Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, September 18, 1875, Page 5

THE CIIICAGO TRIBUNE: SATURDAY. WTEMBER 18, 1875.—TWELVE PAGES. 5 THE FAST MAIL. Arrival of the First Train from New York to the ‘West. Prominent Characters at the Rendezvous-—Carl Schurz and Henry Wilson, Scencs at the Depot---Loading the Cars-~-llow They " Are Built Flying Up the Iudson---Omi- nous Memories of New Mambure, Tho Catchers and the Caleh-Ponches --Special Denefits of the Train, Where the Gain in Time Comes In---How It Works for Chicngo, Origin and Expansion of the Railway Postal Ser- vice. Drilling the Clerks---Competitive Ex- aminations---A Word About ¢ Sehemes,” Btatistios Touching the Amount of Newspaper Mail---What It Produoces. Tho Arrival in Chicago—Trominent Vis® {ors~-How They Spent Vbeir Time. Progress_ of ,the Eastward- Bownd Train. THE RENDEZVOUS. OATUERING OF THE CLATIS. i Col. Georgo B. Baugs, tho climax of whoro notable caroer seema to have bosn roscted iu tha atcceas of tho Fast Mail Train, designatod the Fifth Avenue Hotol, Now York, na the maot- Ing place for the invited guests. Iore, during the day and uight of Wednoaday, tho railroad men, Post-Offico ofticlals, and journalists, who wera to sccompany the train, sssombled. Tho soenes at the rendezvons woro scarcely less ani- mated than thoso witnessod during the progress of the tratn itself. Conspicuons among tho now comots wore Carl Schinrz and Bill Grosvenor, hol-nobbing bolween shorry and champagne, From tho goualp of his friend, and the guarded adinisalon of Behurz himsolf, thero is ‘little doubt that Bohurz will soou take tho stump in Ohlo agalnst the rag-monoy Demoeracy. Tho winning ways sod snsye tongue of Grosvenor wora not, perhaps, ngedod to accomplish this ro- sult, for Carl Schurz bas po other placo to go than to tho party with which Lis exrly iustinots, aod the priaciples of his lifu, bave boen identi- fied. And go somewhero ho must. He s too set- fve to retiro to acloistor, or torust. 'Tho Ro- public cannot spare men of hia intelloct and en- thumsem. Bcburz stilt looks liko un amiablo cartoon of Nast, mithout its oxtravagances. Ho Is aa brown as & borry, and as vigorous as if ho bad never had todo with political iifo. The traveler on this continont will not go far withont finding ! HESRY WILSON, There he stood, busy, active, nervons Tenry ‘Wilson, clothing with oz honorable past and manly dignity tho eccond plsco in *rank” in tlio nation whero rank is unknown, and grasping Jor tho honora of tho highest. Will ho Teach 142 Tho aager hold ho bad upou Carl Schura’s arm showed that ho thought tome liope might bo found thepo, Bald tho Vice-Prosidonf to mo afterwards: “I havo becn a great denl troubled for our arty for two yoars. Iam norvous about it now. vory time I exproes myself nbout it, I am abuscd, The organs everywhere grind away at mo, I wroto a lottor last wouk about Masszchu- setts politics, Btraightway tlio Graphio and the Commercial Advertiser raided mo. Bul wo must @et the Liberals back, Wo bave too much at stake, and too much to do, to bo driv- ing everybody out of tho rarty. ‘fbere wers 40,000 Ropublicans in Massachusctts faer fall who did not voto thd Iopublic- aa ticket, Of these, 20,000 voted for tho Domo- crotio Governor, and 24.000 jolued ths gront srmy of atay-at-hores. 1t won't,do. Wo must get toem back aud bring them out. Wo want tlio Liberals back. Schurz, I thigk, will stump Ohio for us.” The Vico-Presldent rattled on this way, as ke bas boen ‘dotug, in his active, nervous way, all hin life. o 18 too active aud toonervous. “ILis bnd for hin nerves and hislivor. Ho chiatted thus at the Fifth Avenno Weduosday nizht. and the first man to greet tho Fast Mail ab Albany the noxt moruing, after its perilous (rip up tho Hudson, was Vice-Preaidont Houry Wilson, No- body seemed to know how lie got thoro. Ho Is oxpectod to Lo evorywhere, llo in tho Omuoipreseoco of {he Admimstration—a sort of political lereury. 1o haw stopped, since Congresa endoed, all told, fifly-two dayu Io one placo. This patience aud conteutrent liave bucn & marvol to bis friends, But 1t was & political place, Haratoga, tho sum- mer politieal forum of tho uafion. During thione dava he workod away at tha third volums of his history of tho slave powar, which is rap- 1dly approschiag completiop, His motliod in it 18 na thrifty aud sunplo aa tho whole tenor of Lis cornest life, Ho has found m poor youug law- yer, who takes dlctation at 50 cents an hour, and at the rate of four or v hours & day, thé lagt yolumo of this bistory Is geiting into print. "fho firal volumes aro to Le rovisod somewbat, when another edition goca tbrough tho pross. E!wao Atkacue ihlnn& la :u 2ddod {o the vhap- s npon Sumner, which have uover b labied befora. oo Pk DICR mUTH, “Dick™ Bmkb, of tno Cinclunati ; catebivg op tho "throad ot tho pottical ches! Shien * Carl Behurz will upeak for tho In Ohjo, ¥ am cortalu of it. Wo w:l::p rl::l-hi‘:l'l': erala back, but tho curious thing about it is that they say thst we Liave coma over to them, and BO¢ they to us. 1t dou't make (any differenco what they call it, so their votos are polled for us. But Grosveunor and Bchurz, aud al] of thom, L Ihzyhl;a‘:uptnra:du‘l. shio st sl . By opposod to the fast mail-train 15 1s, and has che noliau of his latitude, thay Lt.l: doaigood for the New Yoik publishers, e THE LOUILNA a)uxblam«i very numerous at tho venue, lv!’u- lbre,y aro gsid to *pick up poluty,” and urmoth ; ox-Congresuman Qeorgo Bauith, Uea Butler's frieud ; Efingham Lawreacs, wha %0t his contestod woat in the Isat Congrosg a few hours beforo it sdjourned withcut day, wa3 voted 5,000, and vras too rich and oo Lou~ crable to take it ; ¥iak, of the New Oripans Re. fublwau. aud a number of other Louisiana pol. Yolaus, were then very earuoslly etudying the volisical altustion, Waimoth says he canoot Yot or speak for the old line Bourbons, and that the Democsatio pasty Bouth now meaus nothing tnt tho reatoration of Tonrbon ruls. Tho finan- cial sltuation tronbles theso men most. .., CooumAuon. T'tem tho Weat, tho prominent persons at the ronficzvous wera mostly thonghtfil men of busi- newn, W, F. Coolbaugh was thore, abont to re- turn with hin famlly from their summering- placo on the Hudnon, and very near him waa liy old rival in the Rock Ialand Jload affairs, Joun F. Tracey, Premdont, it 10 maid, atill, In fact, if uot in name, of the Clicsgo & Northwestoru, Coolbaugh 1a s cortaln that the Demacrate aro Lo immedinioly roturn topower as that there s o sun in the hoavens. 1u political chats and chafling of thia sort tho timo wwas moatly spent until the time for the start of tho fsat mail. THE, CTART wna not Ao much & matter of gotling up at 2 o'clock in_ the torning, a8 of not going Lo bed. ‘Tho traln wan not to leavo until 4:15 a. m., but o Jargo portion of the guosts wero at tho depot to watch tho novelty of tho proparations snortly after 2. Tha crowd abont tho hotel who loit for this train wore looked upon by *boots,” the olork, aud poor “cabby,” like madisoueo fools sbont to cnter upon a rido to deatl, Thoro was A honvy morning mist, almost a rain, pa Ugorge Tanga’ mareholed hin carriagen for the tralo. Tho l\u\v{ wheels slippod abowt over tho cab- blea, which wero greasy with tho mist. :Jhu city' was olothed “in n whito mantlo. Tho jong Jino of fog in tho wtreot, foebly lighted by the glimmery stroot-lampa. seemcd 1iko an nrmy of whito crusadors flanked by torches, Fifth aveniio wan nslcop. Stowart's hioueo waa solemn 48 tha Tomnbe, which it ro- Aemblen, Tho groat wagons carrying the mail ilundered alonis with panting horees. 