The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-12-01
OUR posrlL SYSTEM.

UUh fVScl IL SIDIEms
The annual report of Postmaster General
James is unusually full, covering over fifty
octave pages. II is thoroughly business docu-
ment, and contains great many suggestions
on which Congress will be asked, and will do
well to act. The points in which the public are
generally interested can be noticed much more
briefly. The total expenditures for the last
year were s39, 251, 7S6.46, being an excess of
%, 4S1, IS over the receipts, or little more
than 6 per cent of the amount extended. The
estimated deficiency for the year ending June
so, 1888, is 1920, 0,077.95. The business Of the
department increases annually. That of pest
age stamps has increased nearly 8 per cent
Not one of the 379, s62 registered packages, in
Guiding stamps and postal cards to the value of
s34, 900, 00O was lost during the year.
The total amount of postage collected dur
ing the year on newspapers and periodicals
mailed TO regular subscribers from known
Offices of publication, and from news agencies,
at two cents per pound, was 81, 1893, ,04S.64, an
increase Of s172, ,596.06, or little over IA per
cent. OF the total amount derived from this
source 27.65 per cent. was collected at New
York, 1901 per cent. at Chicago, 5.95 per cent.
at Boston, 500 per cent. at Philadelphia, ASS
per cent. at Augusta, Me-, 4:61 per cent. at st.
Louis, $3.50 per cent. at Cincinnati, LII per
cent. at San Francisco, 1853 per cent. at De-
troit, 1.29 per cent. at Louisville, LIS per cent.
at Cleveland, 1.21 per cent. at Milwaukee, 1.02
per cent. at Pittsburg, 1.01 per cent. at Toledo,
and eighty-eight and 'one-huudreths of per
cent at Baltimore. The fifteen offices named
collected 71.75 per cent, or nearly three
fourths of the whole amount realized. Tne
total weight of second-class matter was nearly
$4,000 tons.
The total number of letters mailed during
the year was ,046 LOT, 34S. OF these g. G23, 621,
or one in S15, reached the Dead Letter once.
They contained money to the amount of S40,-
5S7. 80, and drafts, etc, the face value OF which
was 81, ,899, ,062.51.
The total number Of letters and parcels re-
gistered during the fiscal year was S,S3S, 919.
consisting of 159 297 domestic letters, 645, ,213
parcels to foreign countries, and 1,210, ,0e6 let
tiers and parcels of official matter for the gov
ernment, by law exempt from the payment Of
registry fees The amount Of registry fees
collected was s7f2, ,ss2 .2e, an increase over tne
previous year of $117, 0790, or 19. 10 per cent.
The increase in the total number of letters and
parcels registered was 1,342, 405, or 1886 per
cent.
The registration of third and fourth class
matter, btsan on the 1st of October, 1878, con-
tinues to grow in popular favor. The amount
of fees collected from this source during the
last fiscal year was S65, ,69720, an increase over
the previous year of $40, ,0O6.90.
Only thirty-six money orders were alleged to
be improperly paid during the year. Their ag-
eregate value was S767.07. The excess OF
revenue over expenses ON domestic money or
ders was s252, ,314. The foreign money order
system has been extended. The number oi
orders sent abroad is greatly in excess of those
paid here. The issues of the former Were
1854, $780, of the aggregate value af S109, 759,.
6s5.7s. The fees exceeded s1.O0O,000 The
Postmaster General fayors the extension of the
money-order system so as to cover amounts
under IS, and thus to take the place once
filed by fractional curr-ncy. New buidingsfol
the proper carrying out of the System ars
needed at Washington. he also recommends
the establishment Of the postal savings deposi
tories which have proved SO sue essful in Greai
Britain.
The following statistics are interesting:
On the 30th day of June, 1881, there were
5,156 contractors for the transportation oil
mails ON inland routes. There were 2, II:
special offices, each with mail carrier who's,
pay must not exceed the net postal yield of thu
Office here were in operation ii ,592 routes
of which 194 were railroad routes, showing al
increase of 76 routes of this class since the Ias
annual report, aggregating in length 344, ,0at
miles, and in annual cost $19 323, 800; ADDING
the compensation of railway postofice clerks
route agents, mail route messengers. locs
agents and mail messengers amounting to s3,
S72, ,142, the total annual cost was S23, 1885, eS4
The service was divided as follows:
Railroad routes: Length, 81, $50 miles an
nual transportation, 103, 521, 229 miles; annua
cost, S11, ,613, 1868 (ncluding 81, 1854 lot for rail
way Postoffice car service), about IL cent
per mile. Steamboat routes: Length, 2l ID
miles, annual transportation, 5, 5,e46,5 ,5O7 miles
annual cost, $7o3, 167, about ii. 92 cents pc
mile. "Star" routes, on which the mails ar
required to be conveyed, with celerlty, Ger
tainty and security Lengt z31 ,299 miles
annual transportation, 79, 55i 1886 miles annua
cost, sc, 957, 1885, about S.f4 cents per mile.
There were SOFA offices supplied by mai
messengers, at an annual cost OF STe3, SAL
The railroad routes were increased III length
6249 miles, and in cost 81, ia, 3S2.
The steamboat routes were decreased IL
length 2, 1s2 miles, and cost S134, ,054.
The Star routes were decreased in lengt
| 3.949 miles, and in cost S364, IA
Mr. James argues, at length, tc show tina
the service ought to be made self-suppert-ne
and urges that the civil service reform shoul
| be carried ont more vigorously in appoint
ments. He shows that the postal system wa
| too rapidly expanded in the past, and that Il
regularities were occasioned by the emplo,
.ment of unqualified persons. The report, IL
| decd. embodies lucid historical sketch OF pa
mistakes. He thinks a reduction Of letter pos
age from three to two cents will be possible witt
in three years hopes that cheaper rates can
obtained from the railroads, and asks for al
thority to pay two years salary TO the famill'
of employees killed by railroad accidents, *
whom there is now no legal provision. The
have been sixty-two accidents during the yea
in which seven employees lost their lives an
others we're injured.
The department had 81, ,444 employees lai
year, against 60, $50 during the previous yea
The payment Of q nominal salary OF -.sooo p'
annum and the pro rata compensation of rel
ular carriers is recommended for substltut
carri ,rs. There were 461 arrests for violation
of the postal laws. The losses of registere
| letters were 1886, and Of registered package
387. The transportation of merchandise by th
Government is deemed of doubtful advantage
Many bulky articles are carried at loss, and
the system extends, this loss will be still greater
An increase of the salaries of postmasters
Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, and st. Lou
to S7' 600. and of those of Cincinnati San Fral
cisco, New Orleans, and BaIrmure 10 vo;ooc'
| dad