Middletown transcript., 1881-08-05
TcoMNUNIcATED.1
Post Offices and Postage.

Since the date of the present admins
tration Of the Postal Department at
Washington, it has been found possible,
by sundry reforms, to reduce the ex-
penditure of the same to such an extent
as almost to bring it within its income.
Forthwith we are beginning to hear
from different quarters a cry for the
reduction of postage to two cents, OF
even to a uniform rate of one cent.
Is there any reason for such demand
For the year ending June 30, 1879,
the excess of expenditure was S3, ,4O1, !
GIG. SO in total expenditure Of S33, 449, !
899.45. If | remember rightly, the
figures in 1880 did not vary materially
from these. Certainly the DEFICIENCIES
of the last ten years cannot be much
less than $4,000, 100000. Say what we
may of Star Routes, etc., a large portion
of this excess has been incurred i'll sup
plying sparsely settled districts Of our
country with the mail And there has
always been complaint, tolerably well
founded and reasonable, that the popu
lous districts are compelled to pay for
this. Only nine States in 1879 show
an excess of receipts four New Eng
land States, the four Middle States and
Michigan. Until such States as Ohio
and Illinois can show at least an even
balance, we are opposed to any reduc-
ton of postage rates.
find among the items OF expense for
Postage stamps, stamped envel-
opes, and postal cards, S663, ,935.69
Until the excess Of receipts is sufficient
to pay this bill, let there be no reduc-
tion of rates,
Again, I have no means at hand OF
determining the length Of postal routes
in England. In the United States |
find total length Of service of 1Ol ,23l
miles. If the postal routes Of Great
Britain and Ireland were in proportion
to the relative areas of the two cOun-
tries. they would only amount to about
q. 900 miles. The New England States,
with New York and New Jersey, give
us nearly the same area as Great Britain
and ireland. These States in 1879 re-
ported about s2,500,00O.00 excess Of
receipts over expenditures, out of an eX-
penditure of nearly $4,000, 100000 over
routes Of nearly 10000 miles in length.
Can it not readily be seen that it is
impracticable to secure the same re-
turns from portions Of our country
where the service must be more expen-
sive, while at the same time the pppR-
lation is more widely scattered And
would it not be reckless management
to propose the same rates over 30,000,-
600 of square miles of Territory, that
may return profit over 100000 square
miles 81 Comparing the extent of Ter
ritOry we might more safely propose q
return to the old rates, return Of
which no one dreams to-day.
We have the cheapest postage rates
in the world. When we look at all the
figures, the rates of England are exor-
bitant compared with our own. And
we are not prepared to propose reduc-
tion of olF rates under such circum-
stances, but government furnishes Vnr
paralleled privileges, and the masses of
the people are supplied with postal
communications in manner that no
other government can initiate. Ifthere
is, in any way, secured to Us a revenue
from the postal department, let that
excess be devoted to increasing the sal
aries of poorly paid pOstmasters and
clerks, and in enlarging the facilities of
the people. PRO BONO PUBLICo.
Middletown, August I'd, 1881.