The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-11-07
Nhat have the Friends OF Cheap poslage Don,

J.
ject is communicated to us for publication. 1t will
amply repay Perusal
What have the Friends of Cheap Postage Done 2
This inquiry will be made by all who have con.
tributed to promote this benevolent object, and it
IS proper that full and explicit answer should be
given.
To answer it satisfactorily, and to make dis
tInct Impression on the public of the advantages
resulting from their labors the past and the present
position OF the PoSt-OffCe Department should be
contraSted, and the present and former rates of
postage duly considered.
Prior to 1878, every one knows that the rates of
postage were SIX, ten, twelve and a-half, eighteen
and three-quarters, and twenty-five cents on sin
gle letter, and for every piece of paper enclosed
however Light or small, an additional rate was
charged and for three enclosures quadrupe post
age must be paid. This mode of charging postage
was source OF much trouble to the Post-office in
properly rating the letters, and a cause of much
annoyance to the people, whose letters were not
untrequently overcharged.
Notwithstanding these high rates of postage the
expenditures of the PoSt-office Department from
IsIO to lSl3, inclusive, exceeded the receipts by
SOS, 900; the letters had fallen off from about
twentynlne millions to twenty. four millions, and
the post roads had been reduced % $40 miles
While the business and the population of the coun-
try were increasing every year, the revenue of the
TlultuL anu lliG uullUeT oil letters
santly diminishing. An appropriation from the
treasury was made, to keep the Post Office from
bankruptcy. 1t is true, that the Postmaster Cen
cral WiGkltte instituted suits against numerous
individuals, for carrying letters but in almost every
instance the courts decided against HIM The Posi-
office was unpopular the people would not nav
these high rates, and public opinion sustained those
who would carry letters cheaper than the govern
ment
Let us contrast the position of the Post-ofice
Department in 1919, with what it was in 1910,
under the old rates Of postage. According to the
very able report of the Hon. Charles Durkee, one
or the House Committee on Post-otfces and Post
roads, " the Pos-roads have been increased 90, 1853
miles, and the annual transportation of the mails
6902 500 miles, since the reduction of postage in
1915. The number of new Post offices established
up to July, 1850, was 1898. The revenue of the
year 1919 increased to a greater amount by
Sl4600O, than had ever been collected in any one
year since the Post-ofiice Department was estab-
lished, and. after paying all its expenses, there
remained a surplus of S69l 6S2 81, for that year
and on the LIST of July, 1850, there would be
$S5S9O0 81 TO the credit OF the Department.
Not only have the mail facilities and revenue been
increased to this extent but the number of letters
have been augmented from twenty-four millions to
s,UeNty millions per G7IHID5 This is a brief
view of the present position of the Post-office
Department. and contrasts tavorably with its con-
ditionprior to the reduction of postage.
To have accomplished as much as this is no
small achievement, and must be highly gratifying
&c the lri7nds OF ehssp postage, especially whsu 4
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