Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-02-06
POSTAL MATTERS.
INFORMATION CONCERNING TIE
P0STOFFICE SYSTEM.

Application and Interest-Rates
Of Postage-Local Information.
Those who at the present day are enjoy
ing the benefcent and almost unlimited
advantages afforded directly and indirectly
by the postal system of the world, can
hardly bring themselves to a comprehen-
sion of what the world would be without
this grand feature and agent of our civiliza.
ton. 1t seems hardly possible that SC
necessary an agency for the welfare and
happiness OF mankind could have had an
existence but for so few recent centuries
yet the rapid strides which have taken
place in the improvement of the service
within the memory Of the present genera
ton, recalls that even fifty years ago the
postal facilities were so crude and limited
that, compared with what we now enioy,
they We're like the primitive ox-cart beside
the lightning railroad trains and palace
drawing-room coach.
The name Postoffice originated in the
use of posts placed at intervals along the
highways of the Roman Empire, where
couriers were stationed in readiness to car
ry dispatches and intelligence between
public officials Of different localities. No
private correspondence or service was for a
long time conducted. The first letter post
appears to have been established in the
HanSe towns, in the thirteenth century. A
line of letter posts soon followed between
Austria and Lombardy, and another con-
Meeting Vienna and Brussels. The de-
scendents of the royal families which es-
tablished these lines still enjoy certain pre-
scrlptiye rights to them, and are recognized
under the present German postal system.
From this vague beginning, the methods of
carrying written communications between
different localities slowly increased and i'm
proved until in the fifteenth century for
elgn post for carrying letters between Lon
don and the continent was established.
THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SYSTEM.
In America the Postoffice was established
by the Colony of Massachusetts, in 1889.
and in the Virginan Colony eighteen
years afterwards. In 1872 the commercial
relations between the Colonies were regard
ed as having become so important that
monthly post was established between
Boston and New York. One of the first
Acts of the Continental Congress was the
establishment of a postal system and
Benjamin Franklin became the first United
States Postmaster-General. Up to lS45,
however the rate Of postage was so high
that letter. writing was limited. and the
missives which were written were per-
haps more frequently transmitted by pri-
vate hand or express, than through Tn
Gle Sans high tariff mail bags. In
that year, what was then called
cheap postage was adopted, and
Immediately the increase in mail matter
became very great, and under subsequent
reduction in rates. and the marvellous in
crease Of population, the postal system has
become, perhaps, the grandest institution
under our Government reaching to every
nook and hamlet, and, between leading
points, carried on lightning special trains
bearing nothing but United States mail
Such a system, so well and efficiently
maintained as at present, is representative
branch of the great unity of our free insti-
tutions, the contemplation of which NAV
well make all who live beneath them and
enjoy their advantages. feel nobly proud
In this connection, glance at the gen
eral postal system of the United States,
the rules and regulations at present in
force, together with the immense volume
of transactions, will be of interest. and TO
those who do not live in cities and towns,
where they can readily apply to Post
masters for specific information, will also
be of much value. The following has been
obtained from Postmaster Il. D. Stephens
and is by him furnished by latest official
sources
ORGANIZATION OF THE PosToFFICE DEPART
NESr.
Postmaster r-General-Wiliam F. Villas.
Wisconsin.
First Assistant er-General-Ad-
liza Il. Stevenson, Illinois.
Second Assistant Postmaster General
A. Leo Knott Maryland.
Third Assistant Postmaster-Ge -General-A.
d. HaZen, Pennsylvania.
Superintendent Money Order System
Charles +. Mcdonald, Massachusetts.
Superintendent Foreign Mails-Nicholas
NJ Bell. Missouri
Superintendent Railway Mail Service
John jameson, Wisconsin.
Assistant Attorney General for the Post.
Office Department-Edwin L. Bryant, Wis
consin.
Auditor-D. McConoille Ohio.
PosToFFIcEs IN THE UNITED STATES
The whole number of postoffices in the
United States is 81 ,252. divided into four
classes, as follows: First, 20; second, 3S2 !;
third, l,7Sl Presidential offices) fourth,
49,0l9; total, 81 ,252. The total number of
postofices in the United States, in 1875,
was 35.547, showing an increase in ten
years of 10, 7o5. In California we have 800
offices, divided into four classes, as follows
First class, 4 second class, 5 third class,
81 total number of Presidential offices. 6l;
fourth class, 93S; total, 999 In the wear
1875 we had in California 731 Offices which
shows an increase of 26S offices in ten
years.
Pennsylvania has the largest number of
postofiices of any State in the Union,
numbering 1894 New York coming next,
numbering 3,157. There are twenty-one
States having a larger number of offices
than California, and twenty-seven Ssates
and Territories having smaller number
The total amount of revenue derived
from all sources for the year ending June
80, 1885, was S42 $50. .S43 SO, divided as fol-
lows: Postage, $40, ,056, ,226 go box rents, 81
095, ,6S3 81 money order business, $i0S,-
933 30; total, $42 5G0,S4 SO; expen-
ditures, S50942,41 "a; total net de-
ficiency, IS, ,3Sl, 81 fl. The total revenue
derived for the year ending June 30, 1888,
was $45, ,50S, ,692 6l; expenditures. s44. .475,-
459 A. total net surplus, 81 0@3,233 Il.
The difference in the pecuniary result of
the service, realized during the two years,
amounts to S9,4l4, S04 5S. The differ nee
is due first to the decrease of revenue
caused chiefly from the diminishment in
the rate OF letter postage from three 10 two
cents upon the half ounce amounting to
S2,9i7, ,s5S IS. Secondly, to an increase OF
the expenditures, caused principally from
the extension of the service, amounting to
S6,466,955 50; total. S9,414, ,So4 5s.
FREE DELIVERY.
The total number of cities ENJOYING the
carrier-delivery service is lis. The mum
Der of carriers employed in the service is
4,35S. The average compensation paid the
carriers is S912 80 per year each. The cost
of the service for the year ending June so
age upon local mail matter at the carrier
delivery offices from which the carriers
are paid) amounted to S5,2sl,721 10, ex.
ceeding the cost of the service by 81 ,295,-
rs A5 The great Labor nerfnrmad hs fha