Evening Star Newspaper, October 22, 1897, Page 13

— Ret ae ee erate Re ee ee TREE a I ek EFS ee ELAN eS Oren Oe et gS THE EVENING STAR;! FRIDAY, OCTOBER’'22) 1897-16 PAGES. —— Never==Hardly Ever. No other house does, ever did, of"ever will sell such “STERLING QUALITIES” “FINE FOOTWEAR.” at at the low prices as we quote. i our ice = our price for Men's 3 een foles. | Winter Set atgiee on mer i, woe New N) Py Be, Bye bale W/o Bhiped. Latics’ Handsome Sho 8 waterproof calf, dongola, black or = brown. Neat 0) end popular shapes, o Equal to $2 values. Ladies’ and Miss- es’ Prettiest Shoes offered. Fine kid or calf. All the o best styles. 73c., 98c., $1.23 Misses’ and Child’s Shoes. Neat and durzble. Men's Shoes. Tan or black grain, heavy or light soles. Great money savers. ) C2 Men’s ard Boys’ = 98c., $1.23 Boys’ and Youths’ Shocs. Solid as a rock, = 3 Men’s Boots, Bicycle Boots, $1.50, $2, $2.50, $3. $1.37, $2.69. Rubber Boots and Shoes, All Sizes. HEILBRUN & CO.,, 402 7th Street N. W. | For value | : | LOOK FOR OLD WOMAN IN SHOW CASE. wear, Best a a a ss Be ae te a a te Be ae te se ts ee ee oe ee in town. 369892620 289200869 50 cards and plate engraved for 69c. 38c. Wings, all colors. 2 AT. Bic. Ostrich Tips, bunch... © %e. Motre, Taffeta and Sarah Ribtons..1ve. ©) UMS Tadles’ Corset Covers. wa. BA . Ladies* Drawers, 2 styles........19¢. es) - Ladies’ Chemise, 2 styles. ‘Tomorrow. a Child's Drawers... Culld's Corded Waists.. 8 25e. Infants’ Long Dresses. . +-19e. 8 Satu rday. 25e. Children’s Gingham Aprons....,...19¢. 2 saving of from 6 to 31 ae ieee aoe 8 cents can be made here Be. Chile Sik and Knit Cape =) tomorrow, which is bet- me Tadies’ Linen Emb. Hdkts a ter than paying high prices 2e. Plain and Dotted Velling.. 8 and getting stamps,chromos, 2c. Blk. ard Wht. Stik Lace = &c., of questionable value. 5c. Jet Points & Those who try to get “some- @ thing for nothing” almost in- Se. Leather Pocket Books : Ss variably get “stuck”—so be Se. Shell Side Combs. c} @ wary and look out for high Se. Ivory Tooth Brurhes le. > prices. 2%e. Bristle Hair Brushes... Se. Box Writing Paper. 8S SEE Be. Steel Setssors. +190. 75, > > %e. Ladies’ Fancy Garters... » = ‘25e. Ladies’ Shopping Bags. © 3 WHAT 25e. Blk. Spool Silk, per doz. ® S 25c. Child's Fast Black Hose.. -19e, CS) iS) 5c. Ladies’ Black Hose 1. & 2%e. Child's Vests and Paats.. av. & 25c. Men's Bik. and Tan Half Hose. S Se. Men's Linen Handkerchlefs.. 6 5c. Men's Suspenders : Se. Polka Dot Silk Cinb Ties. . 25e. Men’s Sik Initial Handkerchiefs. %e. Men's “Brighton” Garters. +19. B5e. Broeaded and Plain ‘Suk, yard. 40c. Farmer Satin. SOc. Wool Plaid. -19e. ve. Child's Cloth Tam O'Shenters...... 19¢. + 39e. Standard Literature, cloth bound. .19¢. 9 = Popular St 4 Opular Store 4 416 7th St. 4 ? ’ Mertz and [lertz, “New Era’ Tailors. Are You » Acquainted with the goodness of our line of Suitings at $11.97? We've made up stacks to-order this fall—we haven’t heard one complaint from ‘any who have worn them. They make excellent Our Line of “11” Made-to-Measure Business Suits—enormous line of eres Cloths to choose from—and, of course, we see that the cut, the tail- oring, the finishing are up to a standard of goodness which allows us to stake our reputation as in- variably giving the best values for your money. All patrons must be pleased or money given back. Mertz -« Mertz, “New Era” Tailors, 906 F Street N.W. | Meek PP iia Fenreaeee e ae | Any Valuable Vases aoe sts ss _| broken or damaged? ese te in mind as, the best equipped We ‘s Repairers in Waghington. our Je Ovestty Bal, Lady fee LEEPER Sor tami k=. Coffee, 38c.1b lis HUMORS OF-ALL KINDS fareant CUticura Soap 7%) t0s skin inade mbiS-m,w&tJy a 18 Changeable Weather. throws the human machinery out of gear, relaxes the system and renders us more susceptible to catching colds, coughs, chills, the grip or pneumo- nia. But all of these dangers of fall and winter can be safely faced if the system is only fortified with the stim- ulative nourishment provided by Duffy's Pure Malt Whiskey By stirring up and enriching the torpid blood, it increases the natural heat which is the best defense against the dangerous effects of cold and damp. It drives away tired, languid feelings, tones up the digestion and brings the glow of health to every part of the body. All grocers and druggists sell it. GREAT DEBT RAISING. Bishop McCabe Lifts a Debt of $60,000 at a Dediention. From th> Church Economist. Bishop McCabe has not lost his ability as a debt raiser by ceasing to be plain Chap- lain McCabe. He has probably wiped out more church indebtedness than any other living man, unless it be Mr. Kimball, and he gave a striking proof of his genius in this direction at the recent dedication of the St. James’ Methodist Church in Chica- go. This building has just been competed at a cost, with the ground, of $125,000, but of that sum the congregation had raised only $65,000, leaving a debt of $60,000 on the property. The day of dedication was set for the 26th of September. On the morning of that dey an immense audience gathered, al- though many of them knew that a deter- mined effort was to be made to clear off the debt. Dr. McIntyre, the pastor, conducted the services, and on the pulpit platform with him sat Bishops McCabe and Hurst and other prominent Methodists. After a powerful sermon by Dr. McIntyre, Bishop McCabe arose and announced that the next exercise was the collection. He said that the beautiful house of worship in which they sat was burdened with a debt cf $0,000, and he proposed that this amount be raised before the building was formally dedicated, ang before any one left the room. He indulged in no rhetorical appeals, but in a few plain words, quietly expressed, he laid the duty of the hour upon the consciences of those present. He then instructed the usher to pass the col- lection plates, which they did in the usual manner. The response was immediate and very striking, and it was evident that a large sum wes contributed. On a hasty count, however, it appeared that the amount fell far short of the $60,000 needed. Whereupon the bishop instructed the ushers to repeat their journeys up and down the aisles. While they were thus en- gaged he kept the audience spellbound in their seats by his fascinating reminiscences of army life and various dramatic incidents in his own experience in church work. The collections were again heaped up ‘and showed a more hopeful progress toward the $60,000 goal. The largest single offering was a check for $20,000, representing the Swift family, and the gifts ranged all the way from that down to dimes and nickels. By 2 o'clock $48,000 had been raised and laid upon the pulpit platform, and the more easily satisfied among the congreXation were disposed to call this a success, unite in a hymn of thanksgiving and call the ef- fort ended. Not so the great debt raiser, however. He did yield sufficiently to permit the weary and depleted audience to go home to dinner, but refused to sing for them, and refused to proceed in the dedication of the church till the remaining $12,000 was en- tirely subscribed. Back they came, there- fore. In the evening, when, with a little further effort, the remaining deficit was subscribed, and the church was dedicated free from debt. ———_+e+____ She Knew Bill. From the New Yori World. “Do you know the defendant?” asked a lawyer of a little woman, who had just entered the witness box and who looked as if she was enjoying the novelty of the sit- uation. “Huh?” she said. “Do you know the defendant?” “Know which?” “The defendant in this spit? know him?” “Oh, you mean Bill Hays, do you? Do I know Bill Hays? I guess you don't know who you're talking to when you ask me such a fool question as that! Do I know ill Hays? Well, if that don’t tickle me!” Well, do you know him?” What? Do I know Bill Hays? Well, the idear of making me come eight miles on my ironing and baking day to give my tes- timony in this case and then up and asking me such a question as if I know Bill Hay: Better ask me if I know my own husban There'd be just as much sense in it!"” “Do you know him, then?” “Who, my own husband or Bill? Well, it this don’t beat the band! To think of any one up and asking me if I know Bill Hays! I reckoned I'd be asked if I knew anything about this fight Bill and Dan Yates got into, which I do know a good deal about, for I seen it from start to finish, and if I'd been in Bill’s shoes I’a”— “Simply state to the court whether you know William J. Hays or not, madam.” “William J. Hays! My! how hifalutin that sounds! Lord! how it would tickle some folks to hear ’im called ‘Wiliam J. Hays,’ and it'd tickle -em more to hear you ask me if I knew Mr. William J. Hays! They'd’ “Well, do you know him? Can’t you an- swer that with a plain ges or no?” “Do I know ‘im? I say, Bill, ain’t that rich? Say, Mr. Lawyer, s'posing you ask Bill if he knows me! I guess Bill'd laugh fit to split over that, wouldn’t you, Bill?” 'No talking to the defendant, madam. “To what?” “To the defendant, William J. Hays, whom I want you to say definitely whether you know or not.” “Well, what's the sense of dragging me up here to ask me if I know a feller I was born and raised with and who has beau-ed me home from singin’ school and play par- ties more times than I’ve got fingers and toes and who married my own first cousin after he found he couldn't git me, and who's lived ever since the nighest house to ours, and a better neightor I wouldn't wish to have, and I don't s'pose there’s been a day in fifteen years that me and Cousin Hanner, that’s Bill's wife, ain't run back and forth to and from each other's houses and been the fren’liest of the fren’ly, and our first babies born witnin two hours of each other, and our birthdays the same day, and my husband and Bill being like two brothers, and yet you up and asks me if I know Bill Hays! Of course, I know ‘im, and”— “That will do, madam. You may now tell what you know about the fight.” And she was still telling it when the court adjourned, two hours later. Do you Andree’s Friend Says He 1s Safe. Paris Letter to the London Telegraph. M. Machuron, @ friend and associate of M. Andree, bas just written to a leading Saying that there HANDLING THE MAILS Report of First Assistant Postmaster Gerjeral Heath. = GREAT NEED OF SPECIAL AGENTS Progress of the Rural Free Delivery System. 