The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-01-22
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES.
THE GROWTH OF THE posToFFIoE,
Increase ia the Bu.lu... of til. wheeling On.sil
the Past Eight r.ars-A Record OfProErsm
and Economy which Reflects Credit
on POstmsstsr s.srllur.

Nothing Is a better index Of the growth Of
population and the increase Of prosperity in
community than the growth OF the business
OF the postoffice. The rapid advancement Of
material prosperity may itself pass unnoticed,
but as unetringly as the hand on the dial Of
clock indicates the flight OF time, does the pro-
gress aud extension OF the business OF the
postoffice Indicate the growth Of the com.
munity and the augmentation Of its business.
The statement that considerably over three
times as many pieces. Of mail matter were
hane led ut the Wheeling postottice In 1852 as
In 1S7i-only eight years before-is signiti.
cant one, and Is true, the figures being 90l ,6l9
for the latter year, and s., 500 $40 for the for
mer, That this Is not merely q seeming gain
Is shown by the fact that the increase was a
steady one, there being but one year in the
interval which did not show about the pro-
portiouate growth. In 1875, 1,T23, 2l8 pieces
were handled, and in 1875, 81, 9SS,6U9. This
decided increase was exceptional, rs the next
year there were bat 1884, 226 pieces. From
this time, however, the increase has been
constant, the number handled In 1878 being
49,, 600, which increased by q 400 pieces in
the succeeding year, and by 233, 372 the next,
| making the total number OF pieces reported
in 1880, 2,148,49l. This in 1881 had reached
2,42G773.
showing the progress OF business ~ the
Wheeling Office for the years named is the
fact that In this time the cost per piece for
handling has decreased. In 1874 the aver
age cost per piece OF handling the mail mat:
ter passing through the Office was three and
four-tenths mills, while In 1872 1t was Just
one mill less, The aggregate number OF
| k,, III haua al In.
creased In the same time from $50, 1874 to
$50, 652, while the aggregate cost per carrier
has not In anyid'Rree kept pace with this,
having been SCOOPS, including incidental
expenses in 1874, and but $G6G.a In 1882.
| Nor has the increase In the entire cost OF
service by any means kept pace with the
amount OF work done, either In uniformity
or amount In 1874 the aggregate cost was
S., O3l IS. and in 1882 $6G65.43. In 1873 1t
was 81, 322.7G, an increase from 1875, when
the service cost in all but s., 1888 IS. The
next year there was likewise an increase, the
cost being $4,429.l9. This decreased to
81, 49, IS 10 1878 The next year there was
sgain an increase, followed by another fall
ing of in 1880. /,
year last passed was the handsome sum OF
S24. 600 0S. The total expenses were but
SIS, 1893 Az, so that It costs much less than
half the gross revenue 1907 54) 10 run the
oHice-a rate Of profit that should attract at
tention.
The portion OF this expense represented by
the cost OF the free delivery system was So
663 4S, leaving $l1 ,5S5 o3 for office expenses
In the fiscal year ending June 80, 1875, the
total revenue was SIS, 5SS 2S; the office ex-
penses $40. G55 80 and the free delivery expen-
SEES s., 4lG So, making the aggregate expenses
Sl5, O72 10, and leaving anet revenue OF Sl3,.
5ll12 The gradual increase OF the net rev.
enue can be traced through the time since.
the year last named without break. %
And that this state OF affairs bids fair to
continue Is shown by the fact that the gross
revenue OF the Office from all sources In the
six months ending December 81, 1881, was
$50 279 81, and in the same length Of time
ending December 81, 1882, had increased to
$22, 2SS 62.
The facts shown above are so plain that
their significance does not need any com.
ment, and II may bedoubted II another office
in city OF the size, population and business
importance Of Wheeling can make as good a
] showing. rr r.rt