The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-12-02
OLD MALL BAGS
The p. M. G. Tells what Bis Department
Has done aud Expects to Do.


OLD MAIL BAGS
The p. M. G. Tells what Bis DepartmOn
Has done aud Expects to Do.
| WASHINGTON, Dee. l.-Postmaster Gen
eraI Villas, in his annual report, says O
the large increase in the deficiency OF the
postal revenues to sustain the cost of the
postal service, that the transactions in the
psst two years have changed from casl
surplus gain of nearly two millions to al
outlay OF over seven millions surplus oi
cost, q change oil more than nine mil
lions in two years.
DIMINISHED REVENUE.
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 expenditures has arisen
principally from the natural increase oil
mails 10 be carried and the natural ex'
tension OF the service, although other
causes have contributed something to both
effects.
The revenue for the last year being lees
than for the preceding, while the expenses
continued to grow nearly as before, ii
might hastily be- inferred that the rate ol
hostage has been reduced too greatly to
Justify the expectation that the service
VIII AGAIN become seli.sustalning. A
more attentive examination gives reason
10 think such deduction to be erroneous.
Tho general depression OF business is held
responsible for the falling oil, and the i'm.
proving condition OF the postal revenue
for the last quarter OF the year is regarded
as an encouraging sign OF business re-
vivai. The cost Of the service for the
year was S50,942,4i5; the appropriation
was 0,l47,0OO.
| THE PLUMS.
Two thousand and twenty-one Offices
were newly established aud $50 discontin'
tinued during the year, leaving at its close
the total number to bs 5l,22O; OF which
2,233 were Presidential and 49,0l9 fourth
class. Both establishments and appoint
ments weye considerably less in number
than during the preceding year. More
new offices were created in the Southern
States than in any other section, as was
the case during the year beforei and it ia
interesting to note that Of these, Virginia
required more than any other State-one
hundred. Iu every State and Territory
the number of postoflices was increased
save only in Nevada, in which disContin-
uauces exceeded new establishments.
The number OF appointments Of post
masters during the year was II ,203, less
by 2,63S than during the year preceding.
The decrease arises from the fact that
comparatively few offices were established
or appointments made duling the inCun.
bepcy Of Postmaster General Hatton,
who left it to the incoming administration
to I'LL vacancies to the number OF two
thousand and upwards occurring during
his period OF service. The number OF re.
movals during the year was $40, exceed
ing by 29T those made in the preceding
twelve months. The vacancies caused
by death were 42l less by 60.
FREE DELIVERY.
The extension OF the free delivery sys.
TEN ia recommended. The postage upon
local mail matter at carrier delivery Of,
fees amounted to So. .2sl, ,72O 10, exceeding
the cost Of the service by Sl,2O5, ,76S 55.
There has been also general increase in
all the usual statistical items because Of
the additional cities taken into the eys'
TEN. The aversge cost per piece for
handling, 20 mills, remains unchanged,
however.
The great labor performed by the car
riers may be conceived from the fact that
IA, ,537 ,4l3 pieces were collected and de-
livered mail, an average to each man oil
400. .907; au increase OF LOS percent over
the preceding years experience. Postal
clerks make an average daily run OF l2O.49
miles. Considering the hazard Of their
employment and their small pay, 1t ia
recommended that the government shall
at least b0 at the cost OF maintaining an Of
fcer to manage the assessment relief
society which the clerks maintain for
themselves.
EEwsPAPERs.
The statistics ofthe stamp division show
decrease in the issue Of all the stamped
paper from which revenue is derived, ex.
cept only newspaper and periodical stamps
and stamped envelopes bearing return re,
quests, corresponding to but not measur'
ing the decrease Of revenue and the de,
preston OF business.
The entire weight OF newspaper and
periodical matter carried, not estimating
the free circulation allowed within the
county OF publication, was in round num-
bers sc. $40 tons, on which postage to the
gross amount OF s., ,02l, l50 20 was collected
more by Sl3l ,567 y, or nearly percent
than during the previous year.
MONEY ORDERS AND POSTAL NOTES.
Nearly 1928, 900 domestic money.orderS
averaging SIS 20 each, yielding an aggre
gate amount of nearly S024,OO0 in fees
were purchased during the year. Posta
notes exceeding 100000 in number
averaging 81 0S each, reaching in tota
] almost $l0,000,000, and producing over
$l52,000 in fees, were issued to buyers
international money-orders to the num-
ber Of almost 1900 were drawn upon
the nineteen different foreign countries
with which mutual interchange had
been put In operation, averaging about
SIS % each, aggregating over 50, $4,000
and returning gross fees exceeding $i4i,'
600.
The public has responded well to the
special delivery system, and It is suggested
whether steps ought not soon be taken tc
expand that system 10 the utmost limit
OF the postal service. Tho question Of for
eign mail compensation Is discussed al
great length. The point that the Belf.sup'
port Of the Postotiice Department ought
not TO be insisted upon at the cost OF the
efficiency Of the service, is argued strongly
Decrease of Cholera.
WARRINGTON, D. O., Dec. Loving t.