The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-12-11
Report OF the Postmaster-General.

The report Of the Postmaster General j.
completed. The revenues 4 the wear end.
ing June 3Oth, ls7i, were 81, i96, Ili, aud
the expenditures, 32,l26,ilt Estimated
expenditures for the year ending June Goth
lSs6,are $50 96i ,03i; total estimated revenues
so, las, lj6; leaving a deficiency to he ap.
propriated out Of the general Treasury Of
s1,sl5,SIs. These estimates do not include
the appropriations for the steamship service
and stamps, amounting To - ,O9S, so.
The use Of the registered letter system II
heavily increasing. There has been marked
gain in the time Of Transporting through
mails; average gain from New York TO San
Francisco OF five hours and thirty-two min
utes gain for mails To New Orleans Of two
hours and hfty-two minutes, aud for mails
going north Of one hour and fifty minutes,
and . perceptible gain on all through routes
In regularity and certainty the foreign
mail system is in better condition than ever
before.
The number OF Post-Oiiices in operation
June 80, 1874, was Si,29i; total number Of
appointments during the year ai2I. The re-
suits of the extensions OF the letter-carrier
system are Of the most gratifying character
There has been gain OF over thirty per
cent. ON the amount of fees received from
money orders. There has been but one er.
roneous payment In iH,679 payments, aud
changes with Great Britain aud Switzerland
have been very marked.
By AN act of Congress, approved June %,
1874, IL is required that, ON and after the lst
OF January $50, postage on newspapers aud
periodical publications, mailed from a
known office or news agency, addressed TO
regular subscribers or news agents, shall be
charged a, the rate Of two cents per pound
If issued weekly or Ofteser, aud at three
a week. The act provides that the matter
shall be weighed in bulk, and prepaid with
adhesive stamps, to be specially devised for
the purpose. The manner of applying the
stamps Is left discretionary with the depart
ment, and system, which IL is hoped will
work satisfactorily, has been devised Tor
carrying the law into effect. The stamps ART
now in course Of PREF aration, and will he
ready at the time appointed for their use.
Ii Is expected that the revenues Of the de-
partaent, from postage ON printed matter,
will be Increased by the enforcement of this
act. Heretofore much loss has been occa-
stoned To the department ON account Of the
non-collection OF postage at the point Of
delivery. The report then proceeds a. fol
lows;
The money order business of this depart
ment appears TO he rapidly growing Ia pub
lie favor, aud is undoubtedly very great
accommodation 10 a large number OF persons
who are not within reach OF banking iacili-
ties, or who are unaccust0med 10 the use OF
them. Yet ] see no reason why this branch OF
the service should not he made self-sustain'
ing. The apparent profits of the money
order system, during tina last year, are about
100000, while certain expenses amounting
TO Sls2,OO0 for clerk hire and stationery in
the Posioiiiee Department, Auditors office,
and for money order hlanks in the postoilices,
are not charged 10 the money order business,
but are paid out of the appropriations. While
the money order system appears 10 yield
revenue Of Sl05,G0, there Is, in fact, deficit
Of $1,000. | suggest therefore that the fees
Of the money orders be increased, in aecor.
dance with the views Of the Superintendent,
submitted herewith (see appendix, or that
the money order system shall, like any other
business, be made To dcfray all It's own ex-
penses.
The number aud length of the mail routes
ia the United States require AN expenditure
for transportation, which throws into insig.
nihcance the cot OF similar service In other