The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1882-11-15
POstOmce Statistics.

Liz lOlloHlup ldClS anu HSuTeS GEe LIN I'll
from the annual reports Of First Assistant
David B. Parker, chief of postofice inspect
OrS:
. The number of postofices in operation on
June 80, 1882, was &C, 2231, an increase of ,719
during the year; 1851 of these Offices are
filed by appointment of the President and
are known as presidential" offices and the
rerlainder-E ,2S0-are filled by appoint
ment of the postnaster-general.
During the year 3,1GG new postoffices were
established and 1,4t7 were discontinued.
The free delivery system was in operation
during the year in 112 of the principal cities
of the country and employed 3,115 carriers.
The regular appropriation for this service
was S2,6O0,0OO, to which was added by special
appropriation $4,000 to meet an anticipated
deficiency, making q total appropriation of
$2,G25,0 900, an increase of S125,OOO over that
of the previous year. The total cost of the
service was $2,G23,2G2.7 n, leaving an unex-
pended balance of 81, III &c. The increase
of this cost of the service over that Of the
preceding year was S123,3jl.20. This was
owing principally to the appointment of adj
ditional carriers in cities where the service
was already in operation, only three new
cities having been added to tho list during
the year, viz, Augusta, Me-; Burlington,
VT, md Concord, n. II.
From the annual reporto of Colonel Parker
it appears that the arrests by postofiice in
spectors for violations of the postal laws
during the fiscal year ended June 80 num-
bcred 49G; AL of these were prosecuted in
the courts of the United States and tfty-fve
in the courts of the State in which the Of
Tenders were arrested 1913 resulted in con-
viction and eighteen in acquittal. Seven
prisoners escaped III one case bail was for
feited and in forty cases the proceedings
were dismissed. One hundred and eighty
two Offenders arc now awaiting trial. The
number of registered letters reported lost
was 5,0S7, of which LBS were domestic and
3, G49 foreign. The disbursements of money
collected on account of lost aud rltled regis
tered letters and packets amounted in 3G
cases to $10,9W.G. Of the total number of
complaints of depredations upon the regis
tered mail, investigation showed that in
4,O76 no loss had occurred that III l3 actual
loss had resulted. Colonel Parker says:
"There are now undergoing investigation
2,5l3 cases, and should the proportionate
loss be rs great in the outstanding cases
rs in those already reported upon, 1t
would be estimated ut 233. Adding this eSti-
mate to the actual losses, 4I3, We have 72G,
an unusually small proportion. These losses
were from all causeS-.tire, burglary, high
way rObDerlcS, casualties ana ordinary tneIlS.
BY comparing this number. 12G. with the
total number of letters and packets regis
tered during the year, 9,'27,!22, it is worthy
of remark that the safety of the registered
mail is demonstrated" There were 2l,j27
ordinary letters reported lost, 15,1$O with
vuluablei measures and G,%i7 contents no.
specified. Of this number >, liza were found
to have been delivered. The number of Or
binary packets reported lost was SAP. of
which so were found TO have been delivered
or satisfactorily accounted for. The dis
bursements Of money recovered on account
of lost ordinary letters amounted i'll fifty
seven cases 10 $:a6i.in. During the year Isl
postotlices were reported to lave bCrl, entered
by burglars and llG TO have been hnrncd.
Thirty-nino mails were robbed 10y highway
men. "!And it is gratifying TO notr.'. says
the chief OF inspectors, THAT this nu'r:l"r IS
less than half of those reported i'll tic fiscal
year ending June -, lI6l.' Ten mails were
burned in postal cars in railway accidents;
fifty were lost by carriers il floods, snow
blockaucs and from other causes.