'The depat was reachiod. Tho gatoman, porters, sud depot-manters bow to Langs aa to tho Vander- bile of the Fust Mall, and admit tho guests apon hin word. ‘The gnests came, to Lho number of nmacy-oight. ‘Choy wers mastly rallroad folks, T'ost-Offica peoplo, publishers, journalists,—mon all intorested in, and getting their broad by, the publication and diatributlon of news, i ey THE TRAIN ITSELF, 1OW TAE CANS LOOKED. Tha (rain presonied a fino Bppearanco as reon in the bright gaslight of the Central Dapot. Says the Graphio: Thicro postal cars ars divided intotwo clagees, known o8 letior-distributing and nowspeper postal cark, Lxe cept {n length and the names given to them, allof the cars aro wifonn In outward oppoarsuce. Tho! pnmed after Governors of States, and the four consti. Tuting the iral {rain bear rospactively the_namos of Govs, “Tilden, Dix, Allen, nnd Todt. Thenamon iven 10 el bt olbiers consiructed altho shops of the Now Yok Central are Gown, Hayes, Hendricks, Bickingham, organ, Kirkwood, lartranst, Gaaten, ud Jawley. Tneso elgbt, with tho Alen and Todd, fnciudo the ten bullt by the Now York Contral ltosd, tho remaining, ten ha¥ing been constructod at f alinpa of (ko Lake Bbore Company. Tho line com- it will conalst,of twonty cars, or four for cach nain, Tho letter-diatributing cars arn&0 fect in lengtl, whilo thons deafgucd for the nowapaper maf] are 16 feet longer, Al aro nniform in width, v foct 8 fuchen, and ¢ fect and 9 fnchas high In tho clear. The Nnlali of Lo exterior doca ot differ —all Of them being paltilcd white, With creatu-colored torderings and it ornamentation, highly varnishod within and with ut. 3idway on the outsldo sud below the windo of cach car fa a Inrre oval gUt-finiahed frasae, withln ‘which fa painted tho name of tho car, witl {he word + 1nted Btates Post-Oflice ¥ abovo and helow. Along the upper cdgo and_centre are painted the words in Largo gilt lutters, * The Faat Mail,” whiloon s luy with theso worda al vither end, In 8 AqUSTe, afo tho worda in liko le Now York Crbiral” and * Laka Shore." T} 0 and minuto trimmings around the windows are also of giit fnish, At tho lower sidoa and enda of tho cars are oval_correspunding to thoso ou which the niataca ars painted, sud ouciosed at ono end a pafntad landscapa aceno in the background, and iuthe relief an allowcing eye, boncsth whick' is o pyramid ioacribed with it Howan figures, *MDCCCLXXV.,” and tho motto * Novus ordo seco- rim." At the onposite end, {n tho eamo colors vn 4 blae background; I tho United States cost of-arms. Tn running nppolntments, aa well as all others, the mont impartaat pateats Lave boen slected. T platformn tre inclosed on elther sido by swinging Hlcors, whicl can e fasloned open at will to_provent diaturbances by wind whou the tal) matter ls betug zucked from tho tenders to the distributing cars, and alto aa s guard againat_sny danjer of ita falling’ off, The cara are supplivd with patont afe-brakea and pat- ent spring-brake, and tha cad-doors of i cars “aro protected by an {nclosod platform. On eithor slde of ‘ich car ara twa doots supplied with patont mail-bag cateher for securiug the mil aloug the route, Tho 8- feot carn aro mounted un aiz-whoel trucks, giving i ail twelvo wheel 10 cach car, while to 60-foot carn are on fourswhieol trucks, Midway batweos okch car {g ar- ronged n small box containing Apero break-benms, brake fover-rods, a et of patent enr-roplacors for use {n case & car nhould get Off the truck, and otlior maleri- al to ba used fu ca%e of any ordinary ccidont, Tho interior of the letior~diutributing cat fo ar- saugod with & view for the utmost convenictieo and dispated, Enteriug the door at one end, ou tho left s & room 4 by 10 fcet, with two windows, intended for tho Buperintendeut. Thia i suppliol wilh o bunk aad bedding of the improved sleeping-car modol, wd closed whon Dot required for wie, A louuge, 'desk, sud ehiolves for Looks, racks for papery, clotlies-hooke, cloacta, and student-lampa Jomplete this Dxtares, On_ the opposite eida are arranged, in surprisingly- amall apsoe, hot-water heaters, wach ‘atauds, lookinp- Klasses, water-cooler, sud numerous small closets for goneral uso, Oneof' thesido doors opens into this | Foam, Pasing fcom thia room tAruUgh & DAFFOW cntry tho next apartment reaclied {3 tho lciter-distrib- uting offloe, srotnd which counters aro arranged, the Loxes lottored with tho nawes of Jucalilios, 546 1 num- Ler, fling tho spaca abosq the counterti and slons tho alilde, Tror safcs aro also provided for the rocepton of valusbla packegos, This compartment 15 lightod by winuowa from thio caping, and for uight-work elx atudent lainps arranged ia copvenient oriler Lave beo furniatied. Batween this rooi and tho opposlto oud uuimerous Looks are placed along the sldos for tho To- ception of mail baga, wud tho spaco intervening i to bo used for tie alstribution of uch wnincellxneoun nowapapers a may bo recelvod tn tho lotter-bage, For this purposo binety-iwo larga boxes are Tlacod in ons end of the lottor-disiributing ofiice, with outward thools supplied on thio opposlis side with hooks, from Which thn. mall-bags are sus Bida ventilation fa furnished rop sash (0 the clovated roof, covered o Lo oulaldo with wiro gouze to provent disturbances from 2100 {rea rush of airand from dirt, Fach car has en doubilo Windows,—31 Ly U1 Inches—tlio lop sash hiade to drop, - Bestdes tlienc, In each of tha four sids dcurs aro four tighte, togather ticaauring 12 by 1 inchien, i each door. loor. Tho paper-distributing cars aro 60 foot in langth snd of thioksine widili aud helght as the others, aud_the ramio ottward finkih with the exceptious namod snd the arrangement of the doors and windows, This clasy uf postal-car is {ntended oxclusively for newepapers, Tho boxes, ninoty-four 1 number, 1ro arrauged along tlo letz side of tho car for a littlo’ more than Lnlf tia length, Thoso boxes are calculated to hold just one canvas of newey. d sro butlt with shoots and catelies for the ays ol tho Inalde or outer edgo, where tho bagn are suspeuded during tho process of distribu- tiou, ng portion of Hio car is for gencral uwo, And aupplicd Wl trucks xad otlier Cacilitioa for ‘miotlug, if necemsasy, heavy loads of taall matier from ono cod of the train to thy othur without oy extra iabor or danger of mishap, In the buildlng of theae cara nons of thio patterns of thoso in usa by tue French or Luglsh postal servico wore followed, aud, intact, the Eugllah postal sarvice Ling aleoady requestod oxtorior sud interior viewn of thess cars. Tlio cost of the [stter-alutributing cars iy about $4,200 each, aod of the nowspaper carw $3,300, tha ditieronce tu tho price of construction being cocar eloned Uy the differeics in tho intorior wurk, Thocarsaro painted white for other than esthetic purposes, Alr, Bangs eays that thoro are 250,000 letters mailed overy night iu tlus couutry, many of thewm at postal-cay boxes, and that shi distinctivo color will coable porsvus to dintinguish barwoon s postal-car and o frelght- car in tho dark. AAVETY MIASURLS, Tho utmost procauticus had boon takon for tho eafely of the train. Tho Post-Oftico Dopart- went and tho rallroad wero especially anxious that no accidout should bofsll tho trst train, “Tho moat posfuct applisuces for upoed aud ssfe- ty known to modern railroad sclonco wore put i use for this traln, The time-uchodule way sdopt- ed especially for it. ‘Thio train Lsd the abavluto right of way. All trmins wore by specisl or- der requircd to keep on eido “tracke from fiftoon to threty ninutes whenovor this train was due. The four postal-cars “acd the drawing-room car, of which tho train wag coruposed, wero all put in motion the morujng betore starting, fu order thac the oxact condi- tion of the jouruals might bucome koown, It was woll undeérstood that o hot journal migHy dofeat the purpose of tha tratn, and all that akilled railrond men coutd do was dono to pro- voot thia, It was clauned by thouo who con- structod the cars that & now’ journal might bo mado to keep cool a4 well