7 LETTER CARRIERS’ BONDS The annual report of First Assistant Postmaster General Heath was made pub- lic today. It contains many important recommendations fer the improvement of the postal service, which, it is believed, will not only greatly facititate the hand- ling of the mails, but will be accompanied by decided.economles. The report is one of the most thorough that has ever been issued from the office of the first assistant postmaster general. Mr. Heath's report opens with a summary of his recommen- dations, as follows: “In presenting to you my first annual repert, being for the fiscal year ended June 20, 1897, I desire to emphasize certain recommendations intended to further ad- vance the usefulness of the general postal service. All of these recommendations pro- pose improvements, accompanied by actual economies. It is my special ambition to apply modern business methods not only to each extension of the service within my jurisdiction, but to such of the old estab- lishments as will admit of advancement. “While there has been under each ad- ministration an earnest effort to keep pace with private business rhethods in this pub- lie service, I was early impressed upon assuming the duties, of this office that the result was in most instances a saving at the spigot with a waste at the bung, and that the tendency was to give greater at- tention to inexpensive economies than to large advantag: accrue to Modern commercial ness. This may have been due in ure to condi- tions for which executive officers were not always to blame—rather a lack of fixed purpose in the detail and determined ap- Piication, and ,the.absence of legisiative support of such purposes as may have been from time to time fixed. “Without additional facilitie find reported in the various divis important improvemen and requests for means velop others in anticipation. I would direct your special attention to certain rec mendations to be te he: of salaries and allows istance of Congress should here be ,especially in- voked,. Although more monicy is expended in this division than any other of the de- partment, excepting that of transportation of the mails,,and albeit the most modern business methods. are here required for the purpose of coping successfully with the best commercial ingenuity in the adjust- ment of salaries and allowances and the execution of leases and contracts, no facili- ties worthy of mention haye been added within many years. This in spite of the fact that |public business calis to this division, and with greater frequency, more legislators than any other in the postal service. you will ons many recently effected, with which to de- Special Agents Needs. "I would put above ‘all other recommen- dations, and emphasize’ with ‘all ‘thé power of my language, the request for such spe- clal agents as aresnegessary to inquire, in the fleld, into the merits of postmasters’ requisitions and demands, and to reach a just ascertainment of merit in such purely business questions as cannot be determined by. correspondence. Longer to refuse this request would, be. to disregard all sound rules, of bysiness,and be totally,,deaf to every entreaty for the interests of both the sovernment,and the people. We must have 4 small corps of men—about ten in num- ber—who have the especial ability, both native and acquired, to perform work now left undoné. ‘Phe’ men who might under the prevailing’ rules and regulations be mude avaftable for these services — the regular poSt office {nSpectors-haye not been Schooled ‘in this tsolated Tine of ser- vice, and can render therein practically no assistance, even though they had the time, at their disposal to give to the work. These men should be experft accountants’, and familiar with real es sums. of money can; be services of these mén and ments effected, I beg of you, to lay par- ticular stress upon this recomméhdation “in whatever appeals may be. made ta, Con- gress in behalf of the department. “There should also fe fixed a more se- vere penajty for the pipishment of post- masters who peddle postage stamps with a vlew to increasing their owh salaries, re- sulting jn the diminution of the net re- ceipts of