New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-11-19
THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GENERAL sUPERiNTENp-
ENr-wHAT HAS BEEN DONE.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GENERAL sUPERfNTEND'
ENr-wHAT HAS BEEN DONE.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1S.-COlonel w. Is.
Thompson. the General superintendent of the Railway
Mail Service has submitted to the Postmaster General
his annual report the fiscal year ended June 30. 1854
From the report it appears that June 30 1854 there
were II : 60 miles Of railroad upon which mails were
carried rs compared with - miles in 1881 Daring the
last fiscal year increase 6952 miles The number
of railway post office lines in operation on June 30 1884,
was $40 The annual miles OF service was 926i0.0o0.
Average annual mileage by each clerk was al.2N3
The Increase In the number of pieces Of mail matter
handled during the fiscal year was 53slii220 pieces.
The percentage of Increase IL 1854 over 1883 was
1882 The percentage OF increase in the number
of pieces Of registered matter handled IN 1884
over 1883 was d.03. The number OF errors
distribution of mail was l.l67.22i. In total dis
ihuton of 81 G6l 300 pieces, error to each
3s72 pieces handled hcg AT the rate OF 300 errors to
each clerk The average per cent Of the mail cor
rcctly handled Is about the same ~ last year
The number Of casualties during the year l5i, In
which postal clerks killed, 2S seriously injured
and 60 slightly injured. when clerks injured while
on duty it has been the practice Of the Department to
grant them leaves OF absence with pay for period not
exceeding year and MI their places with temporary
clerks During past year this action cost the De
partmcnt $jj2j. Recommendation IA made That the
Postmastcr-G lac authorized to pay To the widow
or minor children of all clerks killed In the service sum
eoual to one years salary the grade to which the clerk
belonged at the time OF his death The number of clerks
in the service on June 30 1854 was 1868; aggregate
annual salary, $3.9i6.0ls; average annual salary,
S99j II being an increase the preceding year of
los clerks and II So i'll average annual amount paid
each clerk
The appropriation for the service for the present
fiscal year is ~ 100000. II is estimated that this should
be increased 1901 900 for the next fiscal year
which would make the appropriation Si,60l 900 This
IL an Increase of per cent. An additional approprla
lion of - 300 recommended for the purpose III III
the salaries clerks Of classes five and -four to
~ 400 and ~ 200 year respectively. These salaries
arc authorized by law. and paid until July !. 1876
when II was found that the appropriation was ms mn
cient TO pay the number thus employed Ihey were
then reduced ~ 800 and II loo year respectively
fl f. recommended that the appropriations Tor postal
cars be increased from ~ .62j.OOO Ia SlS11OOO. ms
will include The amount the sub dizcd roads. which
has n heretofore been included IN the esmac for this
branch 0f the service The appropriation FOR special ac
tie. for the present fiscal year Is f23ouOo
fin. appropraiion for the next year should he Sol I?
and 81 90 should be- added to the appropriation FOR
pccal lacllities be expended on the Charlotte Column
bta aud Augusta Railroad between Columbia, :. c. aud
Augusta Ga hoped that the mail, can he expedited
so as TO arrive san Francisco about a. H. Instead OF
ll:lO a as at present.