The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-11-26

SyHOpSIS OF 1OStnaSter-OeneruI tUaS All
nual RepOrt-The Uaited States Leads
the Nations in Postal Facilities-Nearly
$4,000 Changes in Postmasters.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22-The report of
Postmaster General Villas for the fiscal
mensity and extent of means, of eXpen-
ditures, of performances and results, the
postal machinery of the United States
exceeds-in some points far exceeds
that of any other nation on the
globe. The entire length of all railways
employed by the United States nearly
equals the combined extent of those of all
other countries of the world, while the
other post routes more than quadruple the
total of any single people besides; and the
mileage last year of our mail transportation
exceeded by more than 125,0000o0 miles
the service rendered to any other Govern
ment OF post-ofices no other ma
ton has one-third our number. 1t is esti-
mated that 100,000,000 more letters were
mailed in the United States last year than
in Great Britain, and nearly that number
more than were mailed in Germany, France
and Austria combined. The proportion to
each inhabitant is estimated in the United
States at siXty-siX, Great Britain fifty
seven, Germany nineteen.
At the close of the fiscal year the total
number of post-offices was 1854, besides
497 branch Offices. OF these Z, PA were Pres
idential offices, divided as follows: First
class, Is; second-class, 400; third-class,
1,769. In the fourth-class there were 81,
$40. Among all the Offices 1895 were
money-order offices, besides % money-order
stations. Concerning appointments the re-
port says:
1.-THE appointment of postmasters during the
last fiscal year numbered altogether 29747, OF
which 9,112 were made to fill vacancies occa-
stoned by designations or expired commissions,
5S7 to vacancies caused by DEATH 8, 1872 on the
establishment of new offices, and 1866 upon re-
movals. OF the total number of appointments,
1899 were made by yourself the vacancies hay
ing occurred from the following causes, respect
ively-viz: BY expiration of commission, 46S;
by resignation, 253; by death, "a; by removals
or suspensions, 247, and to Offices which had
been assigned from the fourth to the third
class, A.
During the year the free-delivery service
was extended to Aurora, ILL.,; Duluth,
Mimi, and Newport, Ky. The total num-
Der of carriers was 4,S40, an increase of 4S3.
The total cost of this branch of the service
was $4,312,305, an increase of 1926, 354 over
the previous year The work performed by
the carriers is summarized as follows:
1.-THE number of pieces of mail matter, count
ing collections and deliveries, handled by the
carriers during the year 1919, $50, 500, in
crease over the previous year of 2oi,9S3, 1856, or
11.75 per cent, while the carriers increased but
11.08 per cent in number"
The money-order system has been ex-
tended to 81 additional offices during the
year, while 10 were dropped from the list.
During the year there were issued 1915, 302
domestic orders, amounting to nearly S1l4,
100000; 1898, 42S postal notes, amounting to
$1, 71S000, and 493, 423 international orders,
aggregating SITS, 1881, besides the pay
ment Of foreign orders, reaching a total of
almost $4,0O0,009. The entire amount of
fees received was 1874, 506.3S, less by g.
$1,000 than the previous year.
The act establishing the special-delivery
system limited its privileges to 555 post
offices. During the full year of its use-to
September 80, 1851, 11S,S letters were
received for special delivery at these offices.
Taking the full year, the total amount of
fees received from this source was $S4, 1852,
leaving a gross profit to the Governments of
ST. 97. From the enlarged system, OK
tending the privileges of the act to all post
offices and all mailable matter, the Post
master-General expects great results.
The total revenues Of the department for
the year were S43,94S, 422, and the excess of
cost over revenue IS, 254, 157. OF the total
appropriations for the year, amounting to
to $54, 1S3, 642 IA, for the entire outlay
actually made and estimated to be made is
but $50, $3.50, 340.4 6, leaving a balance to be
eventually covered into the treasury of
So, 344, 301.6S
Letter-sheet envelopes, the report says,
have been long authorized, but no real at
tempt was made to introduce them until
last October, when a contract was made
with the owner of a patent, by which the
department receives them without cost and
pays for only what it sells. SO far the en-
velope appears to find popular favor, but
the Postmaster General thinks longer ex-
pertinent desirable before recommending
the purchase of the patent and the manu-
facture by the Government.
The dead-letter office during the year
handled 5,023, 745 pieces of mail matter, of
which number 1856, 44S were delivered Tin
opened to the proper parties and 366, 319
foreign pieces were returned to the c0un-
try of origin. OF those opened about one
half were destroyed as unbelievable or
yalueless Letters to the number of H. 1873,
containing money aggregating 81, 1872,
besides 1905 