The true northerner., 1885-11-19
POSTAL AFFAIRS.
The Number OF New Offices Established
During the Year-Salary and
Allowance.

otcSeubOu nhh buDmltJoQ 10 Inc IObtiuhbttf
General his annual report upon the operations
Of his bureau for the fiscal year ended June 80.
1885. From the report It appears that the num-
ber Of postofices established during the year
was 2. 121, and the number discontinued $780, MAX
ing the whole number Of postoffices at the end
Of the fiscal year 81 252, a net increase OF .235
during the year. The number Of Offices subject
to appointments by the President presidential
grade) was 2,233, and the number subject TO
appointment by the Postmaster General
fourth class) was 49,019. The whole num-
Der of appointments during the year was
11.203, made up as follows On resigna-
tions and commissions expired. 6.20 re-
movals and suspensions, $40; change OF names
and Sites 207; death of postmasters 412 estab-
lishment Of new Offices. 2,22l. The increase in
the number Of postoffces was distributed as fol-
lows: New England States, 4s; Middle States
and District of Columbia, IL; Southern States
and Indian Territory 6ss the ten States and six
Territories Of the West and Northwest, 375 the
three States and three Territories of the Pacific
Slope, 65. The greatest increase in any State or
Territority was 100 in Virginia. The increase In
Dakota for the year was II, and in Mississip-
pi so. The only decrease was in Nevada. The
total number OF money order offices was 9 992, an
increase OF 719 over the preceding year.
The number of changes in postmasters
year, and the large decrease in the number of
cases acted upon, n,during the year, as compared
Stevenson, to the fact that very few changes
were made in the Offices during the winter
months.
Under the head OF free-deliyerv system the
report states that the number Of free-deivery
offices at the close of the year was 49, an in
crease Of 10, and Gae number OF carriers 4,35S an
increase OF 46S. The entire cost of the service
YVES So. ,952, leaving an unexpended balance
of S79.0 .046. The service has now been extended
to nearly all cities having population OF 10000
inhabitants or returning $4,000 gross receipts
per annum, and its further extension must
under the law, await the growth Of cities to the
requirements above noted, or the qualifications
must be lowered by legislation.
The First Assistant Postmaster General says
that the success Of this system, its convenience
to the public, and other merits, in his Judgment
warrants tho recommendation that authority be
conferred by legislation for its extension to
places OF inhabitants having gross revenue Of
$4,000. The report briefly states the advantages
that have resulted from the consolidation of
large free-delivery Offices and recommends that
the same policy be applied 10 non-free-delivery
offices so as 70 give them the benefits of free
delivery. 1t Is believed that this consolidation
would reduce the labor of examining accounts
by cutting down the number Of separate post
offices and result in greater harmony in the SER
vice. Under the head of salary and allowance
it is stated that the total amount allowed for
clerk hire in postofices 81 924, ,569 for rent,
fuel, and light of postoffces, s4G3 939 for sal
aries of postmasters q, ABB adjusted during the
year, s3,70l, 600: for salaries of Presidential
postmasters, So 3G30,G00. Since April 1884, 49,
400 applications for review OF salaries of post
masters under the act OF March g. 1883, were
received and filed. The number of salaries re-
viewed and readjusted was IL, ,52l, and $500 ap-
plications were allowed, involving the addition
al amount for compensation or back pay of post
masters of 37s,922 AS result of the annual
adjustment of salaries, IA Offices were added to
the Presidential list and l34 offices were rele-
gated TO the fourth class. The grand total Of
gross receipts at Presidential offices for the four
quarters ended March 81, 1885, amounted to
s3l 1922 and the aggregate salaries Of
the postmasters will absorb 11.42 per
cent. OF the revenues "The postal receipts"
says Gen. Stevenson, forming the basis OF the
salaries Of Presidential Postmasters fluctuate
with the favorable or unfavorabe 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 there
fore no less than So 600. 900 will be required to
pay the salaries of Presidential Postnasters
during the fiscal year ending June 80, 1887. The
amount OF compensation for clerk hire required
during the same period is estimated at S5 $40 000
making the total estimate for this branch of tho
service, including allowances for fuel, rent,
furniture, and miscellaneous items, So S97, ,000".