o an old one. But it was to bo u seyoro tebt Lo rub uow joutusls for & thoussod miica with but few sioppages. ABRIYAL OF TIE NAILA. By bait-past § o'clock 1 tho morning & largo portion of the letter maut, which conaisted of tho must of the collections of the precediog dsy af’or tho clogo of thoe pight mal dispateb, had brou roceived, but It soemed asif something raust bo wrong with the newspapor mail. Thero had bean raceived and stowed nway nearly 40 tous of mall in bags and bundlos, it which wore pscked the weoklios and periodicas, but tho groat daily nowspaper mail lad not cowe. A fowmiautes before 4 o'clock, howavor, aclattor of borsca' hoofs and the eharp click sud rumblo of tue Leavy truck wagous, wero heatd, and steaming Liorses soon rushod up Lo the doory of the white fiuul train, which stood $horo like & spectre in the night, and the luge buudlos of newapapers, wot frous tho prees, wero thrown in, Tall, sinewy men in waitiug, stand- ing like statues in their places, and familiar with every wotion of tueir work, vsught the huge bundlos as rapidly sa the skilled truckmen could deliver them. Tuo pymunstio exerclos which were performed were astonlshivg to wis- nees, eud notwithsiandivg the toughness of tho sinews, snd tho #kill of the wmuscles, beads vt verspiration were plainly visible on ‘the ruddy faced of tha crew, . About 4, these mon seomed overwhelmed with hogks, huadice, and saoks ok all ahispas, goloze, #izos, and lengths. Au tho fingor of ‘the clock advansod, the activity incroased. At s minuto hofora qusrter-past 4, the mou at the doors were apparently working for their liver, Dascels af newapapors Jike caunon ahot huried pest them, Jmnll packagen like munletry worn fiying ovor their hoads. At Jast tlhie ioinute-hand showed that the hour of 4 o'clock and 15 minatos had come o thelr rescno. Two minutes moro, and tho volco of tne conductor was bieard, cloae ‘and abiarp in the wmorning Air: 11 ALT, ABOAND: Tiso hand of tho anginser who was to guida tho great train on its porilous journey wad upon tho throttio, and the worda wore scarcely nttorod be- foro the stosm apod throngh the boviels of the groat engine, No. 67, Englaoor, Lot Milliken,and tho train began to move. ————— ON THE ROAD. NREW HANRUNO —AN UNITAPPY ATGTOY, To thiows uf us who knaw the hintory of that ongino the knowledgs way not & happy augury. It waa that vory ongino which, drivon by that pold ongineer, ** Doc™ Himmons, mado that droadfut ride to death st Naw Jlamburg in Marah, 1871, Bov ¥, 'aylor hae written of that timo, when Flanked by rugeed rock snd river, Deatls and donbly #ide by side— Hand upon the mighty bridle, Nant hormemsn ride | Fes tho ponderons Creatiife coming, Bway and swing slong tho track, Weo know that Now lismburg was not so far shead, and that oven the bold ** Doc™ Bimmous had not dresmod of groater epcod than was to Lo o reality with Fat Milukon. Into the dark tunnels undor Fonrth avenus, & marveloua pioco of angincoring, Millikon drives the angino, ‘Tho apeed i rapidly incroased, and builaiogs, telo- graph-poles, station-loueos, bridges, and mail- wagonn ily to tho rear like ehells through & mor- tar, Tho train flies around curves, flies through tho deop rock cuts at tbe rato of 45 miles per hour, and {8 urgod on by the fesrless driver to greaterspoed, 1n fiftesn minutes,andleas, woeero at Harlem River. Tho locomotive headlights in tho rosr soon vsnishod into glowsworms. Tho lanterns of tho signal-man bocame fite-npecky as soon nd thoy were passed. Bpuytan Dyyi! aud its dreamy momories is noon loft in the rear. ‘I'he onlygimmpee that can bo canglit of It is &_speck or twa of humanity etruggliog with wail-bags and a bundlo of newa- popers, just as tho thud of tho catcher su- nonnces that & messago from tho land of lrving Liss boou taken on for tho groat West. Tho hungry maw of tho fiing ongiuo s nevor satis- fied.” More coal i crowded inlo its ravenous throat, aud the Bebemoth of modord® times jn- creaael specd, loaving Yonkers, Hardiog, Tar- rytown. Peekakill, and ovtlier towns of tfovolu- tionary aud lterary weraory, bobiud ot the rsto of 50 milos porhour. TIE DL UT TIE HUDHON woa the picturesquo feature of the journoy, The sconic offects were marvelous, — Thera was the noblost river i Amaerica, the miet assuming the most weird-liko forme, nhruudmf #hip4, and pino-cind bisle, and palissden fu iia occy folds. 'Fhere wore tho atrugpling moon, aud tho advancing day. Tho mist aud cloud belts which girded tho mountaius wore lighted upon the one Bido by tho flood of silver light of tho rotiting morning moon, and were tippod upon thy othor eido by tho roseste bues of coming day, 'Lhe saila Jyipg in the coves sud oflug, or umunfi dul‘ullflr jn tho ebbing tido, showe: this wsmo doublo coloring. 'The moon was strong encugh to plereo thn mist at_tho horizon, aud left s hugo silver disk upon tho distant water, with Lrokon Leams of silver stops leading to it, whilo crosaiug these, Jiko ndditional rounds in this doublo natural lad- der, leading through water, mist, aud moon. were faiut touches of tho reddening rays of mosning light. Dands of miat girted tho wooded peak kuown ss Anttony's Nose, like tho girdlo of Puck about o vory rugged Venus. And through thoso scencs tho great train sped, hurl- ing great lumps of firo from the reur wheols, like * pections of tho doy of jndgment,” Tho train is matched to beat the wind, It dashies about curves, roars thraugh tuonels, aud #wayy aud _tromblos at ovon 45 milus an hour, Tay Mr. Worcester, Geueral Superiotoudent of the New York Contral, secs that the schodulo timo is not boiug smade. Tho schodule time iy desperate Bpeed for tho road slong the hno of that curving river, Heo camo forward to tell tho eugincer that the spoed cught to ba wcreased. Tho angineor replios : +The track is grossy ; I will soon lot out, and will be on time." Ho did *Jet out.” Tho tremondous ongion made a leap oy if fordeath. The speed quick eus. Villagos becomo flitting epucks. Tho lim~ ber, siuawy trala follows ita iron mastor, and rumbles nlong tho steol rails at 60 miles au hour. Tho cars moved witu scarco _a jar. Faw guenta kiew tho rate of spced. Tho engincor know overy inch of tho stoel rails. Straight over the New Hamburg bridge, of dismal mem- ory, No. 57 took another ieap, aud this time landed on tho other sido. ‘Tho speed keops ou. «Dead Man's River ™ is paat. At G o'clock and © minutes Ponghioepsio is reachod, and the en- gino changod. Tho uew ongine, No, 85, has yot to mako Its roputation for great s[lumd, but Goorge Miut, its driver, brougnt tho train in st Albany sven minutos shead of tho fast sahiedule timo, THE CATCHER. HOW IT WORES, Tha * catcher * s known ss Word's patont, It hias boen in uso for several yoars, aud is con- stantly recoiving improvements from its fuvent- or. Tho catchors in uso along tho lino of the fast mail traip are tho heavicet in the service. Thoy aro twico as hoavy as any that bavo over been usad betore, ‘Thay hava boon eapocially constructed to resist the tromondous pressurs which tho momentumn of tho train will give thom in doing their work. They woigh 37 pounds, and cost the Govornmont 16 oach. Tho rail- rond company erecty tho cranes at their own ox- ponse, apd kcop them iu order. For the wse of this fast mail traiu it has been nocessary to oroct acrsne at every post-ofiice on the lino of tho roud. THE CATCH-POUCHER arg very differont from tho ordinary mail-bag. They are tuch longer, have & riug al both oudy, by means of which thoy are held iu sn upright position on the crase, and are tiod in thomiddle, 10 that tho catcher can readily contine them in tairon grip, 'The eatcher-pouchios, wben hung upon tho crane, closely resombloe an hour-glass: ‘The drivors of tho - trains kuow that the wsands are rapidly ronning from tho glass of their schodulo, and dash on from pouch to pouch, from groat town to hamlot, taking up at tho ond of an iron rod tho bags which toll the story of tho day's life, ‘I'no Post-Offico Deparimont and tho railread cowpany have NEGLEOTED NOTHING which could incroase the aecurity of thia neces- sarily porilous trafn, During the weok which procodes thedepariure, Fishor, Cbiof Engineor of tha Now York Contral, aud Ward, tho Bpocinl Ageut of tho Pont-Oflico Department in clinrge of tho catchors, and their inventor, have traversod the entirg lioo of tho Toad and examined overy catchier to seo fhat it is adapted to ils purpose and is scoure. The success of the catch lazgoly depends npou tho position, stability, and adjustmont of the craue. 