The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-08-24

This statement exhibits the rapid growth
and eXtention of the postal service of the
United States in its several branches dur
ing the past three years, as we'll as the
economy with which it has been maintain
ed, extended, and improved. Comparing
the statistics of 1871 with 1868, the follow
ing gratifying results appear in each branch
of the service:
l. REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.
An increase in the ordinary postal reve-
nues of 50, 744, 444 GO, or % per cent; an
increase of expenditures of only 81, $50, sill
43, or 1910 per cent, and a decrease in the
deficiency paid out Of the general Treasury
of $9,0S1, 933 10, or 324 per cent.
g INLAND NAIL SERVICE.
The increased annual mail transporta-
ton amounted to 23,34S, 469 miles, or 81 =
10 per cent. at an increased annual cost of
only 1903, $3.50, or 12 $40 per cent, and
this Notwithstanding the very large extern
sion of railroad service for which fixed
rates of mail compensation are prescribed
by law. The aggregate length of new rail-
road routes was 1881 miles, an increase
of 80 $40 per cent; the increased annual
transportation on railroad routes was co.
670,S70 miles, or 59i per cent, and the
increased cost of railroad service was ST.
SAT, S53, or 81 per cent, being 1884, 514
more than the total increased annual cost
of mail transportation in 1871 over 1868;
so that, excluding the increased cost of the
railroad service during this period, the
annual cost Of the inland mail transporta-
ton in 1871 was 1884, 514 less than in 1868.
Additional lines of railway post offices,
of the aggregate length of 4, 1S9 miles IAN
increase of SO TO per cent? were also
established and put into operation, requir-
ing the services of 2S1 additional postal
railway clerks. whose annual salaries
amounted to 1915, 100. The expenses of
the inland mail service were further aug
mented by increased salaries of postmas-
tiers, under the provisions of the law re-
curing their salaries to be re-adjusted
once in two years, their increased salaries
amounting to the sum of $773, 070.S7, as
we'll as by the employment of 1914 addition
al route agents and 40 additional mail
route messengers required by the great
extention of railroad service.
3. FOREIGN NAIL SERVICE.
The correspondence exchanged with for
eign countries has been greatly augmented.
The number of letters exchanged in the
mails with foreign countries in 1871 was
20. 900, 1898, being $685., 1893, or Al per cent.
greater than the number exchanged in
1868. The cost of our transatlantic steam
ship mail service in 1868 was $421, TIT A,
and in 1871 it was STA, 13S 80; the reduced
cost of this service amounting to $247, 639-
05, or IS 10 per cent.
New and improved postal conventions
have been concluded with most of the
European powers, including Great Britain,
Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, the Meth.
erlands, Italy, and Denmark; and also
with the Empire of Brazil, the Argentine
Republic, British Honduras, San Salvador,
British Columbia, the Hawaiian Kingdom,
and New Zealand, reducing postage rates,
and otherwise improving facilities of postal
intercourse with all parts of the world.
The single rate of letter postage between
the United States and Great Britain and
Ireland has been reduced from "a to
cents; between the United States and Ger
many from 30 to 7 cents by closed mail,
via England; and from Is to 6 cents by
means of direct steamers, with correspond
ing reductions in postage rates to Belgium.
Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzer-