FOOTNOTES:
[19] His Britannic Majesty’s consul, author of the Report referred to in a succeeding chapter.
[20] The name which the natives applied to Stanley. It is now used to designate the State.
CHAPTER XXIII
THE POSTAL, TELEGRAPH, AND TELEPHONE SERVICE
Twin Civilisers.
Moderns regard the post-office and the mission school as substantial signs of civilisation wherever the two are found in mutual endeavour. In compliance with Article VII, of the General Act of Berlin, the Congo Free State joined the Postal Union, and has sent official representatives to its periodic congresses.
In the Belgian Congo the postal service is very efficient. It already penetrates to districts most remote from the central office at Boma. It was effectively established in 1885 when the irregular service was succeeded by the rudiments of the present system. In 1887 it was, in fact, a piece of perfect governmental machinery. On the 28th of February that year it signed a formal Postal Convention with Belgium. It was soon thereafter apparent that a postal money-order service was required to facilitate the transit of small sums between Europe and the Congo. Agreements in this respect were made with Belgium on May 13, 1893, and November 24, 1898. The rapid development of the Congo Basin already calls for even further extension of the system.
The latest report on the subject is that of Vice-Governor-General Fuchs, which follows: