The Nevada journal., 1855-09-28

IS now about century since BENJAMIN
Franklin, then Postmaster General of the
Colonies, set out in his old gig to make an
ofhelal inspection of the principal routes
1t is about eighty years since Congress ap-
pointed him to his old Office under the now
independent Colonies, and when a small
folio containing but three quires of paper
lasted as his account book for two wears.
These simple facts brings up before US,
more forcibly than elaborate words, the
vast increase in post Office facilities with
IN hundred years; for if a Postmaster
General was to undertake to pass over all
the routes at present existing it would re-
quire SIX years Of incessant railroad travel,
at the rate of one hundred and twenty
five miles daily, while ifhe was to under
take the job in and cold gig'' he would
have the work of a lifetime before him.
Instead of the small folio, with its three
quires of paper, the post office accounts
consume every two years three thousand
ofthe largest sized ledgers, keeping no less
than one hundred clerks constantly en-
iployed in recording transactions with thir-
ty thousand contractors and other persons.
Even as late as the year 1890 the post
office facilities were mere trihe at least
as compared with the present time. There
were at that period but eighteen hundred
and seventy five miles of post routes, or
about the same number as there are now
in Oregon, and only seventy five post Of
fees. The mail was often week between
New England and Philadelp phia, a fort
night between Boston and Savannah; and
in the winter almost as long in going be-
tween this city and Pittsburg Even in
1900 the post office business of the whole
United States was but little greater than
that of Pennsylvania now. As late as
1910 there were but twenty three hundred
post offices, or only 1.-THE of the number
there is at present; while the receipts were
but little over half million of dollars
against six millions now. In fact, fifty
per cent, more postage is paid at the pres
ont time on newspapers and magazines
(even at their present reduced rates. than
was paid on letters, newspapers and every
description of mailable matter.
The greater impulse has been given
since 1880. At that period there were
only one hundred and fifteen thousand
miles of post routes. whereas now there
are nearely twice that quantity. Then
there were less than 5000 post offices, now
there are over twenty three thousand.
The last ive-and-twenty years have, there
fore, exhibited a progress in this depart
of civilization that is in advance even of
the growth of the population, rapid as that
has been.
A good many curious items are to be
found in the Post Office expenditures. We
quote few as the readiest method of show
inc how vast the transactions of the De-
partment are, Thus, there is paid an
nully for mail locks, keys, and stamps
nearly thirty-two thousand dollsrs--a sum
equal to the entire outslay of the whole
Department in the year 1870. The stamp
I'd envelopes and postage stamps cost over
fourteen thousand dollars; the mail bags
fifty thousand; the blanks seventy-one
thousand; the wrapping paper forty one
thousand. We think we can see Frank
Inns star Of astonishment if he could raise
from his grave under the old fagstone at
Fifth and Arch streets, and travelling to
Washington, not in his cold gig" but be-
hind one of Norris's locomotives, see the
three thousand ledgers, the one hundred
busy clerks, and the enormous amounts
paid for the 'sundrics' which he used to
buy for trife.
1t is hy comparison like these that we
realize what vast strides have been made
within a century. Vague, general asser-
tions of progress never have half the i'm
preston that facts such as we have quoted
Do. Franklin jogging along in the ''oll
gig" and railroad train rushing at sixty
miles an hour-what a commentary on the
difference between l755 and the present.
Philadelphia Ledger.
TRYING IT ON.-Burchard, the revival
ist, was in the habit of addressing his con-
sregation in this manner: 81 am now 60
ing to pray, and l want all that desire to
be prayed for to send up their names on
piece of paper"
| On the occasion to which we refer. there