the government. “The recommendation that authority should be given to secure leases for a period of ten instead of five years is, in my opinion, exceedingly important. The great advantages derived by the commercial com- munity immediately surrounding post office sites will induce property owners in a larger degree than at present to lease suit- able quarters for post offices at a nominal figure, provided there can be a longer guarantee of the advantages of the loca- tion. It is estimated that about 20 per cent of the leases drawn for post offices pay but the nominal price of $1 per year each, on account of thé tompetition between prop- erty owners, the desirability of securiag the location, and it is believed that this per- centage may be considerably augmented by authorizing leases, under certain advantag- eous conditions, to be drawn for a period of ten instead of limited to five years. “So much 1s gained by our recent policy of consolidation of post offices and the es- tablishment or extension of the free de- livery, entailing a saving in postmasters salaries while improving the service, but enlarging the expense for clerks and letter carriers, that I would urge such action by Congress as is necessary to give us, under certain conditions, greater latitude of dis- cretion in the use of spetifie appropriations. By making appropriations, under certain conditions, convertible or available for other expenses, every advantage offered can be accepted. Competition always af- fcrds the minimum of prices if the de- partment is not compelld to act at a given time. There is no such thing as a combi- nation to advance prices if we are given sufficient discretion to defer action until the opportunity for a combination has passed. “This is especially applicable to appro- priations made for the division of post office supplies, where immense economies and improvements have been effected dur- ing the past six months. We have secured uniformly lower ‘pricesand better grades of goods and provified for a more equitable distribution, safeguatas. against the re- ceipt of undergrifde ‘traterials, and their economical and ! dispatch to the pest offices: If provision were made for the application of/tlie?excess-in an appro- priation for one ‘ftem'4o the necessities in other lines, thereby ‘envouraging economies and aiding impr6vexients, ‘this division would have opportunity to further improve the service in evéry direction without ad- ditional cost. {2 or a “While encomtwms‘!have been hea upon the departilient>for very recent im- provements made ‘int the canceling of stamps, postmarking and the back-stamp- ing of letters, and-theework has proved the best investment taza small way of any un- der our direction, we find ourselves help- Jess to continue th: ss without creat- ing a deficlency3% ®which: we have no authority. ergs eee more = kindred branchgg-. e_service wi hee: 3 a x ‘aff stamps under artificial conditions. He says. “Under section 470 of the Postal Laws and Regulations, edition of 1893, a post- master ts forbidden to solicit the purchase at his office of stamped paper by persons living or doing busiress within the delivery of another post office or the mailing of matter at his cffice (if of the fourth class) rather than at another. The department has always endeavored to secure a post- master whose friends would not sacrifice the public interest for the postmaster’s pri- vate gain, and whose compensation would be regulated by the busiress that properly belonged to his office. Notwithstanding the fact that violations of this rule are fol- lowed by removal, there is ample evidence at hand to demonstrate that many post- masters (particularly those at post offices co1.tiguous to great business and commer- cial centers) are actively engaged in the irregular sale of postage stamps, thereby increasing their official compensation, and incidentally their clerk hire, rent, light, fuel and miscellaneous allowances. Mr. Heath suggests that this evil may be cured by consolidating small post offices about great cities with the main ollice, through an extension of the free delivery service. Purchase of Sites. A strong recommendation is made for the purchase by the government of sites for Postal stations. On this subject Mr. Heath says: : “The government would effect a consid- erable saving. if it were to purchase out- right property conveniently located for its Postal stations in the larger cities. Ren- tals for postal stations in New York city and Brooklyn alone now aggregate’$150,045 per annum. This amount would erect and equip several postal stations annually, de- perdent, of course, on the value of the real estate in the particular locality. Compe- tition for the location of stations among the large real estate holders, in New York city especially, would be so sharp that de- sirable property