'Yhe catchers worked porfoctly, scarcoly & bag was_loat, and none which wore of proper length, The orauca had been resot botween tho two pasrengor-tracka, so that trains going both ways can oatch from the ssmo crano. 1t was feared thoy might not have beeu properly ad- Justed, but thiose fears were groundlvss. Super- intondont Bangs some moutlis ago was of opin- lon that it would bo poesible to catch tho maily from the top of ths car through an aper- turo which ahould at su anglo ot about 50 degtecs. 1t was thought that, if tho mails wero caught from tho top of tho cnr, tho catch might be moro certaln, and the duuger to the railway clorks, aud tho sover. sido-wreuching to the car, might be avofdedt Half & dogou patonts for catohers of this vort from the top of the car have been Kmpawl, but nous of thom hiave praved practicsblo, 5 'The great lwpo co of this **catcher sor- vice " may bo learned from THE POLLOWING CHICULAR isgucd by Mr. Baogs (o all Postmastrs and poetal cilicinly concerning its use : JNSTRUCTIONS TO PONTMANTERS COKCINNING THE UNITLD STATES MAIL-OATCHKHR, Oryice or TUE GKNIRAL BUPEMINTEXDENT TALL- war Matt BEBvics, WaniiNazoN, D, 1875, —For tio purposs of exchanging t ™ Wnd flsy stations between (hoss places and tho Kallway Post-Omice Clorks or Route Agants without an abatement ot loss of speed of thetraly, the Fust-Ofico Department bas introduced the uss af ‘a ** mall-catch- er,” causing lhio erection at sach of such atatlons of a “erapy ® ou which tbe pouch to bo exchauged by the Postmasters {8 o be huny, sud baa furplshed s supply of cauves pouchus with rings attached to Loth top sud bottom, siid strap with buckle atisched to the centrat theso pouches to be used only In making such vichauges. “Che pouch should be prepared by Postmasters as follawa 1 1£ but » amall imount of wall matter Is to ba seat, et it all Fomain {n the lowsr part of tha pouc. and buckle the strap sround middls of samo. 1t 1argo mail 4 $0 be sant, ditide it, putting a part st top, bt the moak &t the lower part of Uw pouch, bucks ling tha atrap an atnve directed. Tiuckin the steap nd the middia of tha youch in every e A Ly "(F"".“l it being thrown from the erane by th wiad of thn trnin, Jiang one ring of the paie b ou the Apper Iron of 1o crane, raien tho dropearin of the d eilp the otber riugof the pouch oo thn o, Tarn both arma and froos directly to- yrard tho track, aud fasteis the crano (npoaiion with o key, Whe tho aervica oecumn fn the night, or lotween rindet and aunrise, Always hang s light on tha crane, “Thin 14 dmportsnt. ' Hiang the porchies lock snit down, Ax £00n 88 1o (kaln lisa passed, tar the frons and tha track and fasten tho mama accursly, siated Teforo, theay canvas pouched Wero imann- factiired eapacislly and only for auch exclianged, sl 3 for 4o other purpoan, 11 18 sleolutoly cxchange of the 4 Rallwag Post- nta aro fnetracted (o re- et to bl oflico overy caro whera 8 Poatmanter fails 10 ratiien to thu mail-car tho pocl last given him, Wheunver o ponch ta worts ont, or, by rcsson of ac- client, teadered unfit for noryive, please promptly T turn tho wme to * Coutract O:fico,” Post-Ofico Do~ partmont, with scrompanying note of explaustion, Ity & carcful obrervance of the abov dirsctions, an unumual wear of the jouckos will be avolded, snd'tho certainty of the cxcLange assized, 1n il cases whore pouchea are miwsed, from care- loaanesn on tho part of tho clerk or ngent un the train, or owing ta tha “ cranio " not Leing_ pioperly ndjusted Postinnetera wil) promptly report the circumtances of the case to tho oflic —ee THEORY OF THE TRAIN, WHAT IT 18 TO ACCOMPLISY. At Albaoy seversl important 1ailrosd officlals camo on board the trat, and the first serious talk about tho purposes of tho train was had. ‘Tho railway postal system was establiehod for tho purpose of facilitating dispatel of mail be- twoen large soctions of country. and not belween the Jarger citios alone. Tho lattor purpose ie accomplished by tho systom of dircct pouches Vetwoen oxchange officos, and the postal car propet is not absolutely noeded for snch inter- chaoge. Indeed, ou many of the long lined of trunk railroad, tho throuzh pouches to distant citios are convoyod in freight cars, which are nover opencd or distributed exespt at the torminal poind. Theso through pouchos gonerally aro under tho eupervirion of the railway poatal clorks, but sometimes this through dispateh sorvico is so divorced from tho postal railway ervico that the through ponchies aro intrusted ontirely to tho emjloyes of tho railroada. Thoeo through bags are gonerally forwarded us frequently a8 trains will permit, and a3 the accomulation of mail-matter will warraut, The railway post-ofiices oro established on trunk linos leading from one grand division of the country to the other, ovor which commercial litie 1t has become mecessary tnat the mails shall pans. While In transit, o distribution is made, and the mail forwarded direcily to its destinn- dion. This local distribution while on route keops the local matter from the distributing oflicas, whero it would necessarily be delayed at lcaat from ane train to anctuer, aud would miss fwmportant connections. THL NTERLSTA OF TRADE AND TRAVEL and tho demands of commerco havo establishod cortnin yrand truvk lives of railroad, which lerdly cinoge with tho chauging years. T theso nstural commercial avonues tho mails, for eimilar reasons, conform. Tho catses which hnvo wmainly led to the cstablisbmont of railway post-ofticea on any lino of read have hoon i consideration of tha soctions thereby counocted, aud the facilitics that the railroad corporation would Lo witng to ezteud ta tha Goveramont. The Deopartment has generally adopted the Yollc)l of selectiug for the postal cars tha great inos of travel. Such a policy bas permitted the Dopartment to use to thair maximum capacity facilitios for which It pays. The postal clerks, &l4o, by roason of tho massing of Lho great maily ou cortain thraugh linca, can perform their ardu- ous duties with bettor diepatch aad_eflicioncy, and with greater cconowy of time, Tho ystem of centralizotion, or ma4sing of tha mails, has beon found to be sbsolutely essential to the ac- curascy of mail distribution. Tho postal clorks aro required to moke, whilo in parsko, & detail- ed distribution of mails for every railread route. important offices, and sll stago routes contoring atall points on the lincof tho road. But tho oxpericnoo of tho postal rallway scyvice bna shown that it is imposeiblo for auy one clerk to maator tho wholo country. ‘Tho eelection of ona particalar routo of travel, nnd the munlufigr large amounts of mail wpon it, enabley the Department to PRACTICKACONOMY- in tho followiug ways ¢ ., Firat—'Lho railroads are compensated for mail upon tho basig of the weight carried. This com- ponaation decroascs for cortain weights, sccord- 1ng a8 the welght carried by aoy ouo road in- creares. ‘Tho moro mail concentrated upon any ono road, tho lesa tho cost to the Governmont per Lon. v Sccond~-It perniits the Departmont to nulizo tho railway postal-cars to the utmort possiblo oxtont, and decreasss