White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1916-10-20
IMPROVEMENTS
IN POSTAL SERVICE

People are always naturally in
terested in how the different de-
partments of their government are
handled, the policy of those in
charge, and whether the different
branches are being economically
managed. The Spokesman from
time to time receives pamphlets
from the Post Office Department
showing what is being accomplished
in the Postal Service. One such
was received this week, from which
the following is quoted:
The Postal Service, from it's very
close relation to all classes, touch
ing them at all points as common
carrier, as we'll as the watchful
guardian of certain of their public
interests and comfort, is peculiarly
concerned that its efforts in the
line of public service shall measure
up their fullest needs and merit
their approving consent. No adj
ministration of public affairs, how
ever, can hope to escape criticism,
no matter how we'll conducted, for
even the measures of wise and ju-
dicious economy may cause COM
plant when old-established methods
and customs are disturbed by the
march of progressive reforms.
Public administrators, however,
look to the larger accomplishments
possible, and it is the adherence to
this principle which has enabled
the Post Office Department to do
so much for the general welfare
during the past few years.
Take, for instance, the parcel
post. The wider view of possible
benefits has simplified mailing con-
ditions, twice reduced the rates, in
creased the limits of size and weight
several times, and extended express
facilities not only to cities and
towns on regular transportation
lines, but to the people along a
million miles of rural route. Prac-
tical aid has also been given in de-
veloping the idea so that producer
and consumer are alike benefited,
waste measurabIy eliminated, and
living conditions made better. A
traffic reaching a billion parcels an
nually testifies the popular appreci-
alton of this great public accommo-
dation.
Village delivery. The introduce
ton of this new feature of public
accommodation, supplying the need
Of peopie-Wh were not incie}ed in
either city or rural delivery. marks
progressive step in postal i'm
provements which has met with
general satisfaction and will prove
of great benefit to patrons who are
now being given the service. Two
hundred and seventeen small NUM-
cipalities are already enjoying these
free-delivery advantages, and the
number will be rapidly increased.
Rural delivery. New routes have
been established and extended in
over ten thousand localities. afford
ing service to approximately $780,
900 patrons previously without it.
The number of families who now
have this service amounts to 5,719,-
602, as shown by recent tabula-
tion made. Of which over 658,00O
were added between April, 1918,
and April, 1916, an evidence Of re-
markable activity in the manage
ment of this branch of postal af-
fairs, as gratifying to the Depart
ment as it must be to those who
are it's beneficiaries. Rural deliv-
cry now accommodates 26.3O7, 685
patrons, and the delivery by auto
mobile and other means of convey
ance shows an increase Of 17,484.-
408 parcels in the past three years.
The inclusion Of books in parcel
post classification is another adj
vanced step for public benefit, ma
terially reducing postage on such
matter, an item Of considerable in
terest to a reading people.
And above all, Notwithstanding
the great loss caused by the low
rates for second-class matter and
the heavy expenditure for rural de-
livery and the fact that for twenty
nine years preceding 1913 there
was an annual deficit, the crafty
ing announcement is made that the
Department is now not only self
supporting, but will turn back into
the Treasury this year surplus of
SIS, 742,000