The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-12-06

OF March 3. 1873, n portion how
ever, only estimatedl was s., ,5l6. a further
redncti4n Of ~ per sentgm was also provided
satiOn OF certain railroad companies whose
roads were built, whole or in part by the
aid OF land grants authorized by congressional
legislation.
The reduction thus provided for was met on
some of the great trunk lines by the with
drawal of the fast mail, which had been pre-
viOusly established. Over. the New York Cen
trial and Hudson River and the Lake Shore
aud Michigan Southern railroads, an exclusive
mail train, composed of finely equipped pos
tai cars. which were provided with all the con-
veniences necessary TO rapid and perfect dis
New York and Chicago, on a schedule time of
81 hours between those cities: and over the
Penhsylvania railroad and fits connecting
lines "A limited mail train, with superior ac-
cOmmOdatiOns, were run between New York,
Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Saint Louis; the
time occupied between New York and Cincin-
natl. via Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Column
bus. being twenty-four hours, between New
York and Indianapolis twenty-six hours and
between New York and Saint Louis thirty
three hours. These lines afforded facilities for
the transmission of mails from the great COM
mercial center of the east to all points in the
west and southwest, hitherto unknown i'm the
history of railway transportation in this cOun-
try, and enabled the department to 80 COM
pletely meet the demands upon 1. for speedy
transportation that the most Sanguine eXpec-
tntions of the business communities depend
ent upon them for postal supplies were more
than realized.
serious embarrassments have resulted from
diScOntinuance of these fast lines, which
have been augmented by the refusal OF the
railroad companies to re-establsh the incOm-
plete accommodations they had previously
furnished. The mails are now conveyed be-
tween the Atlantic seaboard and points in the
west and southwest with less dispatch, and
with smaller facilities for distribution, than
were provided before the inauguration OF the
fast mail system. To De thus compelled To go
backward in the work of insuring speedy
transmission and perfect delivery OF the i'm
portant business correspondence of the coun-
try is "A source OF modification 10 al the OFF,
Gers OF this department whose duties are con-
nected with mail transportation. Instead OF
attain such perfection as TO insure the trans
portatioP of letters, and all other matter not
TOD bulky, from one important point 10 an
other within the time required to convey pas
sengers between the same points over the
sPeediest lines of communication.
POSTAL DEFICIENCIES
II will be instructive TO study the variance
in the percentage of increase and decrease in
the receipts, expenditures and Deficiencies OF
the postal service for the last seven years. Its
ordinary revenues have advanced beyond its
expenses. rs will more satisfactorily appear
from the figures given below:
The ordinary receipts for the year
ended June 30, 1875, were ....-..... SS,6ii,lE -
For the year ended June 90, 1860,
they amounted TO -.---------- ----- lS,Sii'oiO .
showing an increase Oh. 10, 20, $50 Is
IL will thus be seen that in seven years the
receipts have increased 1914 per cent, or at an
average of over eight per cent. per year.
For the same years the expenditures were
: follows:
For the year ended June 80, lS76-.--Sl3, 26Io9 y
For The year ended June -, lS69..... %, 6o lj 20
showing an increase Of 9,56jrSj6 te
The increase in the expenditures for the en-
tire period is 1923 per cent, or at an average
rate of about $50 per cent per year.
For the year ending June 50, 1876. St.Bls,20 u
For the year ending June so, 1902 5-%Sj,oaO Is
showing IA decrease of defcien-
sJt.NU ~
A decrease Of deficiency Of 1871 per cent. OF
at an average rate of nearly per cent. per an
nuin.
III d corresponding ratio of percentage ia re-
ceiptS and expenditures shall be steadily
maintained in future years there l. reason 70
b-iey-e the postal service will cease TO be bur
d.1i on the general treasury. 1t can not, how
ever, be speedily brought to a self-sustainine
basis: il must reach that point by slow
marches, with the aid of wise administration
and judicious economy.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES y. TYSER,
Postmaster General.