New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-08
IBr TELEGRAPH To rHB TRIBUNE


WASHINGTON, Nov. 7.-Mr. f. w. Barber,
Third Assistant General has completed his
annual report 1t contains many facts OF interest The
number OF official letters received In that bureau In the
last fiscal year was 6s5 OOO These opened cass
fed lndexed and distributed by four clerks The figures
show that the postal cards very popular during the
year. There were issued 1O7616,000 Of them. Of the
value Of 81 O7G16O In the month OF October last there
were issued OF the new cards 2O3s000, which is one
fifth OF the entire amount sold during the fiscal
rear. The estimate Of the number necessary
the next fiscal year is 16i967 900. The amount OF
public ordinary postal stamps issued to posta7ters
during the fiscal year 6S2342,l7O, of value OF
Sls27479 The value OF postage and periodical stamps
was 1915 902 The number Of official stamps issued TO
the executive departments 1S495 900 OF value OF
Ss34a7O The total number Of stamps Of all kinds
issued 5,025, OF value OF $25,i77.5ll The
increase In the number Of ordinary stamps Is about 10
per cent. The Increase including official stamps, Is
about per cent The postage stamps sent through the
mails by registered pouches to postmaster7 numbered
$50 i52 or this entire amount there were lost only III
packages, Of an aggregate value OF $3.50.
The statistics OF the Dead Letter service are OF quite
romantic interest. The number OF dead letters landed
during the year was abont 100000. OF these, 3l799
contained money aggregating $4,000; 1i,22o letters
contained drafts notes. and bills Of exchange of the vaie
Of 997 S47 l35027 letters contained samples OF ner-
chandise postage stamps, and miscellaneous articles;
3,740,00O contained nothing OF value.
There were mailed TO foreign countries from the United
stares 500 COO letters or these 10000 were re-
turned uudeiverpd The number Of letters received from
foreign countries IL OO0 of eh 81 100 were
returned undeivered These figures show the advantage
Which this country will derive from the new postal
treaty OF Berne That treaty provides that each country
shall retain the postage all letters mailed in its
territory and that accounts shall be kept between
countries. The excess OF letters mailed from this
country the number received from foreign countries
Is neatly 100000 The net gain 10 the United states
from treaty. therefore presumng all letters TO he
only single weight Is five cents 100000 letters
$4,000.
The re suit OF the operations OF the law which
quires prepayment OF newspaper postage, presents en-
rous paradox While the aggregate receipts from this
source have been large they under The old
system the gain TO the Government greater The
Post Office 'partment estimated that the new law wound
Weld 81 900 annually This estimate based upon
the returns from 50 leading offices for uniform period;
but the postasters either erred did not make truthful
returns Receipts from this less than 81 00O-
COO The Government, makes gaiu how ever, from the
fact flat this ia mainly collected IN advance ut
few Offices where commission Is allowed upon tie
sums collected. The amount received under this
syste,n ia nearly $500 600 about the received under
Tho old sysrem in 1873 OF the entire amount collected,
commissions paid upon only about 100000.
Newspaper prepayment stamps have been supplied To
300 Offices tie total number OF places III the United
States where dairy newspapers are published.
The increase in the number Of registered pouches dur
ing the year II per eentum The system Of regis
tered through pouches works satisfactorily.
They have been used upon all the principal routes.
Postmasters generally testify to their usefulness.