Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-12-07


Po-wAsrR GNEHAL's RfpoHr. Post
master General CresweIl in his annual report
states that the stamps sold during the past
year amounted to 5l6,4j6,732 There were
in the service of the Department on the 30ih
Of june, 1870, 1898 contractors for the trans.
portation of the mail OF mail routes in
operation there were SS6l, aggfcgatnr ia
length 23l ,232 miles, and in annual transpor-
tation 9TO24,99G miles, and IN annual cos,
l0,sS4,653 Adding the compensation OF
railway Postoliice clerks, route agents, local
agents mail messengers, mail route messen-
gers aud baggage masters in charge of regis
tered packages, amounting to Sl,470, $50, the
aggregate annual cost was Sl7355,543
There was an increase over the preceding year
10 length Of routes Of 1901 miles in annual
transportation 6,3Ol 1913 miles and ia cost
S47S, 1852. Adding the increased cost for
railway postolHce clerks. route, local. and
other agents, Sl9j 1858, the total Increase in
cost was S673,Slj. The estimated cxpcndi.
lures for the next fiscal year are S2j, l35, 69S
The estimated revenues are S20,7671lj.
which, with the standing appropriation OF
$500 0O0 for free matter, will leave def
cheney of 1868 393 to he provided for. The
Postmaster General says that there were dur
ing the past year 307l cases of loss by mail
iepredatiofis, Of which 1874 were registered
letters, reported to the Department. involving
losses in bonds drafts and money to the
amount Of sl,393,7 6S.2l, considerable po7.
ton Of whch has been recovered. The mum.
Der OF arrests for violations OF the postal laws
was 10, and the number of convictions OF
those who were brought to trial 81, the re-
mainder being released, acquitted or held for
trial.
In relation to newspaper postage the only
change he would recommend would be that pre-
payments should be required of all printed
matter. lie recommends the reduction Of let
ter postage from three TO two cents. and thinks
the increased correspondence would in few
years compensate for any immediate loss Of
revenue consequent upon the reduction. The
Postmaster General adds: | despair, how
ever, of securing any further reduction Of let
ter postage as long as the frankng privilege
shall be permitted TO impose upon the Depart
ment an irremediable deficiency"
The whole number Of letters received at
the dead letter Office during the year was
l4,l52 400 of which 22O,4l5 were iorei IN
letters. 22,32l letters contained money in
sums Of one dollar or more. amounting to
500 S67,S2. OF this amount S77ll6,22
wa delivered to the writer's or persons adj.
dressed. 2294 letters contained money ia
sums less than one dollar, amounting to
S5793,60, of which s505S72 was delivered
to the writer's or persons addressed. l7,SG0
letters contained checks, drafts, deeds, &C., To
the nominal value Of 5000 ,j44,00, Of which
50 963, 10000 was restored. 3l2,GS4 let
ters were detained for postage not prepaid.
6S,l 1913 letters were INSTRUCTED. 3Ol6 has
had no address whatever
Three hundred aud eighty-two new money
order off res were created August | The
whole number now open is 2O76 The num-
Der of domestic money orders issued was
l,67l ,253, Of the aggregate value of SAL
054, lS4,7l, an increase of 5000 l25,7s.
The amount Of fees was s235, 235, so, an in
crease Of s5904i9O T'ao average amount
of each order was S2O,37 The profit of the
money order business was 500 l74,G3,