The First Assistant Postmaster General, in
conclusion. calls the attention Of the failure OF
Congress to provide for the payment by the Gov
ernment Of rent at third-class postofices He
renews the recommendation that provisions be
made for the payment of rent of Offices of that
class, and for the payment Of expenses Of fuel,
light, stationery, and miscellaneous items for
these offices. 1t is also recommended that Jan.
], 1887, be fixed as the limitation of applications
for readjustment Of salaries under the act Of
March 3, 1888.
THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE.
From the annual report of General Superin-
tendent jameson, Of the railway mail service, il
appears that mileage increased during the past
year only 4,O07 miles. The increase in the num-
Der OF pieces OF mail matter handled exclusive
OF registered matter was 42S, ,397 500. In total
distribution of 1915 059 400 pieces tho number
OF errors chargeable to the clerks Of the railway
mail service was but SS7. 7.704, or one error to
each 5'574 pieces handled, being at the rate of
224 errors per clerk per annum. The average
percentage OF mail correctly distributed was
99.9S. This is the highest rate attained since
the establishment OF the service.
The general superintendent recommends that
Congress be asked to empower the Postmaster
General to pay to the widow or minor chill
dren Of any clerk killed while ON duty
Of the grade to which the deceased
belonged at the timo OF his death. The estimate
for special facilities fast mail service) on the
trunk lines for the ensuing year is the same in
amount as the sum set apart for the purpose for
the current fiscal year-namely. S25l. TBS. The
amount of tho estimate for railway postal cars
is 81. 1885, which is an increase OF per cent.
over tho amount appropriated for the current
hsca1 year for roads other than those that are
subsidized. The sum of 81 4,S77 0G0 ia asked for
with which to pay railway postal clerks. This
is an increase OF per cent, over the amount of
the existing appropriation.
The Superintendent strongly advocates the
extension OF the benefits Of the cvil-service law
to the clerical forces of the railway mail service.
THE MoNEY-oRDER BUREAU.
In his annual report TO the Postmaster Gene
raj, Supt. c. f. Mcdonald, of the Money Order
Bureau, points to the growth OF the business
from it's inception in 1866, when there were 766
money-order Offices that issued 81 000, 900 in
ders, down TO tho last fiscal year, when the 1885
Offices issued orders amounting to about $780,
000,000 The fees now aggregate about 81 900 900
per annnm. During the fiscal year 7G7 money
order offices were established and lG discontin-
ued. Since the close Of the fiscal year 303 Offices
have been added and have been discontinued.
The total amount OF payments and repayments
of money orders was Sll7 900, ,205 and the excess
OF payments over issues Sl37, ,2S3. Tho gross
amount of fees received by Postmasters from
the public for the issue of domestic money-orders
was 1923 $50. These figures exhibit n decrease
i'm tho amounts Of orders issued and paid and OF
fees rec eived.
COST OF MAIL TRANSPORTATION.
Second Assistant Postmaster General Knott
has submitted to ,the Postmaster General his
annual report of tho operations of his bureau
during the past fiscal year. 1t appears that the
cost of mail transportation for the fiscal year
ending on June 80, 1885, was For 1851 star
routes, aggrcgatng 232, DID miles i'm length, S.
4lISli star service for the next fiscal year is
Sj,S5O0O0, slightly less than the appropriation
for the current yeas. The reduction effected by
orders i'm this class Of service from April I TO
September 30, 1885, aggregated Sl4SC0G. The
ductious i'm steamboat service effected from
April TO September 80 1886, by discontinuances
aud curtailnents of routes amounted TO S74,255,