The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-08-16
THE BRITISH POST OFFICE.

" '''> iCNOIucu idctS cOnceTDltlC
the establishment of the post in England, is
that Edward ". in 1881, being then at wa,
with Scotland. established relays of horses
so That dispatches were conveyed to London
IN three days-a feat which was no doubt
considered quite remarkable at the tin.
Letter posts were first established in the
time of James |. for the CONVEYANCE Of let.
'ers'o 'oreiSh countries, suggested, apparent
ly' 10y private enterprise, which had a,lopte,
the exprdi"nt in order to yain advantages in
the markets. Not until lG3j was post for
INLAND letters established. when, bv running
night and day, the post went from London to
td'nbure and ba.k in SIX DAYS The time
now occupied is fifteen hours The carriage
OF letters was assumed hy the government
tor the formation Of a profitable monopoly,
Father than to accommodate the public, and
was u">utcr>>.",,y /, ,u.0ns tr;.tcd against at
the time as a u>urp,tion OF tn. rights Of pri
vatc enterprise. \ penny post established
IN London in the year 1858 was likewise
seized by the government, which granted the
author compensation. AT frs. the mails
were carried on horseback. then in coaches
an Improvement suggested by a theatrical
n'ana2er. Ano'ker, and the greatest improve.
n'rn' OF a'l-thc system of penny postage for
all d'stances-was also suggested by person
havln" at the time no connection with III.
post Office Rowland Hill The money or.
der Office was orr 4nal!y the Speculation of
some clerks. and was not adopted as branch
Q! the e>;a t,i,hment until 1893.
The increased importance of the Post Of
nee during the last few wears is well iIustra.
ted 10y comparison of its present with its
former business In 1863 the secretary Of
the department had one clerk and two super.
numrraries: III 1871 there were 6 clerks in
his ollie. At the same periol the receiver
general had two clerks. and the accountan,
general deputy and one clerk: and their
duties now united require ), clerks Two
clerks suiii"cd TO open all the dead letters in
lob; now 81 are employed. The packe,
>cr,!re then consisted Of four II,rwich. six
Dover. and five New York packets. a, cos,
OF slo.0u" year now the mail packets are
10, ard sSno 600 wear is paid for hen
services. The whole number of off .ers. pos
masters, letr"r carriers and clerks employed
IN the establishment at the present time. ex
elusive Of those In the col ,nic>. is PISA -
The number of post offices in the United
Kingdom in 1884, was 1913: in 1910 there
were only 4o2S: and the mails are carried
nearly 5000 miles per dav. at an average
chars" by mail OF N.i., and by coach of 2li
per mile.
In 1919 the number Of letters passlnc thro
tn" post office was scvcnty-six millions. and
in 1854. four hundred and fortvthree mil.
lions-an increase of nearly six fold OF
these. nearly onc-h halt pass through the Lon
''ii ! Vs. N'iii Z. anu OI1t HlIltITtI ana t!lTet
millions are delivered in London an! III. sub
urbs. About eighty five per cent are en-
closed in envelopes. Fifty three millions of
newspapers and three hundred and seventy
five thousand tooks passed through the Lon
don Office in 1874. The money order office.
now constitute very important branch OF
the establishment. and number rirhtecn hun
drrd aud >rvcntv-two. In 1874, 5.l66 PA
orders were issued, TO the amount of go.
462 40. .Irldin-. after paving all expenses
Slb.33S. The increase during The last five
wears has ranged from three TO seven pei
cent: IN 1874 1t was four and three quarters
Erm:ltanccs OF nearly ten millions and hal
OF pounds, presents striking picture OF tn.
active circulation OF the capital of the cOun
try The gross revenue of 1854 was g.
G>90oo-an increase of E?S. 900 or four ne,
cent over 1913 The expenditures wer,
,+l3.o00, an increase of three per cent
Total net revenue Il 2.6 900. During III,
late war the average number of letters sen
to the army was 4l.25o. and the number re
ccivci from it 43.l22. These facts exhbi
in strong light the blessings which flow I,
the people from the establishment of chral
: postage and also afford a good index of tn,
progress of education among the masses. 4
cheap press and cheap postage are two of
the m.htiest instrumentalitcs Of modcr,
y civilization.
LIVERPOOL To POETLAND-We learn b,
The State ~ Maine that the propeller Cleo
patra. the first steamship in the new line OF
steamers between Liverpool and Portland
T, touching at ST. Johns Newfoundland, an,
Halifax. is to sail from Liverpool to Po:tlan,
on the 23d inst. BY making ST. Johns
port OF call, the Atlantic voyage is reduce,
about one third. and the coaling required TO
3 the ships on this route may he very matcri
, ally diminished, thereby enhancing the spec,
, and giving more space for goods. Bes,d
this, the line of telegraph connecting S,
, Johns and New York, soon to be completed
will induce the emplo. mrnt of the swIftes
: possible boats for the atlantic Ferry"
: BE- Careful WITH THE GUANO.-It ma,
not be As generally known as it should bs ths
great danger may be incurred by the reckless
handling Of gusno We understand that ca
ses have occurred Of persons having cuts up