Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-12-04
Posr-OFrIcE DEPARTMENT.

Posr-OFFlcE DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON, d, G, Nov. u 1873
SIR: The ordinary revenues of this Department
for the fiscal year ended June 81, 1873 were So,
s6, 81, and the expenditures OF all kinds SO.
osi9i5.61. For the year ended June 30, 1872, the
ordinary revenues were $4l 9l5. 4a6 81 and he
expenditures S2665S, 1874 81. In 1873 there WAS an
increase of revenue over 1872 Of Sltsl 8l5 20 or
4S3 per cent, and an increase OF expenditures Of
1913 with 1871 shows an increase in revenues Of
1853 $50 10 or II az pr cent and increase OF
expenditures of st,6yiS 50, or 1894 per cent.
If, in addition TO the ordinary revenues, the De-
partment is credited with the ordinary amounts
drawn and expended for subsidies TO mail steam
ship lines (S125,t1) IL will be seen that the
amount drawn from the general Treasury. under
the appropriations TO meet deficiencies during the
year, s., 20 ,,415 against S3al7 1o5 81 in 1872
To the deficiency for 1872, however, are 10 be
added the standing appropriations for free matter,
amounting 10 S1O0,No which have since been re-
pealed.
The estimated expenses for the year ending June
30, 1875, are $50 929,9l2; total estimated receipts
2a,2aS, 549 leaving deficiency of Stb3h,363 TO be
appropriated out of the general Treasury. These
estimates do not include The special appropriations
in the nature of ubsuee.
The total namber of stamps, stamped envelopes,
newspaper wrappers and postal cards issued dur
the year was sbf, 1873 10, OF the value OF 80, o16
MAIL ROUTES.
OF public mail-routes in operation there We're
1424, aggregating in length 300 2l0 miles; in annu
al transportation, l19N9,b50 miles; and in annual
cost, S13,b35,3il. Adding the compensation of
railway post-oifce clerks, rouleagens, mail-route
messengers, local agents, mail-messengers, and
baggage masters in charge of registered packages,
amounting TO s2,525bSS, the aggregate annual cost
was SIG l0l OBJ
There was an increase over the preceding year IN
length of routes of Sl2 miles: in annual lranspor
tation, 1926 32S miles; and in cost, 81 ,063, IN Add
ing the increased cost for railway clerks,
route local, and other agents, S3S, 40 the total in
crease in cost was S1,3Sl ,Slo.
The railroad routes have been increased in length
55t6 miles, and in cost $14, 425 against an increase
last year of s,U11 miles i'll length and s7777 92 in
cost.
MAIL DErREpArIoNs.
The number of recorded complaints for the past
year OF missing letters was & lb5, Of which $3.50
were unregistered aud 2,le5 registered, containing
in the former, reported, in bonds, drafts, and
currency. 5000 123 So and in the latter S7u.42l o.
OF the registered letters, S.9 were accounted for,
33 reported actually lost and 81 are still in
the hands OF special agents for investigation Dur
ing the year 81 persons were arrested for various
ofenses against the postal laws and regulations.
Of these - have been convicted, 20 have been &C
Quilted, 1873 are awaiting trial, and 70 have been
discharged for want Of proof sufficient 10 insure
conviction. Some of the most experienced officers
in the service are Of the opinion that Congress
should adopt such legislation az will prevent the
use OF the mails for the conveyance OF money IN
letters and compel the registration of every yalna
bic package.
RAILWAY POST OFFICES.
A tabular statement hereto appended shows that
the number OF railway post Office lines III operation
ON The Both of June, 1873, was 81, extending over
l4,s66 miles Of railroad and steamboat routes,
an increase of two lines and 143 miles over the
preceding year. The number of clerks employed
was 2 al an annual cost of Sii 900, an increase
of l03 clerks and $i19,400. Upon 1892 miles the
service Is performed daily, upon 2,533 miles twice
daily, and upon 81 miles four times daily, equiya-
lent in all to 1862 miles each way daily. Count
ing all the lines both ways, the aggregate service
is 3I,s25 miles daily.
