The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-12-15
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
IT'S GROWTH AND EFEICIENCY

The report of the postmaster general is
gratifying exhibit of the growth and efficiency
of the postal service. The receipts from post
age and other ordinary sources during the past
fiscal year were $36,4S9.s16.5S SO. The re-
ceipts from the money order business were
1895, 5S13 80, making total of 1856, 1885,
39797 The exD per, for the focal yesF
vas vas' s2,4s1, 1895, or IS pc, cent
The receipts were $3,469, DISC in
in excess Of those of the previous! year. and
two years ago before the present period Of
business prosperity had fairly begun. The
whole number Of letters mailed in this country
In the last fiscal year exceeded 200, 100000.
THE REGISTRY SYSTEM
is reported to be in an excellent condition, hav-
ing been remodeled during the past four years
with good results. The amount of registra-
ton fees collected during the last fiscal year
was $712, $50. 20, an Increase over the fiscal
year ending Jnuo 80, 1877, Of $345, 443 40
Which only 2,o61 were destroyed or
lost in transit The operations Of the
W qsaP 0rs uner system tho are impnss af
immigration, of the rapid development of the
newer States and Territories, and the oonse-
quent demand for additional means of inter-
Communication and exchange During the
have been established making q total Of
5,499 in operation at the date of this report
During the year the domestic money orders
aggregated. in value $1,000, 6.93.
modification OF the system is
orders not exceeding So, from 10 cents to 5
i paee Of rs $56 GegslaFion Tor the disposition
OF unclaimed money orders in the possession
of the postof1ice department is recommended,
on view of tho fact that their total value ex-
iceeds ST. 900, 900. The attention of congress is
again pointed to tho subject of establishing
q system of savings deposits in connection with
the postof1ice department. The statistics OF
mail transportation show that during the past
year the railroad routes have been increased
in length 6,249 miles, and in cost 81, Ia, 1872,
while the steamboat routes have been decreased
in length 2,1S2 miles, and in cost $l34, 054.
The so-called star routes have been decreased
in length 3,O49 miles,, and in cost
$780,, l44 Nearly all of them are
expensive routes and have been suspended
by the star service, The cost of the star route
service, therefore, will rapidly decrease in the
western States and Territories. The Dostmas-
'er general, however, calls attention to the con-
stantly increasing cost of the railway mail SER
vice as a serious difficulty il the way of making
the department self-sustaning Our pos
tai intercourse with foreign countries has kept
pace with the growth of the domestic service.
Within the past year several countries and col
onies have declared their adhesion to the postal
union. 1t now includes all those which have
an organized postal service, except Costa Rica,
New Zealand and the British colonies in Aus
trala. AS has been already stated, great re-
ductions have recently been made in
the expense of the star route
service. The investigation Of the department
of justice and the postoffice department have
resulted in the presentation of indictments
against persons formerly connected with that
service, accusing them Of offenses against the
United States. I have enjoined upon the Of
icials :sho are charged with the conduct Of the
who, before my accession to the presidency,
we're called to theiy assistance, the duty of
prosecuting, with the utmost vigor Of the law,
all persons who may be found chargeable with
fraud upon the postal service.