Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-07
PosToFFIcE sTATlsT,cs
NET INCOME OF THE DEPA ARTMENT FOR THE
YEAR-HIsTORICAL.

NET INCOME OF THE DEPA RTMENT FOR THE
YEAR-HisToRICAL.
WAsHINGToS, October 6.-Is has been
| ascertained that the net income of the Post.
Office Department for the fiscal year which
ended on June 80, 1882, was about 81 500
O00-tbat is, not only did the receipts meet
all expenditures, but they exceeded the ex.
pepditures by 81 100000. The official state
ment will probably not be completed until
October 18th.
Alter deducting all expenses there will be
net revenue OF more than 100000 from
the business transacted by the money order
division of the postoffice during the last
fiscal year.
From 1890, the earliest date at which the
exact financial condition of the Postoffice
Department is accessible, down to 1888, an
excees of expenditures over receipts was
rarely known aud the deficiency, if any oc-
CURED, was triflins. With the introduction
OF the railway mail service in 1888 ten
dency toward a permanent excess of ex-
penditure was first manifested This ten
dency was soon checked, and the department
sgain placed upon solid business basis. A
reduction OF receipts was caused in 1845 by
the reduction OF the rates of letter postage,
but with the exception of 184S, when the ex-
penditures exceeded the receipts by $685.
772, the balance at the close oil each fiscal
year until 1852 was in favor of the depart
ment. The reduction of letter and other
rates in 1851, and departure from the
theory which had governed the department,
resulting partly from emigration and the
discovery OF gold in California made an an-
nual deficiency thereafter the rule rather than
the reception. The deficiency increased un-
I'll in 1850 1t amounted 10 more than $40 ,5O0,-
600. The war increased the postal revenue
andreduced the departments expenditure in
the Southern States. The deficiencies de-
creased. In 1868 the eI expenditures exceedt
the receipts by s., 800 900. In 1864 the def
cit was only $500 900, and 10 1865 there was
surplus of earnings over expenses amount
ing 70 $S60,000. After the war deficiencies
became the rule
In 1867 the deficit was nearly 81 ,0o0, 900,
and in 1876 the percentage, more than one-
fifth of the total receipts, was the same.
From that time, however, the revenues great
ly increased, and in 1880 the deficit was only
10 per cent. OF the revenues. Not onlv was
the surplus OF receipts over expenditures in
the last fiscal year 81 SOC, ,0O0 but the depart
ment did not expend about $1,000 900 OF the
amount appropriated for the Star service.
The amount appropriated was 81 100000.
Brady estimated that he must have SS, ,200,-
OOO, but Congress gave him 81 100000. 1t
now appears that. under honest management,
the expenditure was about So 900, 900, or 50
SOC, 200 less than Brady's estimate. The sur
plus of 81 100000 is almost exactly the sum
saved per annum by Postmaster General
James by cutting down or entirely cutting off
Brady's expedited, useless and fraudulent
Star service. 1t is safe to say that the de-
partment could not have been self-support-
ing in the yesr1Ss2, if he had not done this.
He did it, and did il fearlessly; in the face
of many obsi acles, and one Of the results is a
self-supporting Postofiice Department, with
surplus of 81 800, 900 for the year.