Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-12-15

~ new contracts have to be made in no two
sections Of the country, probably in no two mail
routes, would the cost Of transportation be the
same
A short time since, the mil was transported
daily over one route z miles in 4 horse post
coaches at the rate of 3 cents per annnm. On
other routes similar service will cost from fifty
to two thousand dollars. In AL such cases, the
cost Of each letter or package must depend in
some degree upon the amount paid the contract.
ors. The contract changes every four years,
and the price of the service depends upon con-
siderations connected with travel over the route.
the chances of competition, the cost of supplies,
&c. as well as upon the distance.
The expense of receiving, forwarding and de-
livery will slightly increase the cost Of each,
according to the distance it is conveyed, or the
number Of persons through whose hands it must
pass bnt neither Of these nor all of them to-
g,,her will more affect the cost Of Teach than the
number conveyed in the mails. and that depends
in a great degree upon the rate Of postage.
II, however, the cost oil each could be easily
aud accurately sscertained, its wants Of uni
formi'y would prevent its adoption as the rate.
In ascertaning standard by which the rates
are to be adjusted, the cost on different routes
in the several sections of the Union, the dis,an.
ces to be conveyed, the expence in the Offices,
of receiving, forwarding and delivery are too
minute and nnmporant in themselves to de-
serve much CONSIDERATION.
Tho best and to only practicable criterion
will he the expense of the whole system, com
pared with the revenue. and the adoption of such
"A rate as experience shows to be enough to make
the one meet the other, approaching as nearly
AS possible the cost.
| Prior to the passage Of the act Of 1915, the
| al pf N lnttarc adj uStpu ccOru-
ing to the number of pieces, making each one
a single letter. and different sums paid accord
ing to the distance they were conveyed, as il
That was the principal element in estimating the
cost. The principle was not entirely abandon.
ed by the act of 1915, though much simplifed
and improved; while charging by the piece l.
entirely surrendered, and the more ust and equl.
table mode by weight, substituted Experience
proved that The rates prior to the passage OF that
act were TOO high for the purposes oil revenue.
For series Of wears prior to that time. the eX-
pendilures regularly exceeded the income, eX-
hbinr an annual average deficiency of about
$l25,00O Tor the years preceding the passage
of the act.
| These deficiencies occurred while the trans
portation gradually diminished, within the last
tour or five years, about twelve Thousand miles
in extent. so that If the high rates of postage
| ndu DPcU continued. the SERVICE ilHst nave otc'
greatly diminished, or large sums Of money
drawn annually from the Treasury for its use
The result may be mainly attributed to two
causes. lst. The multiplication of railroad and
steamboat lines augmented the expense of mail
Transportation from StOIl2 in 1888, to SS43,.
l30, on the 80 b of June lSt5-more than
double the former mail pay; whilst to individn'
ais the expense of transportation was diminish
ed more than half 81. The hah rates of post
age and the reduced fare for travel. enabled the
expresses to enter into competition with the
departments BY conveying letters out ut The
mails. This business was extensively carried
on, notwithstanding the severe penalties OF the
law and the energetic and determined efforts o
the department tn enforce them.
The act of 1913 reduced the rates of postage
more than one.half and substituted the halt
; ounce for single letter. in lieu OF the singh
; piece Of paper.
Al the close of the first year, 3Otl of June
rs, the deficiency proved much less than wa
rXpe cited, only amounting to $500 and a
; the end Of the second year only to : l6,i
whilst at the end Of the third year. there wa
: found a surplus Of Sl72,232 beyond the prope
expenses of the year, notwithstanding the YER
great increase in the service in each of IN
wears. This was caused not only by an incrcas
of the revenue bat by a reduction ot the eXpcn
) dtures, nearly equalng the increase. That in
crease, however, exceeded the expectation q
the friends of that act.
, The increased business in the Offices and tn
improvement 0! the revenue under The preser
rates Of postage, lead to the conclusion that tn
, 10 cent rate may be dispensed with AT the clos
! oi tAe present year. ii such other modification
= of that act As have been suggested in my Tor
' mer reports should be adopted. In my last an
: nutl report an estimate was made OF the payn
! letters which passed through the mails Tor tn
. year ending the 3oth Of June, 1877. This wa
q founded upon the revenue of the preceding yea
= and the October returns Of 1915, Which had bee
= made in pursuance of il resolution at Y 'ngre's
t From this il appeared that the number OF Ie'
= lers paving postage, including ship aud steam
boat letters. ship letters forwarded in the mails
Q dropped letters and printed circulars, amnunte
:, to 52I73 4S0--au estimate upon the sam
e principle for the year ending the 3Oth OF Jun
n last would give US the number OF paying lei
d lers 55 O69 0.5.
). The Ostnber returns showed that over one
h fourth and less than one.third Of the letter pos
: tage was derived from the 10 cent rate Hi
n taken ms the basis of calculation would max
;, l4,303,7I3 letters paying that rate.
5 If, therefore, that rate Should be dropped |
It the close Of the present year. there would be
II loss OF SIl5,lS7 to be supplied from some oth'
source during the next year.
r. il can scarcely be doubted, that with the sn
y plus expected ut the close OF the present yea
:. OF 3 l2S336, and 100000 for the hostages
NJ the government for the present year. the II
r. crease of correspondence from the reduction
" the rate of postage and tine abolition OF the Iran
10 ing privilege, as well as the saving on dead lie
" tiers if pr, -,,yment should be required, and Il
Il two cents that are paid for advertising and f
% the delivery Of Tree letters would enable the d
t. psltment To meet the expenditures from its ow
" resources on the 3Olh Of June, 1850. II aft
y. that time The business of the offices shall con-
ct nue. To increase as it has done suce the act
g, lSi5, which is probable from the rapid dcrea
2 of the population and business of the conntr
II. the partment would not be embarrassed (
ne the want of means to meet any probable /
1t crease in the service.
e. One other consequence expected by q
ty friends Of tlIe aoA of 1915, and which was
- lied on as IL certain means of improving the
re venue has not been realized. 1t was conhder
ly believed that by such reduction in the rat
no of postage the business Of the expresses won
ci he made Improbable, and be abandoned. III
by has not been the case. The business, it is
"a lieNs beta cen the principal cities is continn
% with much activity, and the revenue serious
Ms impaired by it, In recen. numl er OF the Pal
ar finder published in Boston, the names of 2
&c cities and villages are given, which are reg
air arly supplied BY express men with packas
III rom that city and most If them, doubtless, C.
're veying letters regularly out of the mails. L