could frequently be secured at a nominal figure. High one-story puild- ings, with large skylights, and mezzanii floor for storage of records, carriers’ swing rocm, emplo;es’ lockers, and iayatories, af- fording a floor space of about 5,000 square feet, would answer our purpose admirably, and within ten years the government would practically enjoy a free rental. The local governments of both New York and Brook- lyn long since found it necessary to pur- chase buildings for fire and police head- quarters. “Why, then, should the United States government longer pay large rentals, when by an increased appropriation of $300,000 for ten consecutive years—only double the present rentals—the government would own the premises occupied by every postal station In the United States? Gov. ernment buildings are practically free from taxa- tion, yet owners of buildings used for post office purposes are obliged to consider this item in submitting their proposais. > “Under present conditions the post office equipment dces not revert to the gov ment at the expiration of the lea lessors in estimating their cost | ure to pay for the equipment ¢ first five years of the I for the reason 3 that the department will as a tenant. Thus the go: a government is net only required to pay taxes upon such b ings, but for equipment as well. Free Delivery Serv hat the Of the free delivery service the report sa: Ty estimate of the funds that will be essary co meet all the requirements of the free delivery service during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1898, is $13,810,400, an increase over the appropriation for the current fiscal y of $586,400, or 4.8 per cent. Of this increase, $598,900 is necessary to provide for the payment of the increase in salaries of letter carriers required by the law of August 2, 1882, promoting them from a lower to a higher salary grade. There is today in the service the largest humber of highest salary letter carriers yet reached, the a’ age salary for the current year Leing $933.58, while that for the next fiscal year will amount to $v: ‘% The report shows 328 changes in the per- sonnel of the service during the past fiscal year. It says: “Carriers removed: For intoxication. ne: 88 and regulations..., For gross violation of postal laws regulations .. For physical disability Total . Carriers. 4 ees Carriers resigned... Grand total. ie he total number of separations in all classes was 328, only 2.54 per cent of the total nuraber of carriers employed (12,931), | 88 agaiust 3.7 per cent for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1896, 4.9 per cent for i895, and 6.3 per cent for 1804. “The removals equal but 1.06 per cert of the entire force, while last year they were 2.1 per cent, and for the year 1895 3 per cent, and 1894 4 per cent. This very small number of removals is evidence of the strict enforcement of the regulations which forbid the removal of a letter car- rier except for cause, after he has had due notice, by a copy of the written charges and an oppcrtunity to submit his defense to the same. It uiso marks an improve- ment during the last year in the discipline and conduct of lefter carriers, which had already reached a very high standard of efficiency.” Letter Carriers’ Bonds. Of letter carriers’ bonds, the report says: “Paragraph 3870 cf the Revised Statutes requires that ‘every letter carrier shall give bonds, with sureties to be approved by the Posthaster ‘3eneral, for the safe cus- tody and delivery of all mail matter, and the faithful account and payment of all money received by him;’ and gection 604, Anended Postal Laws and Regulations for the Free. Delivery Service, 1396, provides that the postmester ‘will also require car- riers and substitutes to furnish new bonds whenever, from any cause, the sureties have become insufficient, and will forward all bonds to the first assistant postmaster general, free delivery division; also that ‘every letter carrier must promptly iaform the postmaster, on pain of dismissal, of the occurrence of any event or change of condition affecting unfavorably the respon- sibility of his-sureties.' “The bond of a letter carrier and a sub- stitute carrier is fixed at $1,000. There are or file in the free delivery division of this bureau _about 17,000 bonds, of which prob- ably 25 per cent are supplied by surety companies. Many of the individual bonds are from fifteen to twenty years old. The fact that very few new bonds are being received to replace those that have be- come worthless on account of death or in- solvency of one or more of the sureties is satisfactory evidence to this office that the regulations above quoted have not been strictly complied with, and that therefore there are many bonds on file now practi- cally worthless. To ascertain just which bonds have become insufficient, and to re- place them