Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-10-26
POSTAL GROWTH,

The First Assistant Postmaster General
has made public the material portions of
his annual report. During the year 725
postoffices 81 ere added to the southern and
Indian Territory, $50 in the west, exclusive
of the Pacific slope, where &c only were
added. The middle and eastern states
gain but few and Connecticut shows a
loss of one. The largest number of post
offices in single state are found in Penn
sylvania, the number being 3,716, and
New York stands next with
3,O82. New York, however, has
the largest number of presidential Office.
It will doubtless cause some surprise to
learn that it is in the south that the great
est ratio of growth is found, but such is
the fact, dispelling the popular idea that
the growth of the country centers in the
west, though it is true that Dakota shows
the largest progress of any state or terri
tory. These statistics are interesting,
showing as they do with accuracy in what
sections there is the strongest develop
ment of growth.
The official from whUm this report en-
anates has been understood to occupy
hostile attitude regarding the reduction of
letter postage from three cents to two
cents. It strikes the public curiously
therefore, to find him recommending that
local postage, which under the postal car
rier system is now two cents, be reduced
to one cent. That the local rates ought to
be so reduced goes without saying, for If
letters may be sent from one end of the
country to the other for two cents, it
is not unreasonable to think
that letters may be handed
across the street in the same town, for one
cant. The report exhibits that there is a
large profit on local postage and that it
can be reduced without loss to the revenue
of the government. This, is, certainly, a
sufficient argument for the proposition,
and 1t is not wild guess to premise that
congress will favorably entertain it, and
order the re 7ucfion. But Mr.. HettonS is
not altogether Influenced in making this
accommodation by his concern for the
public. 1t may be conceded that the pro-
position has its popular side, and that
that feature no doubt had its influence
with the ambitious young First Assistant,
but even that does not exhibit the whole
motive for the STOP" Mr..
Ratton has been engaged in a crusade
against the private postal system estab-
lished in several of the large cities, where
by greater expedition, superior accuracy
and cheaper service is afforded, than is
offered by the red tape burdened and
dilatory system under government man
agement. To meet this competition and
to permanently cripple 1t or crush it out,
this recommendation is filed. That the
adoption of the reduced rate will have this
effect is true, as uniform rate of one cent
is secured while the private service was
based upon graded scale of compensa-
ton. Ii had become apparent that the
government could not retain its monopoly
in the face of the energy of private enter
prise. A crisis had arisen which
could only be met by the course now pro-
posed, and for this reason, chiefly, if not
solely, the recommendation is made, as a
happy afterthought, when other methods,
even the attempt at legal suppression, had
failed. The public will accept the reduc-
ton in an agreeable mood, though they
will understand that it is afforded them,
not because of liberal public spirit with
in the postofice department., but on en-
tirely different grounds so far as that
power is concerned. To the stimulus of
private enterprise is the country indebted
for its greatest and most important privi-
leges, in this and other directions, rather
than to official sagacity or appreciation of
the public needs.