The daily Alaskan., 1916-05-09
P.O. OEPL. NOT
 INTERESTED IN
 PUBLIC SERVICE


 "The cancellation of the mail con tracts of the Juneau Steamship Company which went out of pusi- ness yesterday was not due to com pialnts on account Of service," said Willis E. Novel;, president of the company, "but was admittedly in the interest Of economy. It was stated in so many words by As sistant Postmaster General Prager' who las charge of the mall carry iug contracts that the department i3 not interested at all in the pas seuger and freight service required by the people, and that it is con- tent when it can reduce the eX- pense of delivering the ulail and get a bond to the government that VII. assure the delivery"
 The Juneau Steamship Co" l" continued Mir. Novel;, had con- tracted to expend s1SOOG to S14,OOO oa improvements to the Georgia which would have made that yes scI as good as new, and, in spite Of the fact that 1t had never de clared a dividend, ig offered Volun- tarilY to reduce the charge for clrrying the mail between Juneau cad Si,ka from S1S,OOO, the figure at which the contract Was awarded Ii under Q competitive bid. to $l6'- GOO.
 The Juneau Steamship Company EeYer kos made money, and 1t has been cnerated by the Alaska Steam- ship Co., and the Pacific Coast Steamshi" Co.,, solely because it constituted a link 5R tbeir chain of operations in Aloaka. This, and the fact tat both companies are interested materially and otherwise in the development of Alaska kept the Georgia going, whether at pyofit or 2 loss Carrying out this policy, the Georgia never re- fused to make oxtra calls at places no, covered Yby the contract with mail at request of the government without making additional charges, and il always accommodated min lug people, fishermen and settles aud pleasure seekers and hunting or ether parties, whether there WIS profit in 1t or not.
 The Sitka and Skagway route requires the services of a boat of at least 15O tons burden, No small q. Dout is able to combat the storms of winter and frequently all ot it's capacity is reQuired to accom- modate the public. Several years ago, Inspector Whitney, of the Post Office Department, made an investigation into the mail condi- tons of the North, and 1t was re- commended that no boat of less than 15O tons burden should be gwen either the sitka or theSkag- way contract.
 "The Juneau teamship Company had planned, in case it received a four years contract at the expira- ton of the presenG contract, to build . larger and better boat than tka Gcorgia for the nun. The plans os the vessel had already been drawn, and it would cost $140,OOO.
 During all of the IA years it has been in business the Junaeu steamship Co. never lost life, nor even injured a passenger. It never lost q piece of mall matter or any freight for ita customers. Its earnest concern has always been to give the best and most reliable ser wee possible. It has been a deVel- OFing company.
 The Juneau Steamship Company has distributed more than S50,OOO year in Juneau. It has brought hundreds of people to this city an nually, and aided greatly iR center ing trade here.
 Yet, because the government could get a little boat to agree to carry the mail between Juneau nd sirka $7,1O0 a year cheaper than the Juneau Steamship Company could possibly operate the Georgia on inc Sitka run, the contract was cancelled and the service to Skag way discontinued, leaving Berner Bay country and the Sentinel Is | ,A all .