with new ones, would consume much time of a corps of clerks in search- ing the files, examining each individual bond and conducting almost endless corre- spondence with postmasters at free deliv- ery offices. This trouble and expense may ie edhe and hace erga work of*cierks in the future prevented by requiring every letter carrier to furnish a bond of one of the reliable fidelity or surety companies. Improving the Cellection System. The house-to-house collection system, he says, has made satisfactory progress dur- ing the year, : AN OPEN LETTER To MOTHERS. WE ARE ASSERTING IN THE COURTS OUR RIGHT TO THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE WORD “CASTORIA,” AND “PITCHER’S CASTORIA,” AS OUR TRADE MARK. 4, DR SAMUEL PITCHER, of Hyannis, Massachusetts, was the originator of «PITCHER'S CASTORIA,” the same that has borne and does now bear the fac-simile signature of Cpt lita on every wrapper. This is the original « PITCHER'S CASTORIA” which has been used in the homes of the mothers of America for over thirty _years, LOOK CAREFULLY at the wrapper and see that it is the kind you have always bought, and has the signature of on the wrap- per. No one has authority from me te use my name except The Centaur Company of which Chas. H. Fletcher is President. March 8, 1897. C4... Rithos—on.D, Do Not Be Deceived. Do not endanger the life of your child by accepting a cheap substitute which some druggist may offer you (because he makes a few more pennies on it), the in- gredients of which even he does not know. “The Kind You Have Always Bought” BEARS THE FAC-SIMILE SIGNATURE OF o o Insist on Having The Kind That Never Failed You. THE CENTAUR COMPANY. TY SLURRAY STREET. NEW YORK City. very general by to which the despite the pre of the past year, and it i: lieved by those having the mat that under the new conditions of prosperity this adoption will be very much hastened during the coming year—a result to be hop- ed for, since the department and the public are equ benefited by the extension of this system.” Rural Free Delivery. “For the first time since the establish- ment of the service in 1891, a comprehen- sive report of “he operation of rural free delivery is submitted. Necessarily it is voluminous. I specially desire that it shull be carefully read by you, with a view to requesting of Congress such legislation as you may regard necessary, and for such extensions of the service as its practical cperations suggest.” Rural free delivery is regarded as a great success after a thorough test. “Rural free delivery has been put to the test of practical experiment in twenty-nine states and over forty-four differing routes,” the report says. “This has been done by direction of Congress, which placed a sum of $10,000, supplemented by another appro- priation Of $30,000, at the disposal of the department for this purpose during the fis- cal year 1896-97, and has appropriated a further sum of $50,000 for continuing and extending the experiment during the pres- ent tiseal year. In a majority of the dis- tricts experimented upon the free-delivery service has been in operation for a year. : ee ee oe “All sorts and conditions of- rural have been included in the experiment, as will be seen. from the detailed reports of the results of the test in the different states experimented upon, w are here. with presented.. The service has been tri under Mnost favored conditions in the ga: den district of California, where seventy- five miles of macedamized roads, carefully sprinkled in summer, lead through a suc- cession of costly mansions, embowéred among gardens and fruit groves. It h: been put in operation along the banks of Bayou Lafourche, in the sugar | Louisiana, “where the scarriers drive from one sugar plantation to another for seven miles on each side of the bayou. It has been inaugurated -under equally favorable lite | The rent of the | amount, and, in view of the « | be an auspicious season | the work of the office of the auspices in the productive irrigated fruit- growing districts of Arizona; among the well-improved and prosperous ranches of Colorado; in the balmy climate and health- giving air of southern Georgia; among the intelligent farming communities which thickly populate Genesee county, N. Y., and Lancaster county, Pa. It has been es- tablished on one of the larger islands of Lake Champlain in Vermont; and has been put in operation in the backwoods of Maine, and among the farmers and sum- mer boarders of Massachusetts. . . . * . . . “In these and other localities the condi- tions were such as to favor the success of the plan to the utmost. But the ex- periment has not: been confined to com- mupities where there were few difficul- ties to be encountered. It has been car- ried over the mountains of Arkansas; through the heavy roads of central Lili- nois; along the rough banks of