, except to the north
coast, flies the American flag.
Our shipping to South America
has been placed at a marked disad-
vantage by the building of fast mod
ern steamships for service between
European countries and Brazil and
Argentina under the stimulus of gov
eminent aid.
1.-THE passage of an act to author
ize the postmaster general to pay for
ocean mail service in vessels of the
second class on routes to South Amer
lea, the Philippines, Japan, China and
Australasia, where a thousand miles
or more in length, outward voyage, at
a rate per mile not exceeding the rate
applicable to vessels of the first class
as provided in the act of March 3,
1891, will, it is believed, enable the
department to secure contract ser
vice to these parts of the world"
1t is shown by the report that "on
June 80, 1909, there were 1,757 lines
of all kinds, manned by 1856 clerks.
The total number of officers and en-
ployes was therefore 1904, an in
crease during the year of 749.
There were 354 railroad accidents
during the year, in which postal
clerks were either killed or injured or
in which mail was lost or damaged"
Recommendations are made that