The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-06-17
POSTAL SYSTEM OF GREAT BRITAIN.

We have had upon our table for some days the an
nual report on the Post Office Department of Great
Britain for the year 1856. We condense from this
valuable document some items which may be OF IN
terest to our readers. During the year the number
of post Offices in the United Kingdom was increased
by 1868, making the whole present number 10, 500
There were delivered AIS, 393803 letters, against
45626 JIG in 1855, being increase of Al per cent
The annual rate of increase in letters during the last
five years has been nearly per cent. Nearly a
quarter of the whole number of letters are delivered
in London and the suburban districts and, count
ing those also which are despatched nearly half the
letters pass through the London office. About IL
letters per annum are delivered ON average, for
every inhabitant of the United Kingdom. In London
the proportion is as high about 40 to each person
The colonial and foreign letters form not more than
about one-fiftieth Of the whole number delivered
The reduction Of postage from shilling to sixpence,
made in 1856, has increased the correspondence with
India already more than nethrd-from about
800, 900 letters to nearly 100000 With France,
in the two years since the reduction of the rate from
10d to 4d there has been increase of over 1000,
600, or about one-thrd of the whole former number
When the postage for paid and unpaid letters between
the two countries was the same about two-thirds of
the letters posted unpaid but now the proper
ton Of unpaid letters is less than oreifth. There
has been an increase of about 1875 900 letters in the
correspondence with the United States; but the
number is still considerably less than it before
the interruption to the packet service caused by the
exigences Of the late war. About II 900, 900 news
papers were posted during the year, the average
weight of which was rather less than last year, be
ing now about n ounces. This diminution in weight
is probably owing to an increase in the number OF
cheap and small newspapers. Nearly 100000
| book packets posted, averaging about ounces
4 each About 2, 100000 'sdead letters were return
ed to the writer's or l in 200 of the whole num-
Der posted being nearly the as in 1853. About
/ $50 900 newspapers also were undelivered, being
/ about in l29 of the whole number. Excluding
official packets, the inland letters average between
/ and ounce and colonial letters rather more than
ounce The whole number Of money order Offices il
4 the United Kingdom is now 1908 an increase owe,
last year Of l65. There issued during the yeal
6,l7S,962 money orders, to about every Al Of tht
population of the kingdom, amounting to Ell S05,562
or about $59,000,000. The commission charged OIL
these amounted to al03,395, or nearly 9l0 Of pei
cent. upon the aggregate amount issued; while the
net profit was but e22 674 little over5 of pei
cent. which profit, however, an increase on thai
for 1855 of nearly per cent. Since 1910 the com
i mission on money orders has been 3D.. for sums no
1 exceeding CO. and Cd for sums 92. No orders
are issued over Co. The profit yielded by the money
order Office is derived solely from the orders Of above
60 EACH although these orders form the minority
there is even some loss upon the orders below tina
amount the commission charged not being sufficien
to pay the expenses.
Within the year the letter postage between the
mother country and the East Indies, Western Aus
tralia, and Mauritus has been reduced to 3D., and
4 the colonial book post has been extended to Tasma
MIA, New Zealand,) Natal, and Turks Island and
will shortly be extended to Victoria In the various
colonies and dependencies there is continual ten
4 dency to lower rates-the lowest being in India
where there is uniform charge of 3D. only. The
4 weight allowed for single rate is certainly very
little being only lilo ounce; but taking the vast ex
tent Of the country into consideration the charge
very low Reductions, more OF less important, have
been effected during the year in the rates charged
books and newspapers, well as letters, between
4
Great Britain and the various nations of continental
Europe, and negotiations arc in progress for further
reductions. reduction of the postage with Tho
United States from Is to 3D. the hafounce letter ii
desired with reference to which wc may here re
mark that no obstacle to the accomplishment of th.
object upon fair terms will be offered by our gov
eminent. The whole distance over which mails ar,
/ now conveyed within the United Kingdom is upwards
of 6l,O0O miles per day being about 1900 NOR,
than at the end of 1855.
This increase is principally in railway conveyance
but more than half the duty is still performed b,
coaches and mail-carts, which convey the mail
4 3272l miles per day, against 2s692 miles by rail
i ways
TRIED IN SEVEN STATES, AND HOW II HAS
WORKED
The Maine law (says the Providence POST ha