The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1873-12-11
POSTMASTER.GENERAL'S REPORT.
From the annual report of the Post.
master. General, which is of more than
usual length, we make the following con-
6enSafipp.
POsr-OrrIcE DEPARTMENT,

usual length, we make the following con
densation:
Posr-OrrIcE DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Nov. IA. 1871. :
SIR: The ordinary revenues of this Department
a dor me fiscal year ended June 30. 1874 were 2,
SSscnM5I and the expenditures Of all kinds ~,
ue5,,MS6'. For the year ended June 80. 1874, the
penSiiures ssssss, 1881. In 1873 there was an in
erase of revenue ever 1871 of $l0sl.3l5sO o.
aas per ccut., and an increase Of expenditures Of
ISIS With ISL shows am an increase in repenuss 81 81
expenditures Of sieats4, So Or 1874 per cent. VI
II, in addition 70 the ordinary revenues the De
Partnient Is credited with the ordinary amounts
drawn snd expended for subsidies to mail steam
emp lines lsss5oo it will be seen that the amount
arawn from the general Treasury under the appro
pr'atons TO meet deficiencies during the year. was
SSsoa.4', against SSsl', o.M in 1872. TO the de-
neSncy Tor 1872, however, are to be added the
standing appropriations for free matter amounting
10 S'N.' w. which have since been repealed
q. Inc estimated expenses for the year ending June
80. ls,s. are $.3,?>a9is: total csinlatcd receip,s
$ss ss. $40 leaving deficiency Of S4bs6 as 10 he
appropriated out Of the general Treasury. These
estimates do not include the special appropriations
Inc total number Of stamps. stamped envelopes.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and postal cards issued during
'ne year was '6l 20 Of the value Of SO, 800 7.6.
OF public ma.routes in operation there were
.4A agsregating in length s562lO niles in annua al
iran 1lsaa6so miles: and in annual
railway post-eficc clerks. route agents mail-route
messengers, local agents, mail messengers and
baggage masters in charge Of registered packages
.s s1s ~; 70 6 the aggregate annual cost
There was an increase over the preceding year
In length Of routes OF ASIA miles: in annual trans
portation. 4.Ss5a2S miles, and in cost, Al OF.
adding the increased for railway post office
Clerks ron'e. local. and other agents, ssls $40, the
to.ai increase in cost was 81 ,iSl $40
The railroad routes have been increased in length
noto miles and In cost 1854, as5 against an increase
cost.
NAIL DErEEDArIoNs
me number OF recorded complaints for the past
year OF m'sstng letters was 6.16S, Of which IS $50
were unregistered and ? 1S5 registered. containing
IN the former. as reported. in bonds. drafts and
currency, $500 % a3, and in the latter $40 42l 81
ar me resistersd letters $40 were accounted for.
IN the hands OF special agents for investigation
During the year 40! persons arrested for var
ions Ions. 'e9sss against the postal laws and regula
been acquitted. 1873 awaiting trial. and a5 have
been discharged for want Of proof sufficient to en-
officers in The service OF The opinion that Con-
gress should adopt such legisla ion ~ will prevent
the use OF the mails for the conveyance OF money
IN letters. and compel the registration Of every
RAILWAY POST OFFICES
a., tabular statement hereto appended shows that
ton on the S0th Of June. 1879, was SO. extending
over 4st6 miles OF railroad and steamboat routes
AN increase Of two lines and 749 miles over the
was az at an annual of sall OO1- an inc rease
OF loi clerks and Sila.41. Upon Il. 312 miles the
service Is performed daily upon 1883 miles twice
aaily. and upon 81 miles four times daily, eQuiya-
lent in all to IL. 46s miles each way daily Count
ing aal the lines both ways the aggregate service
Is Si,925 miles daily.
FOREIGN NAILS.
=. Inc total number Of letters exchanged during
sne year with foreign countries was 2,459 1875, ar
FOR 1872. OF this number. IL, 1914 were sent
from and l3ls6.5ll were received in the United
The number of letters tsinrle rates, EXCHANGED
in he United States and European mails was is..
reported for 1872
The total pc tases on the letters exchanged with
foreign countries amounted to $s.0a1 $40 So an in
crease Of Sloo,oo3.6l over the amount reported in
Comparing the year 1879 with the wear 1872 the
rate OF increase in the total number of letters ex
changed with foreign countries was 1877 per cent,
and the rate OF increase in the amount Of hostages
,nereon was per cent. The increase in the num-
Der OF letters exchanged with European countries
was ios. per cent. and the increase Of hostages
Ths of qhs
fse;amshp service for the year 1873 was >ss674577
same service for the year 1872.
