Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-25

| nine out OF ten Americans WOulo SuSSs
in vain at the significance Of July 26'
| and yet 1t marks the
Postal Service organization of the
Anniversary. t thss has done as mors
perhaps to produce and maintain a ma
tional consciousness and a national
spirit than any other--the Post ONCE
Department
I The anniversary has gone begging for
recognition for 40 years. for it was in
IT'S. a year before the Declaration of
independence. that the postal system of
the American colonies was established
by the Continental Congress. and placed
in charge of Benjamin Franklin. Later.
when the Constitution was adopted. the
system was taken over bodily and made
the Post Office Department of the United
States.
| Post Office officials are pointing out in
connection with the anniversary this
year that the growth of 40 years, SO
strikingiy empha when the crude
conditions of Franklin's day are con-
| sidered side by side with the improve
ments just now being made by the de-
partment, makes the date unusually in
terestins.
| Then mails We're composed almost
wholly of letters, and distribution was
| confined to the Atlantic coast states. and
was made slowly by horseback, stage
coach and coastng schooner. Postage
rates often amounted to several shil-
lings. Now the department. which Is
already making use over land and sea
ships, and which is operating in cities
motor cycles, automobiles and pneuma-
tic tubes. is preparing for its first step
August 2 toward the motorization OF
| the rural free delivery service. At the
same time that the motoriZati of the
rural service is being started it is an
nounced that before the end of the year
the last horse-drawn mail wagon will
| be superseded by automobiles in the
Washington city post Office organizati ton.
| Because practically all of the forward
! steps in the development of the postal
service have been made first at the
Washington Office. the complete motori-
cation of the city matchmaking plant is
considered significant.
| The financial showing in connection
with the change, it is pointed out. in
| dicates that motorization of other city
post Offices will no doubt follow rapidly.
! for it has been shown to be a money
/ making proposition. According to fig
| Otto Praeger of Washington the con-
| tract vehicles, mostly horse drawn,
that have been used by this Office re-
auired yearly outlay of $44,340, and
the aforementioned automobile
equipment that will replace them will
cost annually only $4,000 including an
unusually high depreciation allowance
of 20 per cent.
| The automobile rural delivery service
that is about to be established is con-
sidered probably the most important de-
parture in the country's mail handling
| system since the creation of the rural
free delivery service in 1898. More
| than 100 automobiles will start out on
then on Will traverse daily except Sun
days more than 5000 miles of rural post
| roads The automobile routes will be
from so to 60 miles long. and the cars
will have a carrying capacity of not
less than 500 pounds and a cubic ca
| The machines will. therefore, cover in
the same time more than twice the dis
! lance covered by the average wagon
| route. and will have from four to five
| vehicles.
| For the present the government will
pay an increased salary and will re-
quire the carriers to furnish the auto
| mobiles. The postal authorities will
accept any type of machine that is in
good running order and which fills the
| size and carrying regulations. Later
| the machines for rural delivery will be
| standardized and will carry the gov
eminent insignia.
| The new service is expected by fed
eral and local officials. who will OBJ
serve it with interest, to be a great
stimulus to good roads development,
since only residents near frst-class
highways can obtain the benefit of the
/ rapid motor service.
| to