tho cost of postat-cara to each ton carriod. Ureater and moro efiiciout service can bo obtained from tho railway postal- olerks by cuabling thom to porform tbeir work within limitod aroa. ‘This makes tho .distribu- tion of cach ton cost less. 1t somatimes hap- ens that, owing to this ayatem, along trauk inos malls aro carried ou_this traib, though not tho most direct routs, and, as tho Goverument pays according to tuo wolght carried per milo, the cost of such mails would "bo wore.f§Tho Dopartmont considors that it is perfectly jnstified in carrying small weights of mail, and mails farther than Ly the shortest route, if by 4o dolng it can make tho samo timo and connections to tho placo of destiuation, aud cau, bosidos, give Lo thesa localities tho ndvautago of a liaflway Post-Oflice which mill preveut delay at distributing offices. By diverting thono smaller pails, tho cxpensa of ‘aa slditional Railway Poxt-Oflleo 15 saved, whilo tho commuuity ro- ceives Its malls with oqual dispateh, and tho General Govornment iu tho aggrogate ssves largo sums of mouney. THE PIMAT TON of mail earried on a raitroad costs the Dopart- ment 8150 per milo per annum ; the next 1,600 pounds costa $25 r‘ur milo por aunum additional, The oxponsa to the Government of tho railway- postal sorvice por anaum is from 25 to 850 per wmtle. It will thus boscen that by diverting o ton of mail, and carrying it 1,000 miles fusther, it will cous 2,600, while it may eave tho estab~ lshmout of a railway Post-Oftlco, with its fult comploment of from oight to sixteon clerks, with an avorage salary of 1,200, over a routo 200 milea in length, Tho apgrogate saving to tho Departniont from this diversion of maild is vory largo, whilo the local communitios reccive the advautago of the boster serviceof a firat- class railway Post-Offico. In establishiug a fass mall-lino TIE FIRST CONBIDERATION af the Post-Office Departmont was to obfaln facilities from some railroad which formoed o natural counoclh:g_ link botween gront scctions of tho country, The Lake Blioro Iload was the first trunk-line connacting tho Eastand Woust that offeroa the Dapartment theso oxtouded ficilitics. Thia wae, subsequently dono by the Erie and New York Central Railroads and ‘their counocting lines. The resnlt ot these increased fncilitics was tuat an {mmenso ratlway postal svatom grow alopg the lines of thoso roads. The heaviost mailv any- whoro {n the " United Statos aro mow transported and distributed along ths line of the Lake hore Road, These lines—~tho New York Central and the Laxe Shors—formed the most direct councction between the Now England Buates, New York, and the Middie, Westorn, nnd Southwestern Btates, The New York Central, the Hudson River, and Lake Bhore Camrlulnm wero the tirst which offorod the I'oat-Oflice Do- er(munl- thio fast train to bodevoted oxclusively o mails, sud to bo run upon a echiedulo fxed Ly the Department. This offer, tho Department considerod, contained all the esacntial conditivns for » tiret-class fast lino, TILESK CONDITIONS ABE? Firsi—A direct conuocting )k betwoen 20,060,- 000 of peoplo, i Scond—All the facilities in reapect of carsand time that thie Dopartment fudicated, Tho reasons which controlled the Post-Ofiice authorities ju catablishing this fost line of rail- way postal service are statéd to be theso: First, to coucentrate enough muil on oue or more uf tho trunk routes which should cowmpensate tho rairoad companiée for a trailn run at s sufticient- Iy high rate of speed to make throngh connec- tious, and to Lava the train thoroughly equipped i allats Aprninlmenu. Becoad, Lo concontrata so mitch mail on ono routs sa would enablo a large force of railway postsl clerka to work ta the ut. wost advantage, This system pormits ono cleik to bocomo an expert on a certaln Stato or Btates, and enablos him alsa to employ evory moment of thne while tie traln is in mo- tiou. Third, the fast mail tralu will’ eusblo the Dopartment to better utilize alarge force of trsiuod inen Alroady at work upon “the regular traivs. Fourth, the Department desired to ob- tain mith tho same conditions &1 to spood the line of road which should be the noatest & lavel and straight one, 'I'he expsrieuce of tho Dost- Onico Departmont {4 toat clerkn at work in poatat csreon lines where the curvea are pumerous and sharp do not sttaln the same eficioncy, or vorform a4 good sorvice, as do clerky upon rosds Which arte mearly atraight. 'he rosson Of this 18 duo to the fact that the oclerka upoa the crooked roads cannot ba at tho same physicel 6aso aa on the straight roads, Utiss fact that on this account the postal suthorities have oot bosd abla to equip tho fast mall train for the over the Pennsyivania Road from Nov York with gkilled men. Huch men do not exiat, and naw otes bave to b taken and trained for that wpncinl Jino of distrivution. Jt s unposxibio 1o atand at & disttibuting csan in & train poing at thmilos sn hour nrouud aharp corners, and do the asmo work in tho samo timo as over tho Now York Central and Fakn Bhoro, This ia 8 very oeseniial practical fact in econnection with the choice of lines, It wan anbmitted to_Tom Hcott at tho conferenco betwaen him snd the Post-Office offi- clala 10 Anguat, and hie admitted its portinency, OTUER BEARONA. Tho tollowing pttncipal reacons furtber influ- enced the Post-Office Dopartment in its chowce of the Now York Central and Lako 8horo as th lina for the principal fast train: Tho Depart- went desirod to reach Chicago In meason to maka good connectiond in Indiapa, Iowa, Il noiv, ond Michigan, It desired to Teach Clevelsud in " timo to make con- noctions through Obio. Bouthers Indisna, (tucinvatl, and tho Ohio River Htatex. Tho chin? point to Lo gained by the fast acheduls hettveen Naw York and Clevolsnd was to recure thean Kouthern und Bouthwestorn con- neetionn, The time-table was areanged cpe. cially to that end, and an examination of it will show that tin time from Cleseland west to Chi- cago Ia considarably lesa then from Now York to Cloveland. Tue Departmont alao wished to ar- rive at Aibany to make complete connection with the Now Engiand States. Ly siriviog st Albsoy at 7 o'clock fu the morning TUE LNTIRE HEW ENGLASD MAIL of the preceding day from thie farthest polnt wav aown Fast to Martha's Vineyard is cotlocted and etarted on its war to tho Mississippi Liver, The Post-Uflice anthonties have sought to maka it nndoratood that thoe fant mail-truin was not entablibed to benefit the Lwo citien of New Yotk and Chicago or any other two cities exeln- wively, Itisvorvevident. cu n practical fact, that to rmo n troin between New York and Chic carta in twenty-foar hours will not mazonally al- yanco or delay tho mailsin either city over ntrain Funning on tho present echedile. Chicago and Now York are not far cunugh apart to canso any appreciabla difference from wuch au arrangement. 