The Independent-News, Volume 102, Number 43, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 31 March 1977 — Page 9

POSTAL SERVICE ATTAINS SECOND SUCCESSIVE QUARTERLY SURPLUS The U. S. Postal Service attained an operating surplus of $69.8 million during the quarter ended Dej cember 31. the second quarterly surplus in succession was announced by Benjamin F. Bailar. “Thus, for the last six months, the Postal Service has produced an SBS million surplus," Bailar said in an address before the Comstock Gub. in Sacramento, California. Bailar noted that the Postal ServI ice’s financial outlook brightened “during perhaps the sternest operating test in postal history." He credited the accomplishment to the hard work of postal employees, who “day in and day out labor to produce what I believe is one of the most efficient services provided by the Federal Government." "In times past," he said, "it is doubtful the system could have accomodated both the effects of the (15 state UPS) parcel strike and the heavy Christmas volume.” He said despite the extra demands placed upon the system, it successfully moved 400 million pieces of mail a day during the Christmas season. “However, the surplus does indicate that we have begun for the first time to make significant progress toward compliance with that section of the postal reorganization act which requested that revenues come as close as possible to equaling costs. "Because of our ability to improve our financial picture, without sacrificing service, I recommended to the board of governors of the Postal Service that it would not be necessary to raise postal rates in 1977. This does not mean, however, that additional income from some source will not be needed in 1978. Since the provisions of the new law passed last year envision a 10 month wait before postage rates could be increased we may formally apply for an increase within the next few months." Bailar stressed that the purpose of the filing would be "merely to begin the process necessary for getting the authority to raise rates which would be exercized if and when needed in 1978." The effective date of any increase. and its amount, would depend on the Postal Service’s financial situation at the time. The postmaster general said the long term postal outlook is "still clouded," and that, "unless we face the future realistically the progress to date may be undone." He cited as part of that progress the fact that, since January, 1975, the postal workforce has been reduced from 714,000 to 661,000 or 53,000 positions, "all through attrition.” "We must face reality: there are hard choices ahead of us and tough decisions to be made," Bailer said. “We face a future of rising costs and declining volume. Our society's changing communications hab-

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its will significantly affect not just postal volume, but also the basic 1 need for many of the services we | provide. Inevitably, our choices boil down to either paring our services to cut costs, or maintaining traditional services which arc becoming increasingly expensive." Bailar noted that a study commission, recommended by him and created by congress, is now con- । sidcring alternatives for the Postal Service and their potential impact. Bailar said he does not believe massive infusions of taxpayer money through subsidies is the long range answer to postal problems. “While I favor those subsidies : that are currently authorized, the real issue here is whether subsidies । should be expanded." Bailar said he would object to requiring the Postal Service to continue to perform non postal or uneconomic services, while hiding the cost in the rate structure. "This would not only be misleading to the public, it would also be destructive to the ability of the Postal Service to meet competitive pressure," he contended. "I would question the wisdom," he said, “of any system of subsidies that automatically make up any short fall between postal costs and revenues. To return to such subsidies would be to abandon the fiscal discipline that had made our recent advances possible. It would eliminate the incentives to increase postal efficiency and to re-evaluate and tailor our services to meet the true needs of the future." “I firmly believe that if the Postal Service is to make its way intelligently into the future, it cannot do so by gouging either the taxpayer or the mail user. We can provide any service which the public wants, and for which it is willing to pay," Bailar said. “But we must continue to tailor our services to match the public's need and willingness to pay. and we must tie revenues more accurately to actual costs. This will protect volume which is essential to a universal and inexpensive postal system." For example, Bailar said, in its next rate filing the Postal Service will request a 15 to 20 per cent lower postage rate for those publications that are presorted in sufficents quantity to go directly to a delivery station, thus reducing the cost to the service of handling them. Bailar said the current discussion concerning the Postal System “symbolizes the more important issue of whether this country can develop effective means of public management that meet our changing national needs." STUDY FINDS BAD ROADS RAND 2ND AS CRASH CAUSE Hazardous roads cause nearly 42.000 accidents a year in Indiana and cost $249 million annually in hospital fees, property damage and

