Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-03
THE P. NJ. G..
THE AWFUL REPORT OF THE posi-
MaSTER GENERAL.

But Little Different fr1m Its PredeOes-
sors-Tks Change in tho Rate of Postage
-Salariss-The Local Postal Rates, and
Other Matters of Interest.
Postmaster General Gresham introduces
his report of the operations of the depart
ment by brief allusion to character and
worth of his predecessor, the late Hon.
Timothy @. Howe, who died on the 25th
of last March, after long and useful ca
reer.
The revenues of the department for the
year amounted to $45,5os, 692.61 and the
Estimated surplus over the total cost of
the service is $1,OO1. 2SL83.
ESTIMATED REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES.
Unusual difficulty is experienced at this
time in foreoasting the postal revenues by
reason of the recent reduction of postage.
The department. has no statistics showing
the amount Of postage collected on each
of the several classes of mail matter, and
no means, therefore, of determining the pre-
else extent to winch the revenues are af-
fscted by that reductions. Another element
of uncertainty is the extent to which the
mails will be increased under the stimulus
of a lower rate Of postage. Some
compensation for the loss in the rate
may -easonably be expected from three
sources, viz: First, an increased amount
of correspondence; second. the increased
revenue to be derived from the substitu
tion of sealed circulars at two cents for
openonesat one cent? the third, the increased
revenue from the Substitution of letters
for postal cards. The increase of reve-
nue from these sources is, however, purely
conjectural. In the absence Of more GER
tain data, the revenue for the next year
has been estimated at $47,104, 079.31. The
expenditures for tho year ending June 80,
1885, are estimated at $5O,O62, 1850.
PosToFF1OEs.
The whole number Of post Offices, June
80. 1883, was 1858, an increase in the
year of 1852. The total number of en-
ployss of the department of all grades is
60, ego.
TEH v1EE DELIVERY SYSTEM.
This system was in operation during
the year at 1874 Offices INCLUDING forty
two newly established onss), and en- ployed
in the aggregate $3.50 carriers.
The total appropriation fer this service
was $780, 600. including special appro-
priation Of 100000 to carry out the pro-
visions of the act of August 2, 1882, an
increase Of $4,000 over that of the pre-
csding year. The total cost of the SER
vice was $3,173,3 1861, leaving an unex-
pended balance of $26,663 40. The in
crease of cost over the proceed
ing year was S55O,O73.77. This
was owing to the extension of the
service to forty-two additional cities in
different sections of the country, employ
ing in the aggregate 222 carriers, also to
the appointment of 343 additional car
riers in the older free-deliyery cities, like
wise to the increased pay OF auxiliary car
riers from $500 to $500, and the promo
ton of carriers from the lower to the next
higher grade at the expiration of one
years service, as required by the act of
August 2, 1882.
POSTAGE ON LOCAL MATTER
The postage on local matter at the vari-
Gus Offices amounted to $4,195, $50. SO, an
increase over the preceding year of $685.
654.43. and over the total cost of the ser
vice of S1,021, S94.O1. This increase in
postage on local mater was 9.92 per cent.
while the increase in the coat OF servics
was 2O96 per cent, main
ly attributable to the require
msnts of the act of August 2, 1882. The
average cost per piece for handling matter
WAS "a mills, an increase of one-tenth mill
as compared with last year. The average
cost per carrier, including incidental ex-
psnses, was $3.50 95, an increase of 1920
over the preceding year.
The number of mail letters delivered
during the fiscal year was 342, O13,75O, an
increase OF 1856 per cent. over the pre-
esding year; mail postal cards delivered,
S6.133,229, an increase of 20.49 per cent;
local letters, 104,437, 146, an increase of
1903 per cent; local postal cards, 6O,472,-
1913, an increase OF 1876 per cent. regis
tered letters delivered, 2,S30,20 an in
crease of 1886 per cent; newspapers de-
Hvered, 203, 568, 005, an increase of 1850
per cent.
The number of letters collected was
345,317, 1903, Hn increase over last year of
so per cent; postal cards collected, 49,
1851, an increase of 1913 per cent;
newspapers collected, 64,75l, S42, an in
crease of 4.90 per cent. The whole num-
Der of pieces handled during the year was
1924 ,637, 701, an increase over last year of
1888 per cent, and the average number
hsndled by each carrier was 359,955, de-
crease of 1.99 per cent.
The present law provides for the estab-
lishment of this service in places having a
population .of 10000, or at postoffices
whose gross revenue for the preceding fs-
cal year amounted to $4,000.
In 1854 '65 the cost per letter for de-
livery at nine of the principal cities was
IL cents each, as against "a mills for the
delivery and collection Of each piece of
mail matter in 154 cities in 1928, re-
duction of So mills per piece.
SALARIES OF PosTMAsTRRs.
The number of presidential postm astsrs
is now 2,195, and the aggregate sum of
their annual salaries according to the ad-
justmsut for October 1, 1883, under
the new law will be about $3,75O,OOO.
A, fhAea ealariae ora now bsead unon