Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-12-11

lent In all to IL ,462 miles each way daily Count
ing all the lines both ways, the aggregate service
Is 1926 miles daily.
FOREIGN NAILS.
The total number Of letters exchanged during
the year with foreign countries was "a As, 1885,
increase of 3,096,685 over the number reported
Tor 1872. or this number, IS, 3S2, IA were sent
States
The number Of letters (single rates) exchanged
IN the United States and European mails was H.
reported for 1872.
The total hostages ON the letters exchanged with
foreign countries amounted to $2021, 310 So in
1874
Comparing the year 1879 with the year 1872, the
rate Of increase in the total number OF letters ex-
changed with foreign countries was -. 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 1oA per cent, and the increase OF hostages
thereon amounted to ~ per cent.
The cost of the United States transatlantic mail
steamship service for the year 1873 was 1926 n,
being an increase Of 80, 440 over the cost Of the
same service for the year 1871.
FREE DELIVERY.
Speaking Of the free delivery system the report
says the expense OF the system at each Office is
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 combine
to warrant the extension of the system 1t is diff
cult to determine; but am OF the opinion that 1t
might be advantageously provided for cities hav-
ing in their corporate limits population Of not
less than 10000.
DEAD LETTERS.
Number Of domestic letters received al the Dead
Letter =; sdas office during the
representing an actual nominal value Of rs, 1885,
Tall. OF this number 1,826. 10S representing s5-
80, 923 g. were delivered to owners or writers; 81,
3SS, representing 1872, 49, which could not be
delivered, were filed for reclamation; $40 re-
NAMED either on hand not acted upon or were
outstanding in the hands of postmasters for deliv
cry June 30, 1873, and represented $2S4 and
,533 482 which either could not be delivered, or
stroyed.
$685. and in 2075 cases, the letters were found and
forwarded TO applicants or owners.
The amounts received and deposited in the
Gm this during e yess
sales Of waste paper, 3d. 55 sales Of post-route
maps $500. 40 sales Of old carpets, $685. making
q total Of $10,a5151.
THE MoNEY-oRDER SYSTEM.
The number OF money order Post-Ofices In oper-
alton during the last fiscal year was 2,T5 On July
z, 1873, 299 additional Offices were established, and
five were discontinued, making the whole number
at present 1909. OF the additional Offices,
were opened at sub postofces or stations in large
cities, viz. one in Boston, in Chicago, and FIVE
in Philadelphia.
during the year 1885, S6, the aggregate value
Of which was, 81, sic, 1869; the number paid was
3, 3f48l8-amounting TO $56, 900 351 "a repaid to
remitters 1894 661.04; total paid $57, 295 81
leaving $121 ~ 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 1854, q
20 These transactions show an increase over those
Of 1872 of 80 0O0, 8S9 or 1855 per cent, In the
amount Of orders issued Of s. 875 30, or 1888
per cent, In the amount OF orders paid and OF g.,
1859 or % per cent, in the amount OF fees re-
ceived. The average amount OF the money orders
issued during the last year was $17 IA, being $l.u
less than the average OF the preceding year. The
small increase in the fees received, as compared
with the issues and payments OF orders, IL owing to
the reduction, by the act OF June 8 1872 Of the fee
for orders not exceeding 80 from 10 cents TO
the orders is to be attributed to the same cause,
which stimulated the purchase Of small orders
issued at one-half the rate formerly charged.
POSTAL CARDS.
An appropriation for the manufacture and deliy-
cry Of postal cards having been secured by the act
of January ., 1873. immediate steps were taken to
meet the public demand therefor As predicted,
they have been favorably received. They have
supplied public want, and have made new and
remunerative business for the Department The
issues foot up: From May to June 30. 3l,d94 900;
from July TO September 80, ~, 1S;SOo, making
total OF 81. BOZ co. These figures indicate that the
estimate OF 100 900 for the consumption Of the
first year will be more than realized.
THE rRANKNa PRIVILEGE.
The several acts for the repeal Of the Thanking
The results Of the first quarter Of the current year
are highly satisfactory and have fully verified the
predictions Of the friends Of the repeas 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
remeded, thus making IL possible to effect de- d.;
cided improvement In the organization and pracu-
cal 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
thus afforded. some idea may be formed from the
fact that during the three months next preceding
that day, there were forwarded from the city over
OK cars, Independent Of the amount conveyed In
the regular mail cars, $685. O4 pounds of such publ
cations as appears from returns OF the actual
weight thereof taken by the company with permits
sion Of the Department.
These facts, ii il respectfully submitted, are am
pie TO ustain the opinion, given In the special re-
port to Congress under date OF January ~, 1911
that the cost Of free matter II charged with the
regular rates OF postage would amount to $2,543,-
327 72 annually and II IL hoped that they will be
deemed sufficient 10 prevent any attempt to revive
an abuse which would impose the most gricyons
burdens upon the postal service at q time when
that service Ii struggling to meet the growing
the country in its course OF unparalleled develop
ment.
In my report for 1859 had the honor to suggest
plan for the prepayment of postage on news
papers and other matter of the second -class by
weight Of packages, rather than by the present
system, which requires the manipulation OF each
particular paper, and allows the payment OF post
age at either the mailing Office or the office Of de-
livery. careful revision of the subject confirms
me in the opinion that the postage on all such
matter should be collected In advance at the mail
ing Office. Collections now made with great
difficulty, and there Is no provision whatever by
which dishonesty or negligence can be detected.
age, and the Department Is compelled to accept In
full satisfaction whatever sums OF money post
masters choose to charge against Themselves: So
execrably bad ID the system that postal officials
of high standing have estimated that not more
than One-third o. the postage properly chargeable
on newspapers Is accounted for and paid over.
Furthermore, disputes are continually arising be-
tween Postmasters and publishers az TO whether
the sheets they transmit come within the mean
ing Of the term newspaper, and as to the num-
Der Of their bona hde subscribers In the hope
OF contributing to . more faithful collection
Of hostages, Die more prompt and efficient
transmission OF newspapers, the saving OF
labor In Poet-offices, and the general advan-
tagc, az well Of the Department rs OF publishers
and their patrons, ! respectfully submit the fol-
lowing plan for prepayment OF newspapers OF the
second class, aud urge its adoption: Let all pub
fishers. or their business managers or agents, be
required, at the beginning Of every quarter, to
state under oath that after diBgent inquiry, they
are satisfied that they will send In the mails to
regular subscribers during the coming quarter not