the Mis- souri river, in Kansas; through the un- surveyed and roadless farming districts of southwest Kentucky; over the hills and through the snow filled crossroads of Michi- gan; down the stiff clay roads of North Carelina; along the sparsely settled rocky ridges of Westmoreland county, Pa., and among the scattered colored settlements of Virginia. Congress desired rural free de- livery to be thoroughly tested. The de- partment has endeavored to comply with this request. . s 8 8 8 “The general results obtained have been so satisfactory-as to suggest the feasibility of making rural delivery a permanent feat- ure of postal administration in the United States; not immediately, or in all districts at once, but in some gradual and gradated form, the character of which might be regulated by the tenor of the reports here- with presented as to the experimental serv- ice.” Maryland and Virginia. Of rural delivery in Maryland the report says: “Rural free delivery was established in Westminster, Carroll county, Md., in Oc- tober, 1896, four routes being laid out, with carriers covering about seventeen miles of territory daily.. The country traversed is hilly, but with good stone roads. It is largely devoted to dairy farming, and this fact pomawbat interferes with the extent to which the service is taken advantage of, for the reason that as the mail train arrives at 5:30 a.m. and the milk trein leaves at 6 a.m. the farmers who drive to the depot with their milk cans find it com- paratively easy to call for and carry back their mail. Nevertheless the service is | | th mel j ed rill front and rear and some in the to an alley. th two or over the ter portion, and a platform in rear. ‘This building is structurally weak. ‘The wall cn the side next to the alley had to be partially removed and rebuilt a few years ago to prevent collapse. The walls are now cracked. The second floor cannot be used for storage, the principal use for which it is needed, on account of weak- ness. The second floor cuts off the Mht from the central portion of the ground floor, with the exception of a few windows on one side along the alley, leaving insuf- ficient light for the force which must oc- cupy it, and necessitating the constant use of electric lights. The ground floor space is hot sufficient for handling the supplies re- ceived and shipped, the mail amounting to a daily averaxe of about twelve tons. The goods received from contractors are neces- sarfly piled or stacked unusually high, making them unsafe and causing unn. y labor and expense in both 1 and shipping. All freight and mail are ree ceived and dispatched from the rear of the building, where the platform is several feet higher than the floor, necessitating the use of an elevator. The one in use | primitive hand lift, which overstrains men operating : . . e- Sa the . . . . “The nature of the structure and the in- flammable character of the stock are such that in case of fire a total destruction of many thousands of dollars’ worth of and valuable records would be inevitab! building is $4,000 per an- num, which would be 5 per cent interest upon $80,000 investment. I am confident the government could construct a building specially adapted to this branch ef the service for less than one-half of that ntemplated removal of the general Post Office Depart- ment to another location, this appears to for considering of new quarters for the supply Numerous other suggestions are made regarding the improvement of details of first assistant postmaster general. —_—__--e- THE LARGEST CIRCULATION is a great thing for advertisers seeking publicity for their an- nouncements. THE BEST CIRCULATION is a great thing for advertisers want- ing results from their announce- ments, WHEN BOTH THESE REQUI- SITES can be found in a single medium advertisers are fortu- nate, indeed. IN THE EVENING STAR they get them beth. Its Circulation is both the Largest and the Best in Washington. eae Seegee Will Prevent Flow of Blood. From the New York Tribune. The arrest of bleeding in surgical opera- tions is now said to be assured by means of an instrument due te the ingenuity of Lawson Tait. A platinum wire, so ar- ranged as to carry a current of electricity, is inclosed in the blades of a pair of steel forceps or any other required instrument, the wire for this purpose being insulated by a bed of burnt pipe clay. This arrange- ment beiag perfected, a current of suit- able voltage is turned on, the artery selzed and compressed, and In a few seconds the Ussues and arterial wails are so aggluti- nated that the passage of blood is rendered impossible. ‘he temperature employed is about 180 degrees Fahrenheit, the fact be- ing thus apparent that the principal in- volved in this device is different from that of elecirical cauterizing instruments, coo Chicago an a Deep Sea Port. i i! i i fj A [