The Cordova daily times., 1918-10-03
PRAECER SAYS MAIL DELIVERY
 WILL IMPROVE


 formation received from various points in Alaska in response to telegraphic inquiry indicates that the present sys- tenn of handling the mail as express and freight gives fairly good satisfac. tion, except at Juneau, Cordova and Valdez, and he hopes to remedy the situations at those places and at the same time save 10 the government the advantage of the cheaper trans portatiOn charges resulting in refusal to grant mail contracts under the old system.
 Mir. prager also announces that ar engagements have been completed for a continuation of the monthly mail service to the westward points here tofore supplied by the Dora.
 The letter is as follows:
 My Dear MT Sulzer: Referring to your calls at this office in regard to the transportation of the mails be tween Seattle and points in Alaska by freight and express. and to your letter transmitting tclcgrams from the gov crnor of Alaska and J. w. Troy Of Juneau, respecting the service | have the honor to inform you that the mat ter Of providing the best practicable service has received careful consider atiOn and attention by this office
 N,I in, bn usu;l manner inviting proposals for continuance of contract service be 1 tween Seattle and various points in 1 Alaska. but the two principal operat- | ing companies refused to enter into contracts which would require per formancc Of any fixed number ot trips. While one Of the companies 1 did make q proposal for service on such trips as its boats should make 1 during the year at approximately the ] trip rates under the old contract the other company would not Oblgate itself to perform any specified service as to number Of trips, schedule or 1 ports of call. and tn" rate namCI hy 1 it for such trips as it might see Ht 10 present cost and contained the stipu- Iation that such rate apply only rom trip to trip and be subject to reFi- sion upon notice being given to the department.
 "It was impossible. therefore, to re. new the contracts for continuante q service as heretofore provided. It was in these circumstances that advantage was taken of authority given by con gross in connection with the appropri atiOn act to require the transportation | companies to carry the mails under authorization of freight and express service; otherwise the companies could not have been required to carry the mails. Under this authorization ! the mails dispatched hy the postmas ters as freight and express must be carried when the boats are operated. The new authorization became effc'- | tive August l. 1918. and full instruc- 1 tions were given the representatives of this office and the postmasters re. spcctinG its operation.
 "lt is noted that the telegram from | Governor Riggs is dated July 3l and that from MT Troy August i. which was before the beginning Of service under the new authorization. Since you were here last, on the 2Oth inst this office has made telcgraphic in. Quiry at a number of points with re ! spect to the suficiency of the present service, and 1t appears that reason able mail supply is being provided with the exception that a late closing of mail is not afforded for dispatch l by such steamers as pass in the night. . This is due to the fact that the eX- press company closes it's office at the close of regular office hours. II is stated that the express office closes at Juneau at 4:30 D. m. and at Val deZ at D. m, while at Anchorage, Cordova and Seward the mails may be dispatched several hours later It is thought that this objection may be reasonably remedied by arranging to have the mails dispatched. on oc- Casions when the steamer is due in the night, at the time of the closing of the postoftice, or at least late hour in the day. and action will be taken in the matter of effecting such  remedy if possible.
 With respect to the delivery of mails upon the arrival of the steamer, it is reported that such delivery is fairly prompt. except in the report of the postmaster at Juneau, which