The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-11
THE NATIONAL POSTAL SERVICE.


POSTAL DEPARTMENT ENORMOUS BUSINESS
REcoRDED-RtPoRT OF THE THIRD ASSISTANT
POSTMASTER GENERAL.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 10. 1879.
Mr.. A. D. Hazen, Third Assistant Postmaster Gen.
eral has completed his annual report. 1t exhibits
the operations of the Post Office Department during
tho last fiscal year in the divisions of bnance post
age stamps, dead letters and registration The total
receipts of the department for the twelve months
ended June 80. 1879. s764 466 more than those
of the preceding year and about $1O0OOOo than
it estimated they would be. result that is at
tributed to the revival of business and the
quent increased demand tor postage stamps and
stamped envelopes, the actual sales Of which
amounted to $7694s2 more than the total for the
preceding year and s2.3S7. $50 more than the
sales for the fiscal year Of 1877. 1t is estimated
that greatly increased number Of stamps &c.. will
DO required for the next year, but the reduction in
the rates OF the contract for the
stamped envelopes has enabled the Third Assistant
Postmaster General to reduce the amount of his es-
Inmates for the total needs of his office for that
period several thousand dollars below the current
years appropriations Upon total number of 452 G93
acquisitions received by the department from the
postmasters throughout the country there were
issued durinS the last nsca year for sale to the pub
lie some 174,0OO.O 900 stamps, OF the face value OF
$20.ll7,259; 22l.7y7 postal cards and 14s0 900
stamped envelopes. valued at S4.300.000 The total
issues OF all kinds Including also the newspaper
wrappers. official stamps, &c reached aggregate
of over 2220 100000 In number and s29. 100000 in
value. The increase in the demand has beeen prin-
cipay for postal cards aud stamped envelopes.
NEWSPAPERS
and periodicals mailed from Offices Of publication
and news agencies 81. 10l. lS5, an increase of
$4,000 over the preceding year. Notwithstanding
the reduction MAY ~ OF the postage on periodicals
from three cents per pound to two cents OF the
total amount of newspaper and periodical postage
Post Once collected thirty-one per cent:
Chicago furnished eight per cent boston six
per cent; Philadelphia five and half per cent.
and Cincinnati and st. Louis each about four per
cent. The weight of the newspapers mailed by pub
fishers and newsdeaiers in New York city during the
year was l3,262.246 pounds. and the perl
odicals-i C.. NIL regular publications issued
less frequently than once a week-weighed
class of matter mailed New York city during the
year nearly 5000 tons; The whole number Of letters
and packages received and disposed OF by tho Dead
1896 decrease of about $4,000 f from sSs
%e 81 an the s srs
mailed q reduced number sent the Dead
Letter Once presents an anomaly. which is explained
by the increasing efficiency OF the delivery service
and the growing popularity OF the 'return request
system. Tho extent OF the latter is illustrated by
day at New York, Boston. Philadelphia and bati-
more. 1882 bore upon the envelope some clew by
vered without the Intervention Of the Dead Letter
Office.
MONEY IN "pKAD" LErrxns.
or the dead letters opened during the year 49, 775
contained drafts, checks, &c., of the value OF over
sl,l0O.vOO; about "a 900 contained money or stamps
OF an aggregate value OF about 0O0 and aside from
many thousand other letters containing papers, kc.
OF more or less personal value there found in
3S3O6 letters anu parcels jewelry, books. clothing.
merchandise ana miscellaneous articles in endless
variety from . small bottle OF choice porfumery to
large box OF Limburger cheese.
The total number OF letters registered for tho
public during the year 1890. T63 and some
2o7ooO parcels of third and fourth class matter
were registered during the same period. The IN
crease In the number of letters and parcels for.
wardcd was 530.21S. The actual losses of registered
mail matter were small. being only $50 letters and
parcels, or about out of each 1000 for-
warded. Mr.. Hazen reports that the success or
the step taken last year, admitting third ana
fourth class matter to the privilege of registration,
has been amply demonstrated. No serious diihcui-
tics have been experienced in carrying tho order into
practical operation, and ~ the public attention has
become directed to its advantages the business has
steadily increased. An extract II given from o 70.