Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-02
PROGRESS.
An Interesting Sketch OF the Growth
and Development Of Our Postal
System.
The First ONCE Established in America
-Franklin's Administration
Early Removals.

Ex-Postmaster-General james, in a recent
address, gave a very interesting sketch oi
| the growth and development of our postal
system. According to this statement the
Erst Office in America was established in
New York in 1872, Just TWO hundred and ten
years ago. In 1740 road was blszed from
Paulus Hook, now Jersey City, to Philadel-
phia, over which the mail was carried on
horseback, but at no stated intervals I'm
1853 Beniamin Franklin, then postmaster of
Philadelphia, was made deputy postmaster
general of the colonies, and SO improved the
service that it produced a revenue to the
crown of triple that of Ireland. The fact
that the economical philosopher had made
postal system self-sustaining was 30 start
ling a thing, even in those days, that the
British acknowledgement commissioned
Hugh Finley as surveyor of post roads of
the continent of North America, and sent
him over here in 1878 to see how il was
done. Mr.. Finley's tour began at Casco Bay,
in Massachusetts, colony, and ended at Ss-
vannah, Georgia, occupying period of a
He kept Journal, the manuscript of which
is still preserved in the archives of the post
Office. department at Washington. The
perusal of this precious document reveals the
fact that human nature in the postofice has
not changed much since that day. Mr. Child,
the postmaster at Falmouth, complained of
house, entirely destroying his family privacy,
and inducing him to ask for the appoint
ment of a successor unless a separate office
was furnished him. AT Boston the 10 all was
received on Saturday afternoon at 6 O'Clock,
and complaints we're msde of the stupidity
of the postmaster complaint which
sounds familiar even in our day. On his way
from New London to New Haven he encoun-
tered several sarcastic people who inquired
4 he had not ,of fha -
At New York he found the postm aster doing
the postal business of that young city with
the aid of one clerk and one runner to de-
liver the letters.
Franklin's administration was found to be
a business one and very effective; but, as he
was opposed to King Georges admini.tra-
ton, he was removed, thus showing that
period of our history. When our consti-
tuition was adopted the postofice department
was organized by the appointment oil Samuel
Osgood as postm aster-general, with his
headquarters in the New York postoffice
He was allowed one clerk to assist him.
which certainly was not very imposing
array of assistants. There were then only
seventy-hve postof6ces and 1875 miles of
postrouies in the United States. The total
expenditures for the first year were S32, 40;
the total revenues, S37 ,935, leaving a surplus
OF $5795. AT the end of the fiscal year, June
80, 1881, the seventy-five pos,ofices had in
creased to A ,512 and the 1875 miles
of postroHtes TO 344 COG miles. The
total expenditures had increased from
$32, 40 to SIS, PSI 1856 46, and the tots
receipts from 1885 to $50. S75, 1897 92.
For the year ending June 80, 1882, the de-
partment has been self-supporting for the
first time since the war of the rebellion.
The greatest deficit in the department since
Its establishment occurred during the closing
year of Buchanan's administration, when il
reached the enormous amount of $l0,652,-
542 90. Since that time il has been grad
ually growing smaller and now is self-sus-
tanning. Mr.. James winds up his very inter-
esting sketch Of the growth of this depart
ment with the suggestion that in order to
secure the most effective and economical ad-
of this department, with its
immense revenues and expenditures, there
are two things absolutely necessary.
Ffrst.-Ihat the business of the depart
nent be conducted on the same principles
be.
Sscond.-That appointment to the service
De independent of personal and partisan in I
luence, determined solely by proper quail
ications ascertained by impartial tests open .
% all applicants on equal terms, promotions
or merit and changes made only for reasons |
affecting official conduct.
What Mr.. James so well says is fast be-
coming the conviction of the nation at large,
ind il is very probable that in very few |
Years the reforms he suggests will have be-
,ome accomplished facts