Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1873-12-05
PosT-OFFIcE DEPARTMENT,

! WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov IA, 1873. I
SIR !: The ordinary revenues of this Department
for the fiscal year ended June 80, 1879 were s22,
J3o74lo and the expenditures of all kinds $29tSi,
94567 For the year ended June 30, 1872, the ordn-
airy revenues were 81 915, 42o.3 and the expendi-
lures S2o658 81 In 1873 there was an increase of
over 1872 Of 81 081 315 20 SO per cent,
and an increase of expenditures of 81 &c. or
$40 per cent. A comparison OF 1873 with 1871
shows an increase in revenues of $2,959 696 49, or
1442 per cent. and an increase of expenditures
of $4, 1914 841. SO, or 1924 per cent.
If, in addition to the ordinary revenues, the De-
partment is credited with the amounts drawn and
expended for subsidies to mail-steamship lines
CS72a, ooO), it will be seen that the amount drawn
from the general Treasury, under the appropria-
tons to meet deficiencies during the year, was
1926 49, against So 1856 "a in 1872. To the de-
fciency for 1872, however, are to be added the
standing appropriations for free matter, amount
ing to $700,000, which have since been repealed
The estimated expenses for the year ending June
80, 1875, $33, 929 9l2 total estimated receipts,
$29, 1893 49, leaving deficiency of $4,b36363 to be
appropriated out of the general Treasury. These
estimates do not include the special appropriations
in the nature of subsidies.
~ The total number of stamps, stamped envelopes,
newspaper wrappers and postal cards issued dur
398,776.
MAIL ROUTES.
Of public mall-routes in operation there were
1875 aggregatng in length ESQ 21O miles; in annu-
al transportation 1i9 500 $50 miles; and in annual
cost, $13, 341. Adding the compensation of rail-
way post-ofice clerks route agents, mail-route
messengers, local agents, mali messengers, ana
baggage-masters in charge of registered packages
amounting to S. 52569S the aggregate annual cost
was SIG, 161 034. ~
There was an increase over the preceding year
in length of routes of 1912 miles, in annual trans
portation, Az, 1873 miles; and in COST ST. 63,t H.
Adding the increased cost for railway pOst-Office
clerks, route, local. and other agents. S318,7a9 the
total increase in cost was ST. 1881 1926.
The railroad routes have been increased in
length 5546 miles, and in cost 1854 425 against an
increase last year of 80H miles in length and $77
792 in cost. aa
ssas sa ~ MAIL DEPREDATIoNs. . 4
The number of recorded complaints for the past
year of missing letters was 6,165, Of which 1880
were unregistered and 21S5 registered, containing
in the former, reported, in bonds, drafts and
currency, $309 1913, and In the latter $7d,421 81
OF the registered letters, 800 were accounted for,
BIB are reported as actually lost and 973 are still in
the hands of special agents for investigation. Dur
ing the year 3U2 persons arrested for various
ofenses against the postal laws and regulations.
OF these, "a have been convicted 20 have been &C
quilted, 1913 are awaiting trial, and 95 have been
discharged for want of proof sufficient to insure
conviction. Some of the most experienced officers
should adopt such legislation as will prevent the
use of the mails for the conveyance Of money in
letters, and compel the registration of every vau
able package. $40
RAILWAY PosT-oFFIcEs.
A tabular statement hereto appended shows that
the number of railway post-Ofice lines in opera
over 1896 miles of railroad and steamboat routes
an increase of two lines and 749 miles over the
preceding year. The number Of clerks employed
was G52 al an annual cost of $941 0OO-an increase
of 103 clerks and $119,400. Upon 12,312 miles the
service is performed daily, upon 2533 miles twice
daily, and upon II miles four times daily. Count
ing all the lines both ways, the aggregate service
is "a ,925 miles daily.
FOREIGN MAILS. .-,.-.-
The total number Of letters exchanged during
the year with foreign countries ri, 91e5, an
increase of 1906 685 over the number reported for
1872. Of this number, Il, 332, ga were sent from
and 49, 49, 81 received in the United States.
The number of letters [single rates) exchanged
in the United States and European mails was 49,
5o5,514 an increase of 902 515 the number
ported for 1872. 1.rH- IN 5rls IT.
