The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-04-28

ipt'i 100
The above places contribute four-tenths of the
postal revenue of Great Britain The business
transacted in money orders seems enormous; in the
Kingdom, over 60 million dollars in year. and in
London alone the orders paid in year amount to
fifteen millions and the orders issued, to over
eight millions. OF course the commissions paid
amount to comparatively trihing sum. The COM
missions on all the orders issued in the kingdom
amounted to $534, 2GO, and the clear profits after
deducting for clerk hire office expenses blanks &c
to Sl20,S75. In 1855 the profits were $40, 600.
in 1852 1000, and in IS49 only 81 Go In
England and Wales there was one money order
TO every four persons in the gross population; in
Scotland, one order to every six persons, and in
Ireland one to every fourteen persons There was
no falling off in the money order business last year.
but on the contrary very considerable gain
though not as much as usual The money order
business increased in the year 81 per cent, and
the number of letters per cent. The number of
money orders issued during the year was G. $3.50 7O2
OF an average value of nearly e. sterling (SlO).
Only ,233 post offices in the Kingdom have the
privilege of issuing and paying money orders-an
increase last year of l38 The money order is
postmaster draws on another postmaster and this
is clshed at sight by the postmaster on whom it is
drawn, the owner in the meantime endorsing it.
1t is n perfectly safe way of RENTING money by
mail, as any person who might steal one would be
unable to give such description of the person
drawing or the person receiving as would enable
him to realize its value. In case he should Ia
would have to commit forgery. Frauds are almost
entirely unknown. Instead of commission of a
certain per cent. the business is vastly simplied
by having each money order, that is under two
pounds in value (SlO) pay a commission of three
pence G.cents) and all over two pounds and I'M
der five pounds, a commission of six pence 10
cents) No order is granted for over five pounds
(S25), and all of the minor money order Offices
are restricted to ESQ day ($25O) in the issue of
money orders.
The newspapers sent by post last year numbered
II 900, 900, the same us the year previous OF
these 81 900 900 bore the impressed stamp (printed
red the shcet), and the rest were paid in post
age stamps. Last year the book packets numbered
G,OOO, 900; in 1856 there were only 1900, 0OO and
1855 less than million and quarter. The book
packets average 81 ounces in weight, and bear
an average postage of a cents. The immense
increase of books and pamphlets in the mall was
in consequence of some reduction, and a great
simplication of the rates of postage. Each pack
age of printed matter that docs not weigh over
four ounces is charged a penny; the same as
letter, over four and less than eight ounces two
pence, a cents, and beyond that, two pence for
each half pound or fraction of a half pound
Reckoned by weight, letters pay JUS eight times as
much postage as printed matter.
The railway service is not entirely satisfactory
to the postal authorities and a bill was in
trodrced in Parliament by the Postmaster General,
the Duke of Argyll; the draft of which is given in
the report, but it was withdrawn on account of OPP
position Hallway service costs on the average 49,
cents mile, and the noble duke remarks that it
is about double the sum paid for railway postal
service in America But the British nostmaster
must remember that they have three or four ,;n,o,
as many letters as we have, while our r.;,rooa,
exceed theirs in extent in just about the Same 80
Many railways have obliged the post Office and ,bo
public by agreeing to an arrangement for ssparce
post service" by means of which a bag or baos
can be sent by any or every train at parcel
rates.
An item of the postal service of Russia is given,