The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-11-28
POSTAL MATTERS.
Synopsis of the Reports of the First and
Third Assistant Postmasters-General.

Synopsis of the Reports of the First and
Third Assistant Postmasters-General.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24.-The annual re-
port of the First-Assistant Postmaster-Gen-
eral shows: Number of post-offices estab-
lished during the year, 3,414-an increase
of 161 over the preceding year; number dis
continued, 1900 decrease of 361; net
increase, 522. The whole number of post
office June so, 1884, was 50,017-an
increase Of 2,155; number filled by Presi-
dental appointment 1923; number filed
by appointment by the Postmaster General,
1904. During the year 1883 post
masters were appointed. The net increase
of post-offices during the year was much
larger than any increase for several years
past. The increase was divided among sec
lions at follows: New England States,
40; five Middle States. 225; fourteen
Southern States and Indian Territory,
1,070; ten States and six Territories
West and Northwest 7O7; three
States and three Territories on the Pacific
slope, 104. The greatest increase in any
State or Territory was 156 in Texas. The
increase in North Carolina was 1875, and in
Pennsylvania 1874. The only decrease was
in New Mexico Comparing the number of
pOSt-officeS in different States the order Of
the six highest June 80, was Pennsylvania,
3,840; New York, 3,122; Ohio, 2,7O7;
Illinois, 2,167; Virginia, 1882 and Mis-
souri, 1868. Of the Territories, Dakota
had the largest number, 637, exceeding the
number in either Massachusetts, Maryland
or South Carolina. 1t is recommended
that the free-delivery system be extended
to places of 10000 inhabitants, provided the
postal revenues amount to $4,000 yearly.
The attention of Congress is also invited to
the Importance of erecting buildings for
post-ofices in all cities of 20, 900 inhabitants
and upwards.
The annual report of A. D. Hazen, Third
Assistant Postmaster General, shows that
the total number of postage stamps, stamped
envelopes and postal cards issued during
the year was 2166, $780, 1896; total value,
$42, 515,8 77; decrease in value Of the is
sues OF ordinary postage stamps, $2,229,-
735; total decrease in the value of
all issued, including postal-eards. stamped
envelopes, postage due stamps and
wrappers, 1894, 442. The weight of sec
ond-class matter during the year, not in
Guiding free circulation within the county
of publication, was 81. ,6O7 pounds, the
postage on which was S1,889, 592, an in
crease of 1884, 14 over the previous year.
The whole number of pieces of undelivered
mail matter received in the Dead-Letter
Office, including 27S,648 pieces on hand,
was 4,S43,099. Of this. number 81 ,479
were misdirected. There were destroyed
2,539,477 letters and 1858 parcels of
fruit cake, etc. Among the letters
opened, 1902 contained money and 10, Oh
drafts, etc. Of the letters sent from foreign
countries, 210, 436 were returned as unde-
liverable. The total number of letters and
parcels registered during the year was II,
246,545; the amount of registry fees col
lected, $957, $50; increase, $3O,509 The
loss by registered letters during the year
amounted to one out of 81, 795 pieces mailed
This is the smallest average Of losses since
the organization Of the registry system.