PUBLIC DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES. 
195 
The Rio Grande Bridge, in the parish of Port- 
land, is the largest bridge in the island, being 520 
feet long. It was finished in the year 1892. 
7. The Treasury Department pays out all sums 
of money from the government to its officers, or to 
other people to whom any payment is due. It also 
manages a number of Savings-banks, for the pur- 
pose of helping the people to become thrifty. If 
a man can save but one shilling he may take it to 
the bank, and thus start a fund to which he may 
add whenever he is able. In this way he has an 
opportunity to put by a portion of what he earns; 
and thus he may provide enough to establish him- 
self in business, or to be of service to him in the 
days of sickness or old age. 
PUBLIC DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES.— II. 
l. Another department of the government con- 
cerns itself with our Postal business. For many 
years the post-ofiiee work had been carried on by 
the Postmaster-general of Britain ; but in August, 
1860, the duties were handed over to the colony. 
At that time the cost of sending a letter from one 
part of the island to another varied from 4 d. to 
8 d., according to the distance it had to go. Now 
we are able to send a letter to any part of Jamaica 
for a penny. This is one of the many great im- 
