Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1884-12-10

SppIOpIlhJeu Tor the service OF the yonr wa
$f6. 1896 90, or $34i, o76.S7 more b : tho
amount disbursed on account thereof AID t5Sa,-
39&O7 less than the total disbursements And
outstanding liabilities. vs.
The estimates sor the fiscal year endias Jans
30, 1885. are: -
Ordinary postal revenue. ........ .$sQ.p72. $40. n
Aoney-order business 4o0,0o0.00
n,.,,,..r,.xr. .sl.rasass:
All lnpenses, Including Pacific Rail-. ~
fosu s.s..... ~ M,099. 100. 50
Deficiency to be supplied s4.s2S. 40. "a
Ihe receipts for the wear are estimated with
"nc srt int III. re re report s.ys. because there Is
9 n basis can be reckonsd. tho reduction in
the rate OF postage from 5 cents having come
At = time when it unequall!y affected the various
quarters. But . regular Increase OF . per cent.
u expected. and that would place the receipts
Ut the Azure given above.
In the expenses there will probably be for
compensation to postmasters a deficiency Of at
least El,5G0,0c0. md for TRANSFORMATION by
railroads about Si,00o,ooO. The estimate
Also contemplates the payment out Of the
appropriation Of the entire cost Of mail
which is now BY law credited Tn the books OF
me treasury, and does not appear in the appro-
prlAiion for mail transportation, The amount
mode OF settlement Is spproximated at $I,loo..
zoo. which amount, added to the two deficien-
ctes mentioned. will leave the estimates $3,45s,-
,sa % n excess OF the appropriations for the
The reduction Of postage affected the sales Of
postal cards 80 that the number issued last year
was lH64o.000 less than the prec ding year. The
so. u. an increase Of $lsA.4l4.61 over the proceed
ing year. OF th s source Of revenue 2i.W per
cent. was collected in New York, o.41 per cent.
at Chicago. e;42 per cent. at Boston, with Phila-
delphta,. st; Louis. Cincinnati, and San Fran
cisco following In order,
There were II, 246,Sls registered articles han.
tiled and 4,76l .si2 pieces Of undelivered mali
Of the work OF the Dead Letter Office
the report says:
"1he amount realized from the sales of srti-
in tho United states Treasury. The
proceeds Of the last auction sale. which was in
January, 1884. was 81. 9l5.43. Tho money sepa-
rated from dead letters which cannot be re-
stored 10 the sender Is also placed in the Treas
ury, and the amount deposited during the year
$7.239.F. The value OF postage stamps
received from various sources and destroyed
eral Maynard ordered that such useful
printed matter as had previously. been
sold Tor waste paper should be
asyluins. and other charitable and re-
matory institutions within the District of
Columbia. This practice still prevails, and
q, ls2 magazines, PAMPHLETS. illustrated papers,
posed of in that way duriug the year"
During the year there were 1883 appoint
ments to places in the postal service, the num-
her being $40 less than during the preceding
There are now 7l,s7l employees in the de-
rnrtment.
Considering the investigation. made by
special agents during the year the report says:
flying to the department. Dishonest and negli-
gent officials were Il scovered. The former were
Ind the latter reprimanded and more
lnliy instructed in their duties. In a large mum
mr. Of IN aaQ whore NO az ms a ora Vvsrs liaraVaraI
70 be short In their accounts il was owing to neg
eelce OF . lack OF ability to mana &c the affairs
of their offices. Too many postmasters feel
in REGARDING the : positions as sine
cures, and feel frse to give their attention to
business, cJntent to draw their salaries as
officials, leaving the work Of managing their
ofhcc to others This should not be allowed.
at first and second class offices
should be required to give their entire time to
their ofiicia duties. and should not be Permit
ted to engage in any other business that re-
quires any portion of the time for which they
are paid by the Government This result should
be brought about even. II it require q statutory
mac ment to effect II"
The Postmaster General urges the develop
men cf the free-delivety system, holding that
1t encourages method in the delivery OF mail
and stimulates correspondence. He recon-
mends that in densely populated districts ham
be united In their POSTAL accommodations,
SO rs to bring them within the scope of the
which allows . free system to every post
office having more than 2o,too patrons.
WI. xlktLUuS CItfuk Ia ldGL tu6t GlG ITe6-
delivery system earned last year ',27s.2 7s. rs
over jts expenditures, says he IL convinced the
has come for the reduction Of postage Of
local letters.
The department views with jealous eye the
growth OF the messenger service system. and the
General describes the dnty OF the
postal service in the matter OF quick local de-
livery, ~ follows:
The necessity and demand, In cities, for
prompt transmission and delivery Of letters
passing between business men and others has
resulted In the establishment. in many places, of
may be termed letter express companies.
which, by the employment OF messenger boys.
are enabled greatly to facilitate Intercourse of
this character amcnG MERCHANTS. professional
done Ut . small expense and with so much sys-
tenn and prOmptness ~ seriously 70 iminis the
revenues Of the department at several letter.
carrier offices. Tit patronage. which is ex-
tended to these companies affords evidence that
the free delivery system. notwish standing its
facilities and benefits. has not progressed so far
ss to meet all the wants OF energetic business
improvement Of the service tn this particu-
lar should, in my judgment, be attempted, not
only to prevent . loss OF revenue. but
rass,h : purpose m = o mske y th e. tS useful nn,i :.
have. . right to expect that this department
should make the same effort TO serve them
promptly and faithfully in the transmission ana
l know Of no way in which this can be better
accomplished than. by the use OF . special
poetage-stamp for letters mailed and Intended
fos special and prompt delivery re- Z, A. IN fressrdeliyery
ton OF ten cents, and. when anixed to a letter.
In addition to the proper postage charge. should
insure for 1t as speedy . delivery ~ possible
This outside distribution could DO effected by
employing messenger boys, at . small salary.
and in such number ~ the circumstance
70 accommodate the public wonld still further
commend the free delivcry service to ite patrons