FOREIGN MAILS.
The total number of letters exchanged during
the year with foreign countries 21,i59 1855, an
increase Of 1906, 6s5 over the number reported for
1872. or this number, l3,332,oi4 were sent from
and l3,l2D5ll were received III the United States,
The number of letters (single rates) exchanged
in the United States aud European mails was r.,
5s5,3lI, an increase of l,s25l5 over the number
reported for is12
The total hostages on the letters exchanged with
foreign countries amounted to S2,02l3lv. So, in.
crease OF SloO,053.6l over the amount reported in
1872.
Comparing the year 1873 with the year 1872 the
rate of increase in the total number Of letters ex
changed with foreign countries was l2,7 per cent
and The rate OF increase in the amount Of post
ages thereon was per cent The increase in the
number OF letters exchanged with European coun-
tries was i0a per cent, and the increase of post
ages thereon amounted TO ~ per cent.
The cost OF the United States transatlantic mail
steamship service for the year 1873 81 6,74577,
being All increase of s6410.e7 over the cost of the
same service for the year 1873.
FREE DELIVERY
Speaking OF the free delivery system the report
says the expense OF the system at each Office IL
paid out of the revenue Of that Office. 1t seems
but fair, therefore, tina, this mode Of delivery
should be extended to all cities where the popula-
ton BURNERS, extent Of territory, and frequency
Of the mails may authorize the requisite force and
outlay just how far these elements may combine
to,warrant the EXTENSION of the system IL is diff
cult 10 determine; but am of the opinion that it
might be advantageously provided for cities hav-
ing in their corporate limits population OF not
ers han 10000
DEAD LETTERS.
Numhpr Of domestic lgt,pra rprpypd Mt no nd
Letter office during the year were AS, 92S; num-
Der of foreign letters PCS APO; total 44D23S rep
resenting an actual or nominal value of s., Tvs,
76i ii. OF this number ,S26 Jos, representing So
30 were delivered 10 owners or writers; 81
3eS, representing Sl32 993,33, which could not be
delivered, were hled for reclamation; 1870 re
manned either on hand not acted upon, or were
outstanding IN the hands Of postmaslers for deliy
cry June 80, 1873 and represented S%ei,SiTbl; and
2,533, 49, which either could not be delivered, or
from various causes were worthless, were de
slroyed
The number OF applications for dead letters was
65gS, and in lob cases the letters 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, so, .05 proceeds Of
sales of waste paper, s3,4 1855; Gales of postroute
maps, S5O2 20; sales of Old carpets, SOB st. making
total OF sl0,35l.5l,
THE MoSRY-oRpEn SYSTEM
The number of money order Post Offices in opera
ton during the last fiscal year was 2,575 On July
i've were discontinued, making the whole number
al present 30t9. OF the additional offices, seven
were opened at sub-post-otiices stations in large
citie-, viz one in Boston, one in Chicago and Ave
in Philadelphia.
The number Of domestic money-orders issued
during the year was 3355,tSG the aggregate value
OF which was, So. SIC 21o,6g The number paid was
3,3l4.slS-amouniing TO $5b,gD0,351 "a; repaid to
remitters S5gt,tblt4; total paid $11,2g5 ,Ol2.27-
leaving sci ai ~ as the excess OF Issues pay
ments.
The amount Of fees paid by the public to Post.
masters for the issue Of money orders 1854 6O2
20. These transactions show an increase over those
OF 1877 Of s900O,6 81, or 1875 per cent, In the
amount OF orders irsucd OF s',s753b 81, or ~ 80
per cent, IN the amount Of orders paid and Of g.,
1888, or i23 per cent, in the amount Of fees re-
ceived. The average amount Of the money orders
issued during the last year was sl714, being 81 II
less than the average Of the preceding year The
small increase in the fees received, compared
with the issues and payments Of orders II owing
the reduction, by the act of June g. 1872 OF the fee
for orders not exceeding $40 from ~ cents to 3
The dfrniuHt nm III hs q