Iditarod pioneer., 1915-12-18
MAIL FOR 0PHIR
Why the People of Adjacent Min ing Camp Did Not Receive
 Mail From Iditarcd

Complaints from subscribers of The Pio nccr at Ophir that they were not receiving their papers started an inquiry which re vealed rather peculiar situation in the local postal service, which is another tes- timoniai to the red tape methods that sur round every action of government othclals in Alaska.
 At the inception of the mail service over the Seward Idltarod trail on November last it was announced that the route would follow the trail from Iditarod to Ophir and thence to Takotna, thus shortening the dis tance to be travelled by many miles. Ophlr is not mentioned in the contract with Colonel Revelle which merely states that the mail shell be delivered at Takotna, Flat and Iditarod In order to place Ophlr on tie route it is necessary to secure the de sired change by communicating with the Washington authorities. It was understood here that this had been done, but as yet Acting Postmaster Baker has received no notification to that effect.
 Why Mail Was Delayed In the meantime the carriers on the Sew ard Iditarod route have no dealings what ever with the Ophir postotflce, although they pass through that town on both the out going and incoming runs. The mall tor Ophir has been consigned from ldltarod to Takotna, and apparently has lain there until the carrier on the RubyTakotna route ar rived to carry it back over the same trall to Ophir.
 The Iditarod postoffice is not authorized to consien mail direct to Ophlr, but upon the earnest solicitation of The Pioneer, and having in mind the convenience of the peo- ple of Ophir, Mir Baker has consented here after to place mail for that place in the way sack of the mail carrier, to be dropped oil at that point in the same manner as IS the custom with the roadhouses located at points remote from postotfices. Hereafter the residents of the Ophlr dis trict should be able to receive their mall from Iditarod promptly. It IS regrettable that the matter was not brought to lght sooner.
 Divided Responsibility As tending to make more difficult the straightening out of entanglements such aS the one above mentioned 1t must be borne in mind that the route between Ruby and Takotna Is under the direction Of A. t. Handles of Panama, chief clerk of the rall WAY mail service. while the Seward ldltarod route is supervised by Alvah Flames of Cordova. also chief clerk of the railway mal service It probably would be :. mat ter of much delay, judged by past experl- enccs, to secure authorization for an ntelll- cent handling of the mails between the points named.
 The Seward Iditarod contractors are ob- l;gated to carry 475 pounds Of mall from Seward for knk, Takotna, Flat and ldlt- arod Seventy-fve pounds Of thls IS sup posed to be for knik. In case they have 1 less than the contract consignment when they leave Takotna they bring the Ruby mail from that point to ldltarod which comprises ccnsignments from the upper and lower Yukon river in Alaska and Canada, as well as the Panama valley and Fairbanks, and Nome and St. Michael conslgnments. It may so happen that full loads from the coast will prevent the Seward -ldltarod car riers from taking the Ruby mall from Ia kotna for weeks at time, as was the case last winter. In that event 1t Is the custom to take up a collection to assist Uncle sam in supplying Iditarod with its belated mall. improvement m SeTVlCe DSUieu
 Evidently this matter has penetrated the maze of official red tape, for some tune ago telegram was received here making ln- ruirv as to the cost of transporting the mail from Takotna to ldltarod tWlce a month The information was 1urnlshed' but it appears that is as far as the matter is destined to go at present.
 Acting Postmaster Baker has received the following from Chief Clerk Handles:
 "Tanana, Alaska, Nov. 10.
 "On October 19 this office received wire from slperintendent's office, Seattle, that stated; Ascertain and advise cost round trin emergency service Ruby or kaltag to Flat and Iditarod, twice monthly, weight two hundred or four hundred pounds trip.
 On November g received the following wire from same No authorization tor han dling Iditarod mail from Takotna or Ruby beyond regular service Seward-ldltarod route
 Please kindly advise persons who put m proposals that as far as this ofhce IS ao- vised this is now closed matter.
 "A. R. HANDLES, Chief Clerk.
 Mail Matter Lost
 From Chief Clerk Flames, at Cordova, the following has been received, dated CordoVa' November 5:
 "AM Postmasters About October 5, l9lo' the steamer Mariposa, route 7Sool, with SIX days mail from the States aboard, was wrecked between Seattle and ketchlkan' A considerable portion of the paper and par, eel post mail was damaged by water Some of this was reduced to pulp and could not be delivered. Many of the addresses were undecipherable This for your lntorma t;on "ALVAH EAMES,
 Chief Clerk