The total hostages on the letters exchanged with
foreign countries amounted to $2,021, 510S6 an in
1872 .FIl
Comparing the year 1873 with the year 1872, the
rate of increase i'll the total number of letters ex
changed with foreign countries 1877 per cent,
and the rate of increase in the amount of hostages
thereon was per cent. The increase in the num-
Der of letters exchanged with European countries
was 10A per cent, and the increase of hostages
thereon amounted to 72@ per cent.
The cost of the United States transatlantic mail
steamship service for the year 1878 was 1916 745W
same service for the year 1872.
t4#a -s FREE DELIVERY.
Speaking Of the free delivery system the report
says the expense of the system at each office is
paid out of the revenue of that Office. 1t seems
but fair, therefore, that this mode of delivery
should be extended to all cities where the popula
ton, business, extent of territory, and frequency
of the mails may authorize the requisite force and
outlay. Just how far these elements may COM
bine to warrant the extension of the SYSTEM it is
difficult to determine; but l am of the opinion
that 1t might be advantagously provided for cities
having in their corporate limits a population Of
not less than 10000
Number OF domestic letters received at the
Dead Letter Office during the year 4133, 928;
number of foreign letters, 1863 420 total 44O2 348
representing actual or nominal value of So, 1885,,
764. IL. OF this number, 1,826,109, representing
$5377, 20, were delivered to owners or writer's
81 1888, representing 1892 1888 49, which could not be
manned either on hand not acted upon, or were
outstanding in the hands of Postmasters for de-
livery June 30, 1873, and represented 1884 847. 81 ;
and 1888, 48a,which. either could not be delivered,
or from Varioss causes were worthless, were de-
stroyed.
The number of applications for dead letters was
$685. and in 2,U75 the letters were found and
forwarded to applicants or owners.
The amounts received and deposited in the Trea-
ury from this source during the year were: From
unclaimed dead letters So 20S proceeds of sales of
waste paper, So, 401 .55 sales of post-route MAPS
$500. 40; sales of old carpets, $29356-making a
total of $10,35151. 49,.
THE MONEY ORDER SYSTEM.
The number of money-order post-of1ices in oper-
alton during the last fiscal year 2,Ti5. On July
T. 1873, 299 additional offices were established, and
five were discontinued making the whole number
atpresent 5000. OF the additional offices, seven
opened at sub-pos-ofices or stations in large
cities, viz one in Boston, one in Chicago, and five
in Philadelphia. [.F
The number Of domestic money-orders issued
during the year was 3355,6S6, the aggregate value
of which was $51, 1859; the number paid was
Notwithstanding to SGT, 300 351 "a; repaid to
remiters, "a; total paid, $50 295 012.27-
leaving $22, AZ as the excess Of issues over pay
ments
The amount of fees paid by the public to Post
masters for the issue of money orders was $751;
602.25. These transactions show increase over
those of 1872 of $4,000 81, 1855 per cent, in
the amount of orders issued; of $8,875 30, or
tho Iof
of $4,3659 or % per cent in the amount of fees
received. The average amount of the money or
ders issued during the lastyear was Sill being
81 n less than the average of the preceding year
The small increase in the fees received, as COM
pared with the issues and payments of orders, is
owing to the reduction, by the act of June 8, 1872,
cents to cents. The diminution of the average
amount of the orders is to be attributed to the
cause, which stimulated the purchase of small or
ders issued at onehalf the rate formerly charged.
@T f.E POSTAL CARDS. 81
An appropriation for the manufacture and deliv
cry of postal cards having been secured by the act
of Jan. g. 1873, immediate steps were taken to
meet the public demand therefor. AS predicted,
they have been favorably received. They have
supplied a. public want, and have made new and
remunerative business for the Department The
issues foot up From May to June 30, 81 094, 900;
of 64302, 800 ~ 80 y p
100000 for the consumption of the first year will
be more than realized. 58i h.a
THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE,
The several acts for the repeal of the franking
privilege became operative the LIST 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 transmits
sion of the mails, caused by suddenly throwing,
without notice or system. immense masses of free
matter upon Important postal routes, have been
remedied, thus making 1t possible to effect de-
cided improvement in the organization and prac-
teal working of the service.
Publications of the class heretofore printed and
sent out by order of Congress have been almost
entirely cut off since the list of July OF the relief