1n eithor avent tho mails conveyed in twenty-four hoars betweon these two terminal points must arnvo atone cud or the otlier afier bueinoss hourn. For practical purpones Infters arriving by tho fast train_cannot reoch business honscs a'great deal carlier than they would if they cama by tho regu'ar tratn. Tho gam upon letters dis- {Fibuted by carriers yestorday morning from the faat train was, however, quit; appreciable. THY, CLEREY OF THE CHICAG0 OFTICE designated to prepare the local mail for distnbn. tion’ by letter carriers boarded thn frainat El- cott, and Lisd all the Chicago city mail claasified, Ly sintions snd carner districte, und pouched ready for defivery upon tho ar- tival of the train n this city at €:25 voster- dny morning. Theso pouchos wero iinmadiately takon to tho sub-stations and distributed to tho lotter-carricrs, who had delivored all tho Jotters by Lislf-past 8, Under the former srraugomont nons of thesa lotters wauld Lave been distribut~ ed before 10 o'clock, while most of them woald aot have reached their destination befors 12 o'clock. The purr:03 of the Post-Oflics Department in the catablisument of this train 19 MUCH MORE COMPREUENSIVE than wonld be a desiro to promote the mail fa- edities of suy two commetcial cities which might Lo tho termiual roinis of the train. Tho theory of tho Department is. that tho following arc tha sections more im- madiatoly beoefited by tho nortberu train : ‘The New England and otber Esstern States, Tu- diaua, Michigan, fllinois, Wisconsin, Minnosots, lown, Northern Shis:ouri. and tho Ktates aud ‘Territorios weat of the Mia:ouri River, sod tho eptire Pacific Cosst. The ends of tho earth and tho sslands of tho koa are mlso not forgotien, for the establisbment of tluy traiu lessons the distance betweon New York and Hong Kong by from ono (o two dava, The g‘il supplied by tho States and sections menllonod was groat cnough to enable thie Department to purchase the fag: train and the firal-class facilities nfforded by it 1tin tho [urpoze of tho I'ostmastor-Gen- eral to extend liko facilitiod to nll grezt sections of tha country as fast as tho Departmont can find railronda to tako tho mail with tho condi- tious ns to spood And upon tho eamo terms. A MOLE TECUNICAL DESCRIPTION OF TRE 8PE- CLAL BENEFITS aceruing from this train s thi: Tt takes up a1 Atbany a connection from Bos- ton, which leeves that city betwpen 10 sud 12 o'clock tho proceding evening, to which hss bacn added the culteetions of mail trom all points bo- tweon Boston and Albany, and brsuch roads conuocting with the Loston & Albany fload. Tho trsin gives all of New York State a dispatch of mai! from carly moruing nn- til 3 o'clock in the alternoon. It ronches Clevo- Iand at 7 p. m., conuecting with Cincinoati and il pojuts Bouth and Soutbwest. It arrives ot Toledn nt 11 o'clock at night, and malkes con- nections by tho Tolado, Wabash & Western througb Iudisna ond Southern Iiloia, avd atrives at 8t. Louis in timo for an afternoon delivery tho next day sfter leaving Now York. It also counects at Yoledo with the train from Detroit, arriving thero ¢arly the next morning, while it coapects with all points in Michigan by the regular trains. Tho object s to bLave the train arrive in Chicago to make councction with every train out of that citv i tho morning 0 88 to reach tho !Uuhslp'vl Rivor beforo vight, and to srrive at tho Miesissippl River, at Kansas Cfll‘:nnd Umals, in timo {0 toake connectiona with tho sonthern traios for the Territories aod the Pacific Coast. ‘This connection at tho torm- inal points of tho Pacific Hailroads in {tsclf gans oo entire day, as but ono mail train leaves for the Pacific coast ovor theso roads dmly, and that doparts now befora tho arrival of the Eaatorn 1ails, 80 that tha latter aro now obliged to le at the Missonn River for twenty-four hours, A TOUR BUGUESTION, Tt the train shonld leara Now York atnight, 18 has been yuggosted by those who claim that tho choica ot the morning hour was dictated in tho interosts of the New York nowspapers, the connectjons in the West would bo very differout. A great many of tho valuable connoctions Wost woald b lost, and _tho gain which is made by oxtra arecd would boof little benent to tho ter- ritory immediately contignous to_the lind of road. 1P thotrain should leavo Now York at night tho mails for Ohio and a small portion of Indiana wonld be delivered during davlight mext dsy. But tho advantage would bo very littlo over tho present titne, as tho distanco 1s not sufficlently great to mako a very warked difference. The maily which should leave Now York 1n a fast train at night would arrive intho differont parts of Indiana, Michigan, Ilinois, and Wiscovsin at night, and would nat bo delive erod in Chicago uutil the nost mornine after ar- rival, which would be the morning of the second day oftor leaviog New York, 1y this computa- tiou it will bo seen that tho differenco of half s day in starting from New York makes tho differenco of an entiro busi- ness day in tho delivery of letters In Chicago, Tuo mail which should eome by tho 1aat train from New York leaving at night would be delivercd in Tows, Minnesota, aud Missonri during tho second day after leaving that city, but the mail for all poiuts westof tho issour: River would not b delivered or forwarded until the third day, which is the case undor the prosent time and system. Tha gain with the night mail- train from New York would mot be very. good, as tho New England tralos would only contain the mmils which leit DBoston eari; in she morning, and which clossd in dif- erot parts of New Engiand tho previaus night. This would be & loss to New England of tho entire night provious to the starting of tho tnln‘fmm Now York under the presont arraogo- ment. THE FOLLOWING 6CHRDULE will show Lhe timo at which the Poet-Office au- thorities hopo to leave mall in tho principal Wostern citios, whera conndvetions can be mado at ‘Clxlcngo and elsewbero with tbe fast mail- train: ——— THE QUESTION OF COST. PAY OF THE RAILICADS, The Post-Office suthoritios malntaln that, the rallroad companics have been sery liveral In fitiog up this tratn, Notwitlstsndwg the tlerco attacks of opposition jourusly, it weoms ta Lo & fact that the railroads will not osrn as much in the aggrogate by this sysem of faut trains as they would by slowor metuods. - The computation of the amount they mill recolve s & vory casy one. It requires only a copy of the Rovised Bialotos, & time-tablo, and a littls knowledge of arithmetic, Tuere {a no myatery about it, It is not, ss Lias boen cherged, & qupy- tion of a profit of an eatrs million dollara rallroads, The eatire ocomponsa- tion to tho railroad companica along this north lino for a'! tho railway mnil servico betwaen Cll- engo and Now Yorl ia to e atout 2730,690 por annum, Thirjsabiont2200,000 morothan tho pre:- entcont of tho snrvice. 'Ihisinoludes fourthrough mail traing daily, two ordinary *30-mile-an- hour " traina, two faat mail tralns, ono each was. Loslden, thorois tho groat emonnt of local and partls-through mail sorvico, which {8 includod in tnis sum. Thore are a grent many dispatehes of mafl by oxtra ard *flag” trains. Thero mro, for instance, etz daily maily botween New Yorkx anl tochaster, fivo from New York to Buffalo, four from Boston o Baffalo. Tho same i truo a4 to nearly all tho loading citica. 'Theso oxtra dispatchies of mail. and all tho sorvica of Lho rallroads, wush ag de- lvering mails to Post-Officen within 100 yards of the atations, the eroction and the maintenanco of tha cranes, aro all wncluded in the sggregats enm paid. THE INCREABED TOXIENSATION paid the railroad companica on accaunt of theso £1st traing 14 #50 per mile more thas thev naw receive. Tho eorvico is practicatly donbied. Tho companios are oatitled o receivo pry for the cars thor uow run ab {Le rate of $45 per milo por anoum. Thenumber of cars run nndor the naw arrsogement i8 doubled. Tight care are to run throngh daily; foor nre now ran, 'The * round trip " is %69 miles, The torm * rounl trip” (s a tochuical ralirond aut Dost-Oflice tern in this connection. The nge grogazo anfbnat paid is doterined by muitiply- iug ¢68 miles by ¥800, the ngpresate cosl per 1ails per anuum for the esutire sorvice. Husmu itendent Goorgo Bangs says npon this subject of comypengation : ** I hopo that this will pay the tailroad companics, If it does not they wiil got tited of tho tramns, sod withdraw thes." Of courso, if thoy shonld do ro, tho Tostmaster- Goneral i nt the merey of tho railronds, so far 1 the continuance of the faat tratus go, Il power to coupensate tho railroads for trans- porting the mals is very clearly dofined by wtatute, 1l can only pay so much per ponnd per miie, nnd_eo much i tho gross agricgato per aonoin. o has no power Lo contract with the tailruad companies to carry tho mails 8 mile a minute. Tho woeed, within cortain general hm:lm. 1 eotirely discrotionary with the rafl- 10uds. The following was tho achedulo of rates for railroad mall eervica under the act of March 3, 1473, Tuone eompaneation has not been greatly chauged Ly the amendstory law: Payver annum prr mile of ronte's lenuth Awerage weight of maia vhate dratance per day, 2 pounds 10 pounds 34,009 pounds 45,000 pousids. 