Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-26
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
Interesting Extracts from Assistant
Postmaster General HnttOn's An
nual kcport,


Beyond the benefits Of the free delivery
service as at present restricted is n class of
towns in dcnsey populated portious OF the
country, which, it is believed, could be
served by carriers with benefit to the people
and economy to the department. These are
towns within short distances OF one another
which have not singlY the required qualif-
cations OF population or gross revenue. The
law SHOULD lie amended so as to authorize
the department to extend the system h. such
places by establishing it at the principal or
central Office of a group aud disseminating
the other Offices, or substituting for them
inexpensive branches of the main Office, from
which oar,icls G Juld serve the surrounding
localities
In view Of the large excess Of postage on
local matter over the cost vi the free dcliv-
cry service, and taking into consideration the
fact that local correspondence increases in
proportion to the facilities offered, it should
be extended, and liberal appropriations made
to bring it up to the highest practicable stand
ard in cities where it is now in operation
This service meets the general demands of
business and social life, but fails to meet the
despatch required in the delivery of letters
Of exceptional importance. Under the pres
eEt system, letters received alter the carriers
60 out upon their trips, whatever their i'm
portance, must be in the Office till the next
trip. AT O'clock y. m, when the delivery
closes for he day. they m Isl lie over till the
next morning, and this delay frequently fails
to meet the Object Of The communication.
Ont of this want of more speedy
delivery have grown up in several of
the large cities private enterprises which are
ow conducted in competition with the SER
vice, and are diverting from the legitimate
revenues OF tn department thousands OF dol
lars yearly. The patronage bestowed upon
them evinces public demand for IL more
speedy delivery of a certain class Of cores
pundeace. To meet this want II is suggested
that special stamp be provided which,
when affixed to a letter, whether mail
local, IN addition to the or IiuaIy postaS
stamp, shall be regarded by the Office ad
dressed rs eutltling the letter 10 imm9diat
delivery up to ten o'clock p. m. To provide
for the delivering it is suggested that boys he
employed and required to procure receipts
from the party addressed or some authorized
person.
pOstngc on Local Letters.
In view Of the excess Of receipts Of postage
on local matter alone over the cost Of is de-
livery tSl, 02l, SOD, it seems that the time has
arrived when the postage on local letters at
offices where the carrier system is in opera
tion can be reduced from two cents t. one
cent. such reduction will surely result in
very large increase Of local business. The
reports u the inspectors who Investigated
the unlawful despatch companies sho" that
the department is losing thousands If dollars
annually by their competition. They offer
no better facilities than the department, and
the only thing gained by their patrons is the
saving of one cent on letter. \ reduction
of local postage would resul, in very great
increase in business us well az meet the de-
mands of the cities now served by carriers.