Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-12-17
Postal Affairs.
The following interesting statistics are
compiled from the annual report Of P. N.
Gen. Jewell:


compiled from the annual report Of P NJ
Gen. Jewell:
DEAD LETTERS
Number of domestic letters received at the
Dead-L Letter Office during the year 348 Alb: num-
Der of foreign letters received, 253,30O: total L.
col, T13-representing n actual or nominal value
Of 1861, 429.08. Number of letters deliv-
ored, 1922 representing S3,909,S5s 46
dnGlu9ding na 1850 foreign letters re-
whence they came); number fled for recla-
nation "a. SOB. representing $40, 1s3. 90: number
at the close OF the year either remaining not
acted upon or outstanding in the hands OF Post
masters for delivery, SCI, 767. representing S4S1-
3D. number which. containing circulars or fail
ing in delivery and being worthless were de-
strOyed. 2.622, 619. The number of applications
fer dead letters 6.420 In 2,14G of these cases
the letters were found and properly delivered
The amount received during the year and de-
posted in the Treasury from unclaimed dead
letters and from proceeds Of sale of waste paper
was S13,54S.68.
REGISTERED LETTERS
reissues Unregistered packages to postmasters
upon their requisitiOn during the past wear were
80 per cent. greater than during the previous
year. The increase is attributable in part TO the
reduction of the fee for registering domestic let
tiers from fifteen cents to eight cents, which took
effect on the 1st of January last, and in part to
the increased care which the department has
given to the subject.
THROUGH MAILS.
The through-mail tables show that fer the year
ending Sept. 30, 1874. the average time to San
Francisco from New Ork was 173 hours 81 min
utes, against 179 hours minutes the previous
year-a gain of 5 hours 81 minutes: and to New
York from San Francisco, III hours l minute
against us hours q minutes the previous vear-a
gain of hours n minutes The number cf mails
carried through westwardy between the
same points in schedule time this wear
was 597, and behind time A, against 457
in time and 105 behind time last year;
and eastwardly 327 in time and IS behind
time this year, against 235 in time and 100 behind
time last year Between Washington and New
Orleans the average time going south this year
was rs hours 4S minutes, against 81 hours IS min
utes last year-a gain of hours 81 minutes; and
going north the average was II hours minutes
this year, against y hours 50 minutes last year
the other thrOughmail routes there is perceptible
improvement both in speed and regularity COM
pared with the tables for the preceding year.
MAIL DEPREDATIONS.
The number of recorded complaints for the
past year of missing letters of value was 5233 of
which 2,040 were registered and 1888 unregis-
tered The registered letters contained, as re-
ported, in bonds, drafts and currency, S10578 80,
and the unregistered S189, 20. OF the regis
tered letters, 915 were satisfactorily accounted
for, 5O7 are reported as actually lost and SIS
cases are in the hands of special agents for inves
tigatiOn. During the year 2S5 persons were ar
rested for violations of the postal laws and
regulations. OF these SO have been con-
victed, IS have been acquitted, escaped before
trial, forfeited bail; prosecution was abandoned
in 80 cases, and 126 are awaiting trial.
RAILWAY POsToFFICEs
The number of postoffice lines in operation on
June 30, 1874, was &c. extending over 1914 miles
ofrailrOad and steamboat routes, an increase of 4
lines and 1913 miles over the preceding year.
The number of clerks employed was $50, at an
annual cost of S105S 200, an increase of 98 clerks
and Sl17,200
FOREIGN MAIL STATISTICS.
The total number of letters exchanged during
the year with foreign countries was % $40 O45 an
increase of 1,l19,S60 the number reported
for 1873. OF this number 14,8S5,9S9 were sent
from, and -, 056 were received in, the United
States. The number of letters (single rates) eX-
changed in the United States and European
mails was 19,967 042, increase of 3S1, 52S over
the number reported for 1873 The total postage
countries amounted to S2,054,803.61, an
increase of S33,49295 over the amount
reported for 1873. The aggregate amount
of postage (sea, inland and foreign) on the letter
mails exchanged with the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, Germany, France, Bel
GUM, the Netherlands, Switzerland. Italy, Den
mark, Sweden and Norway was 81 ,438, 800.65, an
increase Of S32, 293.15 over the amount reported
for 1873. The postage on letters sent ex-
ceeded the postage on letters received from the
same countries in the sum of S12,SS815, being
sos per cent of the aggregate amount.
The aggregate weight of mails sent to
Europe was 1851 pounds, and of mail received
from Europe 9SS3S2. The weight of letter cor
respOndenCe sent to Europe was 216,59O pounds,
and of letter correspondence received from Eu
States ocean mail steamship service for the year
1874 Qncluding 1862 800 paid from special apprO-
pratiOn for steamship service to Japan and
China, to Brazil and to the Hawaiian islands) was
S994 SS4.32.
POsTOFFICES AND APPOINTMENTS.