Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-11-11
THE POSTAL SYSTEM.
Interesting Statistics by the first A
sistant POsimaster-Gener

Interesting Statistics by the first As.
sisIant POstmaster-GeneraI,
WASHINGTON, November 10.-First As
sistant Postmaster-General Stevenson has
submitted to the Postmaster General bis
report upon the operations of his bureau
for the fiscal year ended June 80, 1885.
From the report it appears that the num-
Der OF pcstotiices established during the
year was 2J2l and the number OF discon-
Linued was $50, making the whole num-
Der Of postoffices at the end of the fiscal
year 81 ,242, a net increase of l25 dur
ing the year. The number of offices
su, ject to appointments by the President
number subject to appointment by the
POstmaster-General fourth class was
49,Ol9. The whole number OF appoint
ments during the year was 1908, made
up as follows: On designations and COM
missions expired, 6204; removals and sus-
pensions, $40; changes OF names and sites,
POI deaths OF postmasters, 412; establish
ment OF new offices, 1921. The
increase in the number of post
offices was distributed as follows: New
England States As, Middle States and Dis
| trict of Columbia Ill. Southern States and
| Inc ial Territory 6SS, the ten States and
six Territories of the West and Northwest
$40, and the three States and three Terri
| tories Of the Pacific slope 65. The greatest
| increase in any State or Territory was 100
| IN Virginia. The increase in Dakota for
/ the year was II, and in Mississippi 50.
The only decrease was in Nevada. The
-otal number of money-order offices was
| 6992, an increase OF 749 over the preced-
ing year. The number of changes in post
| masters during the year was less than the
preceding year, and the large decrease in
| the number of cases acted upon during
i n ,tb
Y. ar, was due, says Gen. Stevenson, to the
fact that very few changes were made in
| those offices during the winter months.
Under the head of the free delivery sys-
| tenn, the report states that the number of
free delivery offices at the close of the
year was l7S, an increase of 10, and the
number of carriers 1853, an increase of 46S.
The entire cost of the service was IS ,9S5,-
952, leaving an unexpendtd balance of
| 79,047. The service has now been ex-
/ tended to nearly all cities having a pop
ulation of 200, inhabitants, or returnin ,
| so, 600 gross receipts per annum, aud its
further extension must. under the law,
| await the growth OF the cities to the re-
| Quirements above noted, or the Qualifica-
| tions must be lowered by legislation. The
| First Assistant Postm aster-General saws
| that, in view of the success of this system,
| the convenience to the public and other
means, in his judgment warrants the
Recommendation that authority be con-
| terred by legislation for its extension to
| places iof 10000 inhabitants having a
| gross revenue of $4,000.
The report briefly states the advantages
| that have resulted from the consolidation
of large free delivery offices. and recon-
| mends that the same policy be applied to
non-fres delivery offices, so as to give them
the benefits of free delivery. 1t is believed
| that this consolidation would reduce the
| labor of examining clerks, by cutting
down the number of separate postotfices,
and result in greater harmony in the
service.
Under the head of salary and allowance,
| it is stated that the total amount allowed
for clerk hire in postoffices was 81 ,924 .569 (;
for rent, fuel and light of postoffices, $685.
| 959; flr salaries OF postmasters (2435l ad-
| justed during the year, s., 70l ,600; for sal
| aries of Presidential postmasters $780,
60. Since April, 1884. 81, 400 applications
for review of salaries of postmasters, under
the act Of March s, 1883, were received
and filed. The number reviewed and re-
adjusted was 10, ,42l, and 5000 applications
we're allowed, involving the additional
amount for com pensation or back pay of
postmssters, S37S, ,922. As result of the
annual adjustment of salaries, fourteen
| offices were added to the Presidential list
and 134 offices were relegated to
the fourth class. The grand total
| of gross receipts at Presidential
| offices for the four quarters ended
March 81, 1885, amounted TO SSl, ,7a2 220,
and the aggregate salaries of the stmas-
| ters will absorb 1l.42 per cent. of the reve-
nues. The postal receipts, says Gen. Ste
venson, forming the basis of the salaries
Of Presidential postmasters, fiuctuste with
the favorable or unfsvorable condition of
the business of the country. At the pres
ent time the reports show that the country
is entering upon an era of prosperity and
plenty, and therefore not less than S., ,S00,- :
900 will be required to pay the salaries OF
Presidential postmasters during the fiscal
year ending June so, 1857. The amount
of compensation for clerk hire required
during the same period is estimated st
So 100 600, making the total estimates for
this branch of the service, including al
lowances tor fuel, rent, furniture and mis-
cellaneous items, $9,5S7 200.
The First Assistant Postmaster General,
| in CONCLUSION, calls attention TO the failure
Of Congress to provide for the payment by
the government of rent at third-class post
offices. He renews the recommendation
that provision be made for the payment
of rent for Offices of that class, and for the
payment of expenses for fuel, light, sta
tionery and miscellaneous items for the
offices. 1t is also recommended that Janu
ary, 1887, be fixed as limit for the pre-
sentation OF applications for readjustmen
of salaries under the act of March ., 1888
The Railway MAIL Service.