The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-03
$1,543, 417.6O
Total net deficiency (partly esti


The general result to the public Treasury from
she transactions of this department during the
past two years is thus shown to have changed
from the receipt of a cash surplus gain of nearly
two millions to an outlay of over seven millions
surplus of cost; or, reckoning also the amounts
credited to the Pacific railroad companies for
mail transportation, the difference in the pecun-
airy results of the service, realized during the
two years. exceeds $50, 400. 600.
The difference is due. first, to the decrease of
the revenues which amounts in total only to
$2,947, 848 49, and, secondly, to an increase Of
the expenditures to the extent of S. 466, 955. 80
of which Sc 042, 439 10 have been in the cash dis
bursements and $424, GIG 81 in the cost of trans
portation upon the Pacific railroads. Chiefly,
the decrease of revenue has resulted from the
diminishment in the rate of letter postage from
three to two cents upon the half ounce, which
was the unit of weight during the period, while
the increase of expenditure has arisen prnci-
paiy' from the natural increase of mails to be
carried and the natural extension of the service,
although other causes have contributed some
thing to both effects.
The revenue for the last year being less than
for the preceding, while the expenses continue
to grow nearly as BEFORE it might hastily be in
ferred that the rate of postage has been reduced
too greatly to justify the expectation that the
service will again become self sustaining
A more attentive examination gives reason to
think such a deduction to be erroneous The
reduction of the rate took effect on the 1st day
of October, 1883, leaving but nine months of the
fiscal year to its operation and although by an
ticipation some effect was practically experi-
enced during the antecedent three months in
diminished purchases of stamps yet the sales
for that quarter still remained large, and, of
course. yielded for the amount of three cent
stamps sold sum 90 per cent greater than
would have arisen for two-cen price, while to
the extent that purchasers had suspended buy
ing to secure the cheaper rate, the sales imme-
diately following its taking effect were increased
IN volume. 1t also appears from the account of
A kI,a~ lo.<~
and especially of stamped envelopes, in that
quarter, In anticipation of their use in the next
md preparatory to it. But the full Fect of the
change has been continuously operative during
the entire year recently closed, and has only
been counteracted by the same cause, which was
at least equally in force proportonably. during
the year preceding, the steady growth in the
public use of the mail service.
Comparison of the loss of receipts severally
sustained during each of these years should in
dictate, in general way the preliminary infiu
ence upon the revenue of the natural increase in
the public employment of the postal service and
might afford approximate percentages for COM
putatiou as TO the future, if other special causes
from recent legislation had not interviewed. Such
q comparison should be limited to the receipts
for postage alone, to be most instructive.
These have been as follows:
In the year ending June 30, 1888. .$43 60 262 90
In the year ending June 80, 1854. 40 S56 72S 90
In the year ending June 80. 1885. 40 056 226 90
Inc CarrieF-OeiNery service mas continued TO
meet with popular favor, and been somewhat
extended during the period reported on. Nine
teen cities have been added to the number Of
those which enjoy this convenience, making the
total number at the years end l7S.
Four hundred and sixty eight new carriers
have been employed. swelling the gross number
10 this arm of the service to 1853. This &C
counts in part for the increase of expenditure
already remarked upon. and the remainder was
due to the provision of law increasing the com
pensation of carriers after certain periods of
service, having become applicable to many, where
oy the average compensation of carriers increased
byt$l4 ~ to $9l2 &c each The regular appro-
prlansn OF "a O00, 600 was augmented during the
last session oy further special one of $50 0OO
and subsequently another one of sl5 900 in an
tlcipation OF a deficiency The cost of the ser
vice proved TO be, however not in excess of the
first provision, having reached but So o85 90 IA
because but few new carriers wers emnloved
after the nrst of March
The postage on local mail matter at the car
rier delivery offices amounted to S. 2lS 721 10
exceeding the cost of the service by ST.. 295. T68
55 There has also been general increase in
all the usual statistical items because of the ad
ditonal cities taken into the system. The aver
age cost per piece for handling, 23 mills re
mains unchanged, however.
The great labor performed by the carriers may