The Alaska daily empire., 1919-02-01
Alaska's Need for Efficient Postal Service.
(Pacific Fisherman.)
Dollar Day"

Since the termination of the old Alaska mail tracts last summer, the postal service of the Terri tory has suffered lamentable breakdown, resulting in general complaint in all parts of Alaska. The present system, under which the mail is handled as express freight in Southeastern Alaska, and by small boat to points to the Westward along the Alas ka Peninsula is not only unsatisfactory but atogeth inadequate, and if continued will greatly hamper and retard the development of the fisheries, well of other Alaskan resources.
 The result of the present policy in Southeastern Alaska has been irregular and infrequent service
 long delay in the delivery and distribution of mail at points a short distance off the main lines of steamer travel, and general inconvenience. With special obligation as to the handling of the mail
 instead of going regular schedule it is deliv- cred whenever boat happens to have sufficient freight to warrant call. On arrival it is often among the freight to be discharged, and if land ed at night has to wait until the next day before being distributed and forwarded; while outgoing mail from Alaska points, instead of being received up to the time of sailing, must be posted many hours in advance. Many communities on the Alaska coast open to transportation throughout the year, often entirely without mail for weeks at time where it formerly received every few days
 Freight and passenger service also has suffered greatly account of the present system. Where formerly regular schedules were maintained in ac- cordance with the mail contracts, steamer service is now dependent on the accumulation of sufficient freight to pay for the trip. Thus both passenger travel and the shipment of freight to and from many points in Alaska, where calls were formerly made with some regularity have become exceedingly diff cult and uncertain.
 The result of these conditions to the communities along the Alaska Peninsula, among the adjacent isl in Boring Sea has been far serious than
 in Southeastern Alaska The mail steamer for merly the sole reliance of these communities for freight and passenger service during the winter months; but the boat handling the mail for this district is without freight or passenger fac ities, and has been unable to maintain mail service with regularity through the winter When this condition arose many communities to the West ward short of food and other winter supplies, and while this condition has been partly relieved through private effort, with the cooperation of the Pacific American Fisheries and the Revenue Service, further service is needed to prevent serious hard ship in these communities before spring.
 This country in former years took just pride in the universal and efficient service rendered by the Postoffce Department which of incalculable inn portance in the early development of the West. The carrying of the mails with promptness and regularity regarded vital function, to be fulfilled to the limit of possibility. At the time the placing of mail contracts often made it possible to furnish regular of transportation which other wise would have been lacking. Such pioneer tries Alaska peculiarly dependent upon such be provided is through the maintenance of an efficient postal service, with liberal policy the part of the postal authorities. Mail in frontier country like Alaska cannot be successfully handled the basis of the lowest possible cost. Service, rather than economy, is the proper aim of the Post office Department and the service must be maintained efficient bass-without extravaganza indeed, but if necessary at greater than any inn mediate return-if the development of Alaska is to continue.