FREE DELIVERY,
Speaking Of the free delivery system the report
says the expense Of the system at each Office is
Pnid , ont Of the revenue Of that office It seems
should be extended to all cities where the popula-
uon; business, extent Of territory. and frequency
OF the mails may authorize the requisite force and
outlay. just how far these elements NAV combine
10 warrant the extension Of the system it is diff.
cnlt TO determine: but am Of the opinion that it
might be advantageously provided for cities hay.
ing in their corporate limits population of not
less than 10000.
DEAD LETTERS
Number of domestic letters received AT the Dead
Lester office during the year were 4.133.92S: num-
Der OF foreign letters. 26s4aO: total 44O2 34S rep
representing an actual or nominal value of .5.795-
T6t11 OF this number 1895 10s representing a.
3t9a' Is. were delivered to owners or writers: 81.
3s. representing $132 993 B. which could not be
delivered. We're filed for reclamation; 1870 re-
outstanding in the hands of posmasters for deliv-
cry June 30. 1873, and represented &2S484s51: and
2SS, 1872 which either could not be delivered. or
from various causes were worthless. were de-
stroyed.
The number Of applications for dead letters was
Soe and in 2O15 cases. the letters were found and
forwarded to applicants or owners
The amounts received and deposited in the
Treasury from this source during the year were:
From unclaimed dead Letters. $6,ss; proceeds Of
sales Of waste paper. 401 IS; sales OF post-route
total Of slo.a5l.5i.
THE MONEY SYSTEM.
The number Of money order Post Offices in oper.
alton during the last fiscal year was 2.775 On July
1871. G9 additional offices were established and
hve were discontinued making the whole number
Al present 3.tH9 Of the additional offices, seven
were opened at sub-postofices or stations in large
in Philadelphia
during the year was 3.35 6S6. the aggregate value
OF which was. 5s.5l6, a1G69; the number paid was
S.3l!sls-amounting to $50 $500 s51.24: repaid to
remitfers S3A,6lGi; total paid $5s 1876 O12 81
nents
The amount Of fees paid by the public to Post
% These transactions show an increase over those
OF ls.. OF s9Wctss.9s: or 1885 per cent. in the
amount Of orders issued; Of $s,s75.ss7sO, or 1883
Per cent In the amount Of orders paid and Of "a
ale.a9 or u per cent. in the amount of fees re.
celved. The average amount Of the money orders
issued during the last year ST. "a, being SIN
less man the average Of the preceding year. The
small increase in the fees received, as compared
with the issues and payments Of ORDERS is owing to
for orders not exceeding $40 from 10 cents to
cents. The diminutiOn Of the average amount Of
the orders fs to be attributed to the same cause,
winch fmulated the purchase Of small orders
Issued at one-half the rate formerly charged.
POSTAL CARDS.
An appropriation for the manufacture and deliv-
cry OF postal cards having been secured by the act
OF January 9. Is7s. immediate steps were taken to
meet the public demand therefor A. predicted.
they have been favorably received. They have
rappea public want and have made new and
issues foot up: From May to June 50. 81, $1,000;
from July to September %, sa, sos sOO, making
estimate Of 10n0Oo.ON for the consumption Of The
first year will be more than realized.
THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE.
The several acts for the repeal Of the franking
privilege became operative on the lat Of July last
The results Of the first quarter Of the current year
are highly satisfactory. and have fully verified the
predictions OF the friends of the repeal The con.
fusion and delay In the distribution and transmis.
sion OF the mails, caused by suddenly throwing,
without notice or system. immense masses Of free
remcdied- thus making II possible to effect de-
cided Improvement in the organisation and practi-
cal working Of the service.
rn.h,
sent out by order Of Congress have been almost
entirely cut Of since the LEI Of july OF the relief
thus Afforded some idea may be formed from the
fact that during the three months next preceding
thst day, there were forwarded from the city over
b single route, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, in
OK cars independent Of the amount conveyed In
the regular mail cars. 66 5Oa pounds Of such pnbi
cations as appears from returns Of the actual
weight thereof taken by the company with permis-
sion Of the Department :,
These facts, 1t is respectfully submitted are am.
pie ustain the opinion given In the special re-