5,000 pounds Raliroad Post-Otfice carv, 40 feet.... $. Iwilroad Post-Oflico carn, 43 feet. ... 31 per daily Hus Jattroad Fost-Olice carw, 50 fect.... 40 per dails Nno Hatiroad Pout-UtLca cars, 56-60) fect.. 50 per dauy Lino BTATISTICH. The following statistica give an idea of the do- velopment and growth of ‘the Railway Postal- Servico. The firat column reproecnts tha years, tho second tho number of miles, and tho third the compensation paid : o orneias FO0 ‘per aily lino ho following later statement will ba publish- od ix: tho fortheoming report of ‘tho Pustuaster. tieneral ¢ mber of miles of K. P, 0, Juno 20, 1874, ., Number of milcs of R. I’ O, June 10, i¥75.. of mlles arvice pasforiasd anutially, RAILWAY POSTAL CIVIL-SERVICE. ODSPIVATIONS OF THE WOLK OF TIUE PONTAL cLEDKS while en route, convinced aljjthe gnests that the akill necessary to tbat work is the reault of | long training. Tho civil-servicoof the railway postal system i8 that a man shall do ono thing aad do it well. Thoroughnens, exactnees, sccuracv, and great physical enduraco, are tho conditions of tho tenure of offico and tho basis of promotion in this romsrkable branch of Government sctivity, ‘Iho eystem is a vast machiue, comprising not only our own Ilepublie, but all the countries of civilized man, and in order to secure perfection ta tho syatem, it is nocessary that overy one man ehould bavo s daty which he can perfoctly perform, The rilroad postal clork might not be able to calculate an eclipso, to ac- carasely stato tho height of the Himalayas, or to read Greok, but he is certain ncver tosonda letter designed for Podunk Cross-roads to lam- sehatka,or to lookto tho Antipodes for the homes of poople when Lts route louds past their doors, The civil-uervico eystem in tho railway mail sorvice ia the most perfect in any branch of the Qovernmont, Thoe Ueneral Government systom has boen abandoned, and the rules formally ab- roated, bt the systom whick was introduced in tho railway mail eervice by Mr. Dangs. befora thae clvil servico in other deparimonia of the Govornment was establishod, still oxistw, and sields succesaful results. It is to this system that the remarkablo accuracy snd efliciency of all fhio ofticials of tho rallway mail service, from the tumble **papet-ferkor™ on s branch road, to Thompson, the Suporintendent of the lightning mail train, 18 due. The motto of this civil-ser- vico system cousists in tho gonoral order of Buperiutendont Bangs, p **KEEP Ti: CARD-CAYES NOT." The eard-caso is the basia of tho aystem. [t is the post-oftico wordd lu & microcosm. There i# no dream-work about it. It1s a railway postal cat in tha shapo of sn urrlgm cauo with pigeons loles, At tho ofiice of the Divikion Buperin- tondents, and of chiof clorks at same pluces, there i fitted up s lotter-caso of peculiar cone struction, Tho bozes of pigeon-holes in this caso are lsbelod with tho uamed of tho varions railway post-offices, route agoucics, aud dis- tributing post-ofticos within tho sroa in which the overatyr s to work. Theso coBoa urn labeled in & sftilar mauver to thoss iu daily u30 on tho mallcars. Tbis casd b caflod «+tho Ciril Servico machluo, " and in tho card- caso which Buperintendont Bangs intonded that the postal clerks sliall keep Lot. ‘Thla case, with ita Iabaols, ropresenty all tho raliway connoating 1ines, tho ralway post-oftices, snd tho towns wud Huntes with which tho postal clerks_within the flold of their respective dutios must bo familiar, Thoe case 18 thu goography of the country in which they work. tiroat numbors of small cards, cut tn fit easily, intothe pigoun-boles, represont tho letters aud papars which are to be distrib- uled throughout that country. Upon thoss cards are written Dames ropresenting overy post- oftice, rallway post-oilico, Toute agenoy, and dis- tributing otlice ju the given State of jurisdiction wherao the clork isto work. Tach box 1s about 4 inchus squars upon tho faoo of the case, sad 8 Inchew in ~depth, Tho cards lle in packages by tho aide of .the case. 'I'he clerke ure roquirsl to mske distribotion of (beso cases according to the official echemes which locate the destination of I oftices for the rospoctive Statos, ‘I'heso schomon, howover, are uot referred to during the oxamination, and the clerks are roquired to depend upon tueir memory alone, After the cards are all distributed the Chief Clerk, or per- wuna dotailed as clvil-sorvice cxaminers, soske aa oxamipation of the work, entor iu tha goneral rocord book tho numbes of cards properly dis- tributed, the number of mistakes, the numbor concorning whoso classitication tho cleck id iguoraut, and the time roquired for that the clerk In fucapshln of verforming i daty, ho 18 ranoved. In caso it Is & bead clork faiis, an oxamination of all the clerks within 1 that railway poet-ofiice juriediction is pranarel to fill a vacancy. ‘Ihi:ro is alro A PYSTEXN OF CHECKA in oporation by which a Divislon Superintenden’ can tell the numbor of errara_each olark In hir Wivision mnkes overy month, Theso ohooks arc tn daily operatton in tho ratiway postnl-cars They aro conducted I3 tho folloiug manner: Evory clezk in furniched with alips of papes twica Lho nize of the ordinary letters, whick ho it enquired to plnea unon erel prctaze arsortod by him avd distrivated in tho rail say poatal-car, Tho clerk writes his name and places his post stamp upon_ this alip, and atiaches it to enc package, Upan one cornor of tha &lip tha fol owing words aro printed, a3 an iustiuction tus clerk who will opeu the packago : Examine contents, nula errorn, glve ollice, eounty 0] Btate, sl roturhy faboled to' Arslstant Huperin {enlent of Mall Raliway Servicaat —. When these Iabels aro raturned to tho nffico 01 the Asaistant-Buperintondent or tho Division. Superintendent tho eriors wotail are axaminod, uud o rocord mavde of them in tho clork's gen- eral secannt. Theso recordn ars kept In largn Ladgers, in which esveiy elosk Lsuadebit an credit acconnt, Thero tents by carda in the case-oxamination are very gevern, amd the memory of the opera- tor mnnw: neceswatily bo vory rotentive, to make no mistnkes. The tests in tho distribution, or throving of the eards, aro made by countiea aud fowns. Iu the Btato of Now York alons thora arn 2,400 towns to which the carda mnust bo thrown. Tho fact that tho writera of lettora very rhrels write tho names of conuting iy a great hindranca 0 the facility of distnbution, and reqaires clorky to exercige greater care. 1n tho State of Ponn- sslvanis thore are 3.000 post-ofices. It inthe custom far tho (eneral Superintondent of the wervics whenover the record «f a elerk ahows bac work to addreat him t. porsonal lotter, informing: Limof the facts, and stating that unlo<a ar. im- provement is, mada in tho next month his re« mosal will ba nofessaty. The following i+ A SINTLE RECORD of a partinl transcript of tho report of an exom- ination of an applicant for promotion: Ezamination of Jobn Don by Richari Ro Btate your ege, Virth-rlace, realdence, timo in thn rervice, facts of your Lusiness history, snd porsonal )alh:lll. T folle A1 nawera to theso . ce cont wned 1o the record 1 ¢ 3 readlly lounda hisown county, Statr, and country, and han 8 wood knowlsigoof ihs loeas tion of ihio seversl Stater, e haa o goul knowledgo of all the conntles fn {hn Min of New York and m st of the border counthst of tho wdiscout Klsten, o fs thorougbl: acquainted with oll the rallwny post-otfes routes di New York, their direction and trminal pofnts. Iin kot thetr direction, and the time of thio arrival end derartute of 1rajns, and bas a good “knowleds; buniness of (le Routo Agents. Il Lz » fair know) edca of the leading router fn tho Ftatea west of Ne York tor which ho expecially disteibutes, 110 bas gen erally a very good knowledge cf thu service., “Tue folliwing 88 {ho record of hiv cato o amsination: Total number of cards thrown, 933 eorrect, 803 wrong, M ; unknown, % time of throw- ins, two hours, An erscntial element 1n this Civil-Servico eys- tom aro TIE RAILWAY-POSTAL RCIENLS, Theso echumues aro devieed by Capt. J, T, Me- Grath, of Chicago, forwerly ot Washington, and now i tho Chicazo ottice, 'Ha hay been in the servico wince Juno, 1447, 1ls commenced ¢a tY © Northwestern Liailror L e an assistant clerk, H) 1as been {u charge of all the schiemes in thoe en- tire conutry. Gept. 13, 1963, bo imsncd no ex- perimental #cheme for all the railway poet- oftices in tho West. 1t was on one shcat, cov- errd tho entiro couniry, 3ad was tabulated as followa : Btate. 1 Where sont. ceptions, ‘ Wero, "This of cotrko wna vory crude. At that timu all tha Stato of Alaama was eont to Nathrif and the whole of Arkansas to Cairo. schemo gavo Capt. MeGrath such detailed nowlodgo of.the topoursphy of tho countr: ‘that ho very soon began to improve, The Illinoi schemo wasd the flrst goneral ouo of the States that was over madn. It waa publistied in counties, with exeaptions, locating the catiro Stato witl all tho prostal routes, This enabled clorka specifio rontes to obtain an entiro knowledgo the distribation of this Stato. This schemo wa:t mede under Mr. Buogs when o wae stationod nt Chicago as Assista’it Supenntendent. Mr, Bangs then suggested that tho cxcoptibnn sliould bo mado up fof tho routo agents. This hiad never been thonght of until Mr, Baogs cam’ incharge of the otice. Ha took tho position that all matter contaned In tho east and wee. room iu the Chicago distribnting oftice should ba MADE UP WHILE I¥ TANSIT by railnay postal clerks and ronto agents, Tho next echemes which woro issued were for ths States of Olio and [ndfans. Tho old clerky m the distribnting post-oftices, ard mtho ralway mail servico, wern at first greatly opposed to these scheme, as they vo simplified the knowlodgo of tho coux- try and of lettee distribution that the new clerku could havo jast as good & kuowledgeof tho dis- tiibution syatem o4 tho old opes, It was tho contest of red tapo with progrees, and progress won, Thoold clerkwin the New York DPost- Otilee, prior to Mr, James' admiutstration, wera deadly hostilo to tho junovations of tho railwa: postal_system, with its “distribution schomes ™ and detailed *mapa,” Thoy had, like rom of tho oid lulks of the Treasury Depart- ment, tho monopoly which uge aud memor” givo, whon thero i6 uo systom, Thoso ofd clerks carried about in tho musty craunies of their braina tho petty dotails which wero thoir capital and which medo their prosenco possiblo, aml their salary necuro, Thewo new schomon svd maps and railvay poat-oftices camein to pull dawn tho cobwsbs, and ta publish on littlo sheots iu plain bleck Iatters tho mystorios whica had been the auclent prido of the foesils who lived upon their momorios, DBut the coorgy of Western men overcrmo the abistacles which these chioica autiques offercd to the oxtensiva and hnprovement of tho railway mail-scrvice. At firut the clerks woro remiirod to pay for tholrown achomes. Until Mr. Bangs cawo into ollico the Department had refused to expend avy monoy for thiu chart and compags of tho speed s and certain distribution of tho malls, 8o strous: had the spirit of the men with memorics take: Lold of every sourco of postal authorily. Bus the Government now very properly fnrnishes thoclerks with these schiemee, with thotopogrzpl: - {cal maps, and with mott of tho necexsary ey « plisnces for the accurato performanca of the: dutios, % VERY CLERK MOUST KKOW . net only what appears on tho list in cnch schame, but must know what towua are in each county. Evory post.offico in tho 8isto is repre- sonted on theso echiomos ; thus tlhers aro 2,000 oftices in tho Stato of Ollo, 1,500 in Iudisua, 1,300 in Michigan, Tho clorke slong tho divit- ion of rallroad post-ofticea which rups througu these States must not only Luow thoso olticer, Lut grent junay mosa, ‘Fhare Ao, of coure . orrors made in mal u§ up peckigos. O tvi o clorka in a recont disiribution on tha Laka Shoi v Rload, in ona packnge of 460 thero were 21J errors, whilo In snother packsge of 313 thero Wore but sevautest errord. TUL LOCAL FOSTMASTERS often make & great mauy orcos fu tying up Dackages, so tlat letters desfgned for eutiraly oppasite places aro frequently sont in ono pack- age from the locat oftico, Iu & yackago taken on &t Onondagn on a roceat Lrip thire wero twenty- ono lettors in & packago muked to Utica direet ; of theso but nine woro io fact for Utics, efghs were for other cities, end threo wore for thd re turn mul. It tho postal clerks had adbered to tha classfication of the local Postmaster tuo three lettors for tho roturh mail would have beeu delayed tuisty-six Lours, The wrro thesetore, which ura {requontly charged to ratlway poatsl clerks origivate with the locit Postmastera in tying up the xmhguu. Plug aystem of echomes has been very suc- cesatul, and bus not only been of great advan- tago Lo tho cloris themselves, but Las beriofited the public by proventing nistakes In sendiug t!: 1 maily. tho clork is required to dovats all lus extrs tima to tho atudy of the Bchemea. They are s wort of weographical tasp of tho soveial Siatos aud post-oiices, THXIR FURPOSE . [ ta locato every post-oftico to any given Btaic1 o tho lino of postal commnnication from whio s 15 can be supplied the quivkest. 'The elemont of fineal distancais not cousidored, bul the tims within which the letter can roach its destination. Thess achiomes are coustantly undergoing altor- ation, wecording ws the linug of tho postal sei- the work, '[his oxamination is continued through many States until the clork who is & caudidate for promotion has boeu thoroushly testoa in all the practicsl detsusof the daily duttes upon which ho sspirs Lo eutor, knd tho candidates fu addition are thorvughlv exomined 5 10 all raiiroad connectious, aud tallicay yoat oftices, and as to_tho goueral uet-work of the railuays and suilway post-oflics, the thme- tables, und goography within their own sud ad. {ucent Statos, Tho juquirics uiso extand to the Uimpatch of the wails to pruuts boyond the clerk's own territory. 'Fhiesd cxsmunstiovs are quita {requent, and thy maks ous of tho records of oificiency. . Tho systom has becowe s thorough practicai civil service, Atier tho dustribution of the case is Sowhod, iStandons of the. to the buperintsudeut o Bervico at Wasbiogton. Ir the Dailway Mail- result’ ahows vice are fucressod, ar now stage and post rootes are established. In vrder to give tho clerks the oarliest information of wuch local clanged the Buperitendent of tho railway- msil service sends cach wesk frous Wasluogton ta tho Division Buporintendont, manifold copies of sll the changes counecte : with tho exteusion uf tho pastal sorvice, aud ths eatablishinent of uew ullicos each weak,' Lhs Division Supenntendents in turn repoat thees orders (o tho chief clotks witkin pheir jurlsdl - tion, #u that within a vory fow days after the nunutest change of direction of routa fs made it bocomes kuown from Msivo taTexsd. Mo caro is taken to furpjsh information as t> ony chauges in the time-tablos of tha different railway linos sod thelr coumockions. The alightess change on any railway line is ise- modiatoly repostod to the ofico of gho Beilucy ! In order to enter into this severs compotition