The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-07
Postal Statistics.

WASHINGTON Nov. 10.
The following interesting statistics are
cleaned from the report of Gen. Barber,
Third Assistant Postmaster General, being
extracts from the reports of the several
bureaus in his office, for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1876:
Four million seven thousand eight hum
dred and seventeen letters were registered
during the year, and fees received thereon
amounted to $685., 1850. OF the letters reg
istered, upon which fees were paid, 3, 1893 931
were dome tic; los, 2235 were sent to foreign
countries; 653, 651 were transmitted through
the mails without payment of the regis
try fee.
The losses of regis cred matter have been
very small. Of the total number of letters
transmitted, only ,049, or about one in
1000, were absolutely lost. These losses
occurred from various causes; some by rob-
berries of the mail, others by burning of
pos al-cars and postotfices; most of them by
Unavoidable casualties to the service, and
no traces of the letters or their contents
ever obtained.
The number Of ordinary letter postage
stamps issued to Postmasters for sale to the
public during the year ending June so, 1876,
was 69S, 799, 80, valued at $lS,7 ,454; of
newspapers and periodical stamps, 1,29O, 347,
valued ut s945. 25t75; ordinary stamped en-
yelopcs, plain, 81 ,467 600, valued at S2,2S0,-
3lS. u; stamped envelopes bearing a "return
request" e4554,5oo, valued Lat at s2,o7e, SIS 80;
OF newspaper wrappers, Is, 49S, 49, valued at
1913, $40; of postal cards, 200,
valued at 81 sos, $50; official postage stamps
fol the use of the Executive Departments of
the Government, II ,6S2, 665, valued at s429,-
11U.93, making total number of 1,049, 1917, ;
507 valued at $26, s., 421.72.
The increase over the previous year was as
nrli a no n1rNS In n00 at
s:Ol,974, or PA per cent; Of newspaper
stamps, sl29,352.2S, or 1885 per cent. Of
ordinary stamped envelopes, plain, 1924,
207. 80, or II. "A per cent; of special request
stamped envelopes, S2S7, S92:05, or 1906 per
cent; of postal cards, $431 $3.50, or 4O.14 per
cent.
The net increase in the value of stamps
issued over the previous year was 81 ,572.-
46O.4S, or 1647 per cent.
There were issued also within the year
4,025 $50 registered envelopes; S,6;3,5,5 lost
Office envelopes, and 1,572,0O0 dead letter
envelopes, making total of 1927 ,425.
The amount collected from newspapers on
papers sent to regular subscribers was 81,
Ola, l54.27, an increase of 81 ,267.29, or 4M
per cent.
The New York Postoflice alone during the
year mailed Is, IA ,015 pounds, amounting to
$347 1888, an increase OF S12,2o6.M, or 3.66
per cent. over the previous year.
UcL. DuI pCi> Ill HIS report, cSCllndtVs tuot
the Government loses nearly s2,OOO,00O a
year by frauds, which consist mostly in the
washing of stamps, and reviewing all the ex-
periments made to secure an indelible ink
for canceling stamps, thinks the preventive
to fraud is in the exclusive use of stamped
envelopes.
The issues of stamps are almost the only
revenue of the Postoffice Department., and
repre- ented last year nearly $27 OOO, 900, the
cost for their printing and preparation being
less than 81 ,0LO, 900.
The following table shows the operations
of the Dead Letter Office for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1876:
Description. No. receired. Vdlue
Letters containing money. 35,612 $54,69l 50
Containing drafts, bills of