payments to accident victims, says a new study. The study by The Road Information Program (TRIP) of Washington, D.C.. found: Human failing was the sole cause of 47 per cent of the 195,b72 Indiana highway accidents reported in 1975, the last year of record. The rest were caused by human failing combined with other factors. Hazardous roads ranked second as the principal accident cause, accounting for 21.4 per cent of Indiana's total. These 41,874 accidents occurred because road conditions allowed little or no margin for human error. Nearly 15,000 miles of Indiana's roads are contributing to the annual accident total because they were designed and built 40 years ago for smaller vehicles, lighter traffic and slower speeds. “Indiana motorists pay for obsolete roads through high accident costs, injuries and loss of life." said TRIP state chairman Harold L. Michael of Lafayette, who announced the study findings today. A nationally known highway and traffic engineering authority. Professor Michael is associate director of the Joint Highway Research Project at Purdue University. He also is president of Indiana Highways for Survival, which requested the TRIP study. “We need a statewide road modernization program.” said Michael. “The first priority should be upgrading narrow, winding rural roads and old. single-lane bridges used by school buses, farm trucks and other heavy vehicles." Roads Too Narrow TRIP reports that 11.005 miles of Indiana's arterial and connecting roads are too narrow for safe passing by large vehicles at posted speeds. Another 3.889 miles of these major traffic routes are hazardous because of sharp curves, soft shoulders, steep rises and dips, roadside obstructions and restricted sight distances, the study notes. “Highway officials are aware of the problem." said Michael. “More than 150 miles of the state's worst highways have been expanded to four lanes under a special program begun in 1969, but additional upgrading is needed." However, many obsolete Indiana roads have not been modernized because of insufficient revenue available to the state, counties and cities. TRIP says.

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THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS - MARCH 31, 1977

In 1975, the 195,672 Indiana highway accidents from all causes resulted in 1,133 fatalities and 68,883 injuries, according to state records. The cost of these accidents to the state and its citizens was sl.l billion. or art average cost per accident of $5:704. On the same basis, the 41.874 accidents in 1975 attributed to hazardous roads cost an estimated $238.9 million. TRIP reports. TRIP cites a nationwide study by the Federal Highway Administration showing that road design and engineering improvements reduce accidents. One year after hazardous conditions at 634 high-accident locations were eliminated, the number of accidents declined by an average of 19 per cent, the government found. “Unlike most human error and the weather, hazardous roads are an accident factor we can do something about," Michael said. Other Causes Told TRIP reports that 30,133 Indiana highway accidents in 1975 were caused by weather and other environmental factors. This was the third largest accident cause, amounting to 15.4 per cent of the total. Vehicle mechanical failure rank ed fourth as an accident cause, producing 22.698 accidents, or 11.6 per cent of the total. These two accident categories include some human error. TRIP'S findings are based on a three-year study of accident causes in Monroe County, Indiana, by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plus data from the Federal Highway Administration and other government agencies. Monroe County is considered bv NHTSA officials to be typical of most areas of the nation in terms of driver, vehicle, road and environmental factors affecting highway safety. MAGIC: FUN ENTERTAINMENT FOR EVERYONE The fun of being fooled will be demonstrated at its best Saturday. April 2 when the Grand Illusion A Magic Company performs at the Morris Civic Auditorium. The tricks and jokes of April Fool's Day won’t compare with the amazing illusions and fascinating magical acts this company does with ease. Combining superb artistry, brill-

iant staging and mind-boggling mystery, The Grand Illusion A Magic Company puts on one of the largest and most entertaining presentations of magical illusions in the country today. Their fastmoving show is based on the techniques and illusions of the great turn-of-the century magicians. They do the floating ball illusion of Howard Thurston, the linking rings introduced by the famous Houdini as well as the amazing Hindu Rope Illusion, and they have created an unbelieveable production of the Eight Billiard Balls by Geoffrey Buckingham. Performing the grand illusions are the Magistics, two talented young magicians. They bewilder and amaze their audiences from the moment they transform their walking sticks into rosebushes, their astonishing card illusions and sleight of-hand tricks, the "Mis Made Girl", to the grand Star Spangled Finale. Adding some fun and laughter to the magic program will be Goerge Johnstone, of Ed Sullivan and Johnny Carson fame. Having toured with the Great Blackstone Tour when he was 18 years old. Johnstone has the technique and knowledge of the great magicians and adds to this his delightful flair for comedy. Paul Bachman adds another dimension to the show w ith his performance of the world's most famous solo magic tricks This is a show the entire family can enjoy so be sure to bring the child ren. Tickets are being sold at several locations: Robertson's, the Niles Daily Star. St. Marv's College. Alladin's Magic Corner at the KM) Center, and the Century Center Os five at 121 S. Michigan. Tickets for the matinee performance originally scheduled for the same dav at 1:30 p.m. may be exchanged for the evening performance or re funded at the Century Center office. For more information on tickets and group rates, call 2M 9711. NORTH LIBERTY GREENE ALUMNI BANQUET SET Ihe North I.ibertv-Greene alum ni committee set the date for the annua) dinner-dance for Saturday. June II at the St. Peter and Paul Serbian Church grounds. Registration will begin at 5 30 p m., dinner at b3O pm sharp, and dancing will start at 4 M) p.m