The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-12-02
THE NATIONAL POSTOFFICE.
Synopsis of NIr. James Yearly Re
port.

Synopsis of Wiz. James Yearly Re
port.
Postmaster General James report for the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1881, opens with the
general financial statement, by which it appears
that the total expenditures made on account of
service for the fiscal year were S39, 251, 1866.
The revenues were $50, 1856, 39797, made up of
ordinary receipts, $50, 4S9, 1859, and from the
money-order business, 1926, 5S1. 49, The total
excess of expenditures over receipts on account
of the fiscal year was $2.481, 1885, of which
$l4, 790.86 appears on the books of the Auditor
for 90 bad debts and compromise accounts"
In addition to the expenditures above stated,
the sum of $40, 829. rs was paid Oh account of
Indebtedness incurred in previous years. max
ing the total amount expended during the year
S39, 500 SOC %. The item of compensation to
Postmasters was the only one in which the ex-
penditure exceeded the appropriation the lat
ter amounting to 81, 100000, and the former to
IS, 29S, 742.79. In the remaining items there
was total unexpended balance of the appro-
priations of $751;, 907.73
The total amount OF appropriations was $780,
204 901. 40 leaving an excess of expenditures Of
SIC, S3506, growing out of the excess of COM
pensation TO Postmasters. The receipts for the
year were SO, 469, 91S63, or 1914 per cent, more
than those Of the preceding year, and "a, &c.,,
10
whick was made two years ago, before the pres
ent period of business prosperity had fairly
begun, to which the increase is in large degree
attributable.
The estimated expenditure for the current
fiscal year is $43, 661 800. the estimated ordina-
~ revenue is $42, sci, 722.05, and money-order
business $4,000, making a total estimated
revenue of s42,74l, 722.O5, leaving an estimated
deficit of 1920. or. 90 TO be appropriated out Of
the treasury. The decrease in the estimated
amount of money-order receipts Is owing to
contemplated reduction Of the rees on money
orders for small amounts.
The total income from the sale Of postage
stamps, stamped envelopes and postal cards for
the fiscal year ga, 625, 435.0l, against $780,
085, 342.46 in the proceeding year, an increase
OF 7.9 per cent
The total amount OF postage collected during
the year on newspapers and periodicals. mailed
to regular subscribers from known offices OF
publication, and from news agencies, at 2 cents
per pound, was 81, 1893, 048.64, increase Of
S172, 596.05, or L little over IA per cent
By careful reckoning based upon an actual
count made In every postoffice III the United
States during the first week in December, 1890
it has been ascertained that the whole number
of letters mailed III this country in the last
fiscal year was ,046, l07, 34S. The number
reaching the Dead Letter Office during the
same period was 3, 323, 62l, or one in every 3l5.
found to contain money amounting to S40, $751;
80; 2,012 contained drafts, money orders
checks, notes, etc. the aggregate face value OF
which WAS 81, S99, 06261. The records of the
department show that 3, 1885, l8 registered let
tiers and packages were mailed III tins country
during the year. or this number, only 2Gl4
reached the Dead-Letter Office, aud OF these
2, 13l were finally delivered 10 the ownerf the
balance being placed Oh file awaiting identified
ton by tine parties interested.
The amount of unclaimed rnoney-oiders, do
nestle and foreign, at the close of the fiscal
year ended June 80, 1881, is estimated by the
Auditor as 81, 100000.
postal order for sums less than SIS, for
cents is under consideration.
The Postmaster General recommends postal
savings repositories u worthy the considers
ton of Congress.
In regard to inland transportation, the re-
port states that on June 80, 1881, there were
6,156 contractors for transportation of mails on
inland routes.
There were in operation IL, 500 routes (of
which l., 1874 were railroad routes, showing an
increase of seventy-SiX routes of this class since
the last annual report. aggregatlng i'll length
844, OO6 miles, and IN annual cost, S19, 1913, $780,
The service was divided follows:
Railroad routes Length 81, 500 miles an.
nual transportation, 1903, 52l 22J miles annual
cost, Gil, 613. 1868 Gucuding $1,364, 107 for
per mile.
Steamboat routes Length. 21,13S miles
annual transportation 5,046.507 miles an-
nual cost, 1888, 1877, about IA 81 cents per mile
Star " routes, Oh which the mails are re-
! quired to be conveyed with CELEBRITY, certainty
and security: Length 23l, 299 miles annual
transportation, TO- 557, 296 miles annual cost
%, 957, 1855, ABOUT 3. "A cents per mile.
There are 5,014 offices supplied by mail mes
sengers, at an annual cost OF S763 BAL.
The railroad routes w-Ie increased In length
6,240 miles, and in cost IL, ia, 1872.
The steamboat routes were decreased in
length 2, lS2 miles, and i'll cost $134, 054.
The "star" routes were decreased in length
5,949 miles, and in cost 1854, LA.
The report then says that the founders Of
our postal system intended that 1t should be
self-supporting, and proceeds to give history
OF its growth and the gradual reduction in post
age and the annual deficiency.
According to the report of ike Second Assist
total reductions during the last fiscal year in
the star service was 1866, 1872 per annum, but
some OF the orders did not take effect until the
beginning of the present fiscal year. The net
reduction, allowing for new and increased
service, was 1864, IA. The aggregate reduc-
ton Of the cost Of steamboat service was $685.
0O9, from which is to be deducted the cost OF
increased service, So, $685. making the net re-
dnction 1851, 1855. Thus far In the current is-
cal year reductions amounting to SOL, SOL have
been made in the star service. The net reduc-
tons from July to Oct. 81. in the star and
steamboat service, are S532, 257.
In leaving the consideration Of the star routes
the Postmaster General SAWS n minute inveeti-