Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-11-26

5UU, about Illus eents pei mllc. Aue.S
was an increase over the preceding year IN
length of routes, of 4,8l2 miles, in annual
transportation 1925, 1923 miles, and in cost
81, 06S OFT. Adding the increased cost tor
railway post-ofice clerks, route, local ana
other agents ($31S, the total in
crease in cost was 81, 3Sl ,S26. The railroad
routes have been increased in length 5,o46
miles, and in cost S754,4 against an In
crease last year of 8 ,O77 miles in length, and
$777,792 in cost.
The number of recorded complaints for
the past year of missing letters, was g, l65,
of which $3.50 were unregistered, and 2, lo5
| registered, containing in the former, as re-
ported in bonds, drafts and currency, $780,
l23 SO, and in the latter, $7O,4 22 81. vi
the registered letters, 800 were accounted for,
3l3 are reported as actually lost, and 973
are still in the hands of special agents tor
| investigation. During the year 302 persons
were arrested for various ofenses against the
postal laws and regulations. Of these VI
have been convicted, and 20 have been ac-
quilted; 1913 are awaiting trial, and 20 nave
been discharged for want OF sufhclent evil
dence to insure conviction. 1t Is amazing
that SO many persons will persist in sending
money through the mails, thereby suojectlng
themselves and the public to risk, and tempt
ing the weak to dishonesty and ruin, when
the department provides the means OF sale
transmission by money orders, at an lnsig-
niticant cost.
THE POSTAL MONEY ORDER SYSTEM.
The number of money-order post-ofices in
operation during the last fiscal year was
2775. On July7, 1873, 299 additional OF
fees were established, and five were discon-
=. fho bo11 ,haro of ont
3,059. OF the additional offices seven were
opened at sub-post-offce stations In large
cities, viz: one in Boston, one in Chicago,
and five in Philadelphia. The number of
domestic money-orders issued during the
year was 1856 $50, the aggregate value of
which was S57 ,5l6,2l6 50; the number of
such orders paid was 3,3l4,8lS, amounting
IN value to $50 ,900,35 % to which is to
be added the amount of orders repaid to
committees, 1894, G61 Oh; total of payments,
$57 ,295, 0I2 p; excess of issues over pay
meuts, S22l ,204 AZ The amount of fees
paid by the public to postmasters for the
issue OF money orders was 1854 COZ 25.
These transactions show an increase over
those of 1872 of $9,000,6S3 81, or 1856
per cent in the amount OF orders issued ; OF
$3.50, 1867 80, or 1888 per cent 10 the
amount of the money orders issued during
the last year was ST.. IA, being 81 less than
the average of the preceding year. The
small increase IN tue fees received, as
compared with the issues and payments Of
orders, is owing to the reduction by the act
of June s, 1872, OF the fee for orders not
exceeding SO, from ten cents to five cents.
The dmInution OF tie average amount OF
2 a nd RI ha ihnta no
cause, which stimulated the purchase OF
small orders issued at one-half the rate for
merly charged.
The RECEIPTS and expenditures of the
domestic money order system, as adjusted
and reported by the Auditor, were as fol
lows; Receipts 1884 ,602 25; expenditures,
S2S6. 232 66 excess OF receipts over expen-
ditures, sos, ISL. The rapid increase in the
amount of the money order business, which
closely followed the recent monetary disturb
ance and the general suspension of currency
payments by the national banks is circum-
stance not unworthy Of notice. During the
last week OF September and the first three
weeks OF October, 1872 the number of orders
issued at the 81 largest money order Offices,
was 50. - /, amounting 10 S3l7 .344 81, and
the number of orders paid was ll9, 10Y,
amounting II 81, 9SI,7244 II. During the
same period Of the present year these offices
issued 50 90 orders, Of the aggregate amount
OF Sl,2ll.297 II, and paid 1913, 81 orders,
of the total value of S3,055, 6g6, o. showing
the unprecedented Increase of 1919 per
| cent in the amount of issues and of 81 -
per cent 10 the amount OF payments. This
1 st ,tcment clearly indicates the utility of the
system To the public a safe, convenient
and expeditions mode of making small re-
mittances.