The Portland daily press., 1885-11-11
POSTAL MATTERS.
Annual Report of the First Assistant
Postmaster General.
Present Number of Post offices in
the United States 5 1852.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-The First Assistant
Postmaster General has submitted his annual re-
port upon the operation of his bureau for the fs-
cal year ended June 80, 1886 From the report
It appears that the number of post offices estab-
lished during the year was 2121 and the number
discontinued $50, making the whole number of
post offices at the end of the fiscal wear 81 252,
net increase of 1926 during the year The num-
Der Of oifices subject to appointments by the
appointment by the Postmaster General Of the
fourth class was 49019. Whole number of ap-
pointments during the year was II 2O3. made up
as follows On designations and commissions eX-
pired, 6204; removals and suspensions, $40;
changes OF names and sites, 207; deaths Of post
masters Az; establishment of new offices 222l
The increase in the number of post offices was
distributed as follows: New England States 49,
Middle States and District of Columbia, Ill;
Southern States ana Indian Territory, 63S; the
ten States and six Territories of the West and
northern Northwest, 375: the three States and
greatest increase in any State or Territory was
100 in Virginia; the increase in Dakota for the
year was "a and in Mississippi So The only de-
crease was In Nevada. The six States having the
largest number of post Offices were Pennsylvania,
3894; New York, 3l57;. Ohio, 2725; Illinois,
YORK contained the largest number of presiden-
tial officeS-213.
The total number of money order offices was
Mr.. Stevenson recommended that authority be
conferred by legislation for the extension of the
free delivery system to places of 10000 inhabi-
tants, having gross revenue Of 10000. The
report briefly states the advantages that have re-
suited from the consolidating OF large free dellY-
cry Offices, and recommends the same policy be
applied to non free delivery offices so as to give
them the benefit of n free delivery, The total
amount allowed for clerk hire in post offices was
81 924 569; for rent, fuel and light of post offices
$463, ,939; for salaries of poStmaSters. (2435) ad-
justed during the year, S3,701, 900; for salaries
of presidential postmasters, $3,630,600. Since
April 1884, 80, 400 applications for review of sal
aries of poStmasterS, under the act of March Sd
1888, were received and fled The number re-
viewed and readjnsted was 16,521, and 5000 ap-
plications were allowed, involving an additional
amount for compensation or back pay of post
masters of $378, 1922. As result of the annual
adjustment of salaries, IA offices were added to
the presidential list, and "a offices relegat-
ceipts at presidential offices for the year ended
March 81, 1885, amounted to $31, ,792,220 and
the aggregate salaries OF poStmaSters will absorb
11.42 per cent of the revenues.
The postal receipts, says Mr.. Stevenson, form
ing the basis of the salaries of presidential post
masters fuctuated with the favorable or unfayor-
able condition of the business of the country. At
the present time reports show that the country is
entering upon an era OF prosperity and plenty,
and therefore not less than So 100000 will be re-
quired to pay the salaries of presidential post
masters during the fiscal year ending June 80,
1887.
The amount of compensation for clerk hire re-
So, 15O, 600 making the total estimates for this
branch of the service $9,5S7, 900.
The First Assistant Postmaster General recon-
mendS that provision be made for the payment of
rent for third class offices, and for the payment of
expenses for fuel, light, stationery and miscel-
aneous liens for these offices. 1t is also recon-
mended that January 1st, 1887, be fixed as the
justment of salaries under the act of March Sd,
1888.