The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-12-17
TIE POsToFFICEs.

GRATIFYING IMPROVEMENT.
The affairs of the postal service show marked
and gratifying improvement during the past
year. particular account of its transactions
and condition is given in the report of the post
master general which will be laid before you
The reduction OF the rate of letter postage in
1883 rendering the postal revenues Inadequate
to sustain the expenditures and business depres-
sion also contributing resulted IN an excess of
cost for the fiscal year ending June 30 1885 of
eight and one-third millions of dollars An nd
ditional check upon receipts by doubling the
measure or weight in rating sealed correspond
ence and diminishing one-half the charge for
newspaper carriage was imposed by legislation
which took effect with the beginning of the past
nscal year; while the constant demand of our
territorial development and growing population
for the extension and increase of mail facilities
and machinery necessitate a steady annual ad-
vance IN outlay; and the careful estimate OF the
year upon the rates Of expenditure theN existing
contemplated the unavoidable augmentation OF
the deficiency II the last fsca, year by nearly
two millions OF .oiiare the anticipated reye-
nue. for the last year failed of realization by
about S64, ,OO0. but proper measures OF economy
have hs 50 satisfactorily limited the growth
In fact, fell below that Of 1888,
and at this time the increase Of revenue is in
gaming ratio over the increase Of cost, demon
strat1ng the sufhcienoy of the present rates of
postage ultimately to sustain the service This
Is the more pleasing because our people enjoy
now both cheaper postage proportionately to
distances, and vaster and more costly service,
than any other upon the globe. Retrenchment
has been effected in the cost Of supplies: somo
expenditures unwarranted by law have ceased,
and the OUTLAWS for mail carriage have been sub
sected to beneficial scrutiny. At the close Of the
last fiscal year the expense of transportation on
star routes stood at an annual rate Of cost less
by over S56O 600 than at the close OF the previous
year, and steamboat and mail service at nearly
$500, 900 less. The service has been In the mean
time enlarged and extended by the establish
ment OF new oifces, increase of routes OF carrt-
age, expansion of carrier delivery conveniences
and additions to the railway mail facilities in
accordance with the growing exigencies of the
country and the long established policy Of the
government. The postmaster general calls at
tention to the existing law for compensa.ing
railroads, and expresses the opinion that q
method may be devised which will prove more
jnss to the carriers and beneficial to the gov
ernment; and the subject appears worthy Of
your early consideration
THE OCEAN SERVICE.
Tlrs differences which arose during the wear
with certain OF the ocean steamship companies
nave terminated by the acquiescence Of all in
the pollcy OF the government appr we'd by con-
gress in the postal appropriation at its last ses-
son; and the department now enjoys the ut
most service Afforded by all vessels which sail
from our ports upon either ocean A serv-
Ice generally adequate to the needs OF
our intercourse. Petitions have, however,
been presented to the department. by nu-
merons me merchants 1 and manufacS,rers for
the establishment of o direct Aervice to
the Argentine Republic, and for semi-monthly
dispatches to the empire Of Brazil: and the OBJ
an obvious duty to provide the means OF postal
communication which our commerce requires
and. with prudent forecast of RESULTS the wise
extension on, Of it. may lead to stimulated inter
tIafiic which will open new avenues
for the disposition Of the products
OF our industry. Tho circumstances OF tie
countries at the far south of our continent are
such as to invite our enterprise and afford tia
promise of sufficient advantages to Justify an
unusual effort to bring about the closer relations