Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-10-25

In this business the Anglu-Saxon
countries stand immeasureably ahead
of all others. The brief business of
Russia is inferior to that of Spain, India
or Italy, notwithstanding that the en-
pire is supposed to be so progressive.
Even Switzerland exceeds Russia in the
aggregate of letters, and so does Bel
gium. The extent of the letter-post in
India illustrates the progress of En-
glish civilization in that vast empire.
Our own business exceeds that of Ger
many and Austria combined, and is
greater than that of France and Austria
united. 1t is exceeded only by that of
the British Isles, and is equalled by
that of no other country in the world.
1t is far greater now than it was in
1875. The proportion of letters to
the population per capita in 1875
was thus: British Isles, 34.5; Swift
zerland, 27.3; Germany, 1913; Meth
erlands, 14.6; Belgium, 13; Austria,
1916; France, 1912; Norway and Swe-
den, Sc; Spain, 4.S; Italy, 4.5; Russia,
0,8. 1t will be observed that in all
cases the countries showing the most
activity in letters are the leading in
dustrial and commercial ones, while
the agricultural and pastoral nations
are below the average. 1t is the enor-
nous commerce of Great Britain that
causes so much spirit in her letter
movement, and this is communicated
to India, Australia and Canada as free
ly as 10 the United States.
The whole letter movement of the
civilized world was in 1867 estimated
Mt Onn late 4
was stated to be 3,907, 900, 900 the lat
ter requiring a daily distribution of
10000, 900 letters. In 1867 the Euro
pean total was 1,708, ,000,00 letters,
and in 1875 it was 2,923,000, 1000. In
1867 the total for all the rest of the
world was but $50, 900, 900, and in 1875
the United States alone handled 705,-
900, 900. Although the English peo-
pie are more habituated to letter-writ-
ing than our own are, it is chiefly be-
cause of the much greater postal facil-
tiles they enjoy, the cheapness of the
postage, and the more frequent deliv-
cries. In all our States and cities
where the Department has established
the free delivery system the service
has increased remarkably. 1t is quite
probable that at the present time the
letter movement of the United States
exceeds the large British total of 1875.
But the statistics of the German,
French and Austrian postal depart
ments show that advanced civilization
does not necessarily produce activity
of the letter business. 1t is matter
of careful and assiduous cultivation, as
is seen in the superiority of Austria to
Italy, of France to Austria, of Germany
to France, of the United States TO Ger
many, and of England to the United
States. Thus we see in Russia vast
empire almost totally neglectful of let
ter business, and in Italy an intelligent
nation fast awakening to the value of
the service. Few nations in the world
could stand year after year for so long
time so heavy drain of revenue to
maintain an enormous postal system as
we have done. The accepted excuse
Tor our excessive cost is that it is neces-
sary to the diffusion of intelligence.
and must ultimately make the whole
service self-sustaining. Whether this
can be attained by the present system
remains problem; but the results in
the populOus States and cities are so
great and important that there is an
increasing disposition to persevere,
though the ignorance and boorishness
of the members of Congress from thin
ly populated districts annually seeks to
abolish the free distribution in cities,
where the largest profits of the service
are realized. There is much room for
retrenchment and economy in the man
agement of contracts and miscellane-
GUS expenditures, and if the Congress
sional reformers would keep sharp
lookout they might manage to stop
many of these leaks. But no mail
facilities should be reduced in the pop
ulous States and cities. In the course
of time we may hope to stand as far
ahead of the world in letters as in rail
ways and telegraphs.