Q: For years there has been a debate on whether we need Saturday mail delivery. Even before the current energy crisis, many were in favor of eliminating it to help reduce the the U.S. Postal Service deficit. Why hasn't the government picked up on this as a way to save fuel? - TOM H., E-MAIL

A: Actually, the government has picked up on it. Whether it does anything about it is another matter.

In June, the House Appropriations Committee approved an amendment requiring the Postal Service to study consumer demand for Saturday delivery and the cost effectiveness of scrapping it.

The postal service, according to its Web site, uses about 400,000 gallons of gas a day. Cutting Saturday deliveries would save almost 21 million gallons a year. It also would reduce labor costs.

The biggest problem with cutting back to a five-day delivery week, according to postal service regional spokesman Dave Rupert, is "the mailing industry is set up on a six- day system. A lot of mailers want mail delivered on Saturday because they're home then.

"There also are medicines that need to be delivered on Saturday. We like to think we're saving fuel by saving people trips to purchase items. Why drive across town when we're coming to your house?"

He acknowledged, however, that the proposal to cut Saturday delivery would reduce fuel costs and is "worth the discussion."

The discussion will go next to the full House and Senate. Saturday delivery would be eliminated if they approved it and the legislation was signed into law by the president.

FLASH: The Capitol Boulevard eyesore, the subject of last week's Ask Tim, is coming down.

The dilapidated gas station on our grandest boulevard will make way for a mini-mall with a Textbook Exchange store and other college-oriented businesses.

Textbook Exchange co-owner Jason Fisher said the station should be razed in a few weeks, with the mall targeted for completion in May.

"It should look very nice," he said. "There are all sorts of design requirements for Capitol Boulevard."

Almost anything would be an improvement.

Send questions to asktim@idahostatesman.com or Ask Tim, The Idaho Statesman, P.O. Box 40, Boise, ID 83707.