New-York daily tribune., 1856-04-26
S DELIVERED FREE N YEAR, IN TIL

Turtridse Wells ........,..... IS1o ioSn
Colchester ...........'''.'' .lSssS istS ists
iiudder.fet ...'.''.''.'.''' ! itS ~ 80 ssiSS
Norwich '''''''''.'''''''''' sc ga sso 40 %
Total.......................9 9l9li0 %j66
Ii is to be supposed that these letters are dis
tributed within the delivery Of the post-offces
named, as it is free delivery where none existed
before. The population of these places write
beside what they receive, some sixteen million let
tiers in year, while this free delivery OF over
geo 600 "in the rural districts " adjoining, must
60 to supply population very small in proportion
to the gross number in the towns. Ii we
estimate the population so accommodated as
equal to one fifth of the number in the towns given
and it would be less rather than more-we shall
see that rural population OF $4,000 have dev-
cred to them, free almost, one million letters In
wear. while that number of inhabitants in rural
districts, in the same time do not write or receive
a quarter of million letters In view Of these
facts, can it be imagined by the merest tyro in polit
cal economy, that free-letter delivery does not
add vastly to the number of letters, thus augment
ing the profits of the Post Office, while afiOrding
increased accommodation to the public
The experiment of pillar letter-boxes-nOt little
tin affairs, which any person can carry of at leis
urt-haying proved successful, the number is to be
increased, particularly in London. In many in
stances rural messengers have been appointed
to collect and distribute letters at places too small
:" TO warrant the establishment OF Post-Ofice. ~
In London, where there have been ten deliveries a
day for years, there is to be increase, so as to
III; ntaa a an
made by lay ing of London into ten districts, to have
local letters distributed without taking them to
the central office. BY this means and an hourly
delivery, nearly every letter will be delivered
within two hours of the time it is dropped into the
receiving box, and very many within one hour and
a quarter. Let those who contend that four de-
liveres day are enough, just imagine the con-
yenieDce Of q free distribution of letters every
hour from { in the morning to at night, and
the vast increase of correspondence which such a
scheme will produce.
During the year 1855 525 new Post were
ated making the entire number at the close of the
wear TO- 49s. OF these 920 are Head Post Offices
and 9,575 Sub Post.ofiices or Receiving Offices
There were 456, 600, 900 letters, 800, 900 yalen-
tines, Il 100000 newspapers, and about 5000, 900
packets of books and other transient printed mat
ter sent by pOst during the year 1855. Nearly
2400 0C0 letters-Or about one half per cent on the
whole number mailed-snd 6O0, 900 newspapers,
were sent to the Dead-letter Office. The postage
on dead letters in l-39 was 4 per cent on the
gross postal revenue; in leil-the second year Of
the Penny POstsge-it had fallen to 2 per cent;
in lc52 to | per cent; and last year it was only
three quarters OF ! per cent on the gross reye
nue.. AL this was, or could be by law, collected
from the writer's of the letters. 1t is favor
lie argument, with many who contend for cOmpul.
sorry prepayment, that it saves money 10 the Gov
ernment that would be lost on dead letters. The last
year any statistics were given on this subject it
appears that there 30 coo, 600 letters sent un
paid in the United States and of these 2o 900, 900
were delivered at al additional charge of two
cents-a clear gain Of $500, 900; while 1900, 900
not delivered at all, showing loss of $50, 900.
With this result there was a clear gain Of hslf-a-
million of dollars on letters not prepaid. With
the double postage on letters not prepaid, there
are, in Great Britain, only three letters out Of
every 2C0 sent unpaid With postage as low as
two cents, and double that when not prepaid nearly
every letter will be postpaid by stamp.
A calculation Dadein The TRIBUSElast year went
to show that the Legitimate postage-cOlected by
stamp duty-On newspapers in England was 81 ,O0O,-
0C0. From this report We learn it was in l555
81 15OC coo. This added to the postage on letters and
books, will give about full half of the gross
clue as clear profit, showing that to-day one half
penny zone cent is the rem1neratiye rate Of letter
postsge in Great Britain. Were the paying rate in
EnglsLd FIVE cents, could any one doubt that ten
cents would pay herel The clear profits on the
British Money Order Office last year amounted to
SlOl COO; the year before, to S51, 900. The post
age on transient printed matter at this time, in
Great Britain, is one penny up to four ounces;
and in consequence of the reduction made about a
year ago. tie increase 10 that class Of gai matter