The Oskaloosa herald., 1913-11-13
POSTAL SERVICE COST
Fourth Assistant Effects Economics
in His Department.

Office department by Fourth Assist
ant Postmaster General James j.
Blakslee are said in statement re-
Gently issued to make for greater effi-
cheney and economy. itis
The bureau over which Mr.Blakslee
presldes, it Is stated, has three i'm
portant divisions-the division of the
rural mails, with it's army of nearly
100000 rural delivery and star route
carriers; the division of supplies and
equipment for the entire postal SER
vice, including the furnishing of the
rural delivery and star route maps,
and the division of dead letters.
The statement recites that:
ION taking charge Mr.. Blakslee
found that during a period of seven
years Immediately preceding there
had accumulated 500 petitions for the
establishment of rural delivery routes.
At present all but thirty.six of these
have been acted on, while $50 similar
petitions filed during his incumbency
have been disposed of, and 216 new
rural delivery routes, providing ade-
quate mail facilities for some 100000
patrons, have been established. or
1852 petitions asking for changes in
existing routes, which had accumulat-
ed during the same period of seven
years. but sc remain Enacted on,while
of 299 similar petitions filed during
Mr.. Blakslee's incumbency ~112 have
received final action. OF a total Of
Sal, cases involving charges against
rural carriers, accumulated during
ten years, 1858 have been settled.
I'm connection with modern meth
cd of follow-up correspondence, rig
i'd system insuring prompt investiga-
ton of all petitions has been inaugur-
ated, and a closer supervision over
the rural service has been estab-
lished."
Among other things accomplished
the statement sets forth are the fol-
lowing:
Accurate statistics of the number
of pieces and weight Of all classes of
mail matter handled by rural carriers
during the month of June last have
been collected and tabulated, furnish
ing the first accurate information as
to increases brought about by the es-
Establishment of the domestic parcel
post.
Another innovation is the compila-
ton (now under way without addi-
tional cost of a complete and accur-
ate statistical directory of the rural
delivery service, which when complet-
ed will enable the department at a
moments notice to give, regarding
any rural route, the names of the car
rier and substitute, with the type of
vehicle used and the nature of the
territory traversed, together with the
number of patrons served and the
number of pieces and weight of mail
handled.
"A practical as we'll as equitable
plan has been adopted for the dis
tribution of the 100000 appropriated
by congress to be expended under the
joint direction of the postoffice de-
partment and the department of agri-
culture for the purpose of securing
accurate information regarding high
way improvements and the effects of
such improvements on the rural
transportation problem"
Under the terms of the appropria-
ton act each state in which this work
lis being prosecuted must furnish $2
for each dollar provided by the fed
eral government. The unit of distri-
button has been fixed at the approxi-
mate construction cost OF twenty-four
miles of highway, the length of a
standard rural delivery route. Ac-
curate statistics are being gathered
which when compiled will cover ev-
cry phase of the subject.
"In the division of supplies and
equipment substantial progress has
been looking to a thoroughly efficient
and economical system of furnishing
supplies to the postal service, and in
the preparation and printing of rural
delivery and star route maps. An
electric blue printing outfit, by means
of which orders for. rural delivery
blue print maps are promptly filled,
has superseded the sunlight machine
formerly in use.
The topographic section is max
ing rapid Roadway, in the preparation
of the new parcel post zone determin-
alton tables, which will replace the
cumbersome parcel post maps now
in use.
In the division of dead letters
changes of methods have been made
which will result in greatly increased
efficiency at a saving of about $780,
900 annually. The former practice Of
sending to that division unbelievable
post cards, totaling between 100000
and 100000 each year has been dis
continued.
"Undelivered third and fourth class
matter is no longer forwarded to
Washington for treatment, but is sent
to the several division headquarters
of the railway mail service, which
reform will result in annual saving
of $4,000 in transportation charges
alone.
"A complete modern index and fill
ing system has been installed in the
division of dead letters, which will
insure immediate attention to COM
plants regarding lost mail matter, as
well as the prompt return of such
matter to the senders.
''In a report on the sanitary and
hygienic conditions OF the postoffice
department Sugeon General Rupert
Blue Of the public health service
says: The dead letter office has been
overhauled, partitions torn out and
methods changed. Those in charge
are to be congratulated on the i'm
provements made in the sanitary con-
ditions of the dead letter office
These improvements in the work
ing conditions and consolidation of
various branches that has been effect
cd hu Mr. plaGo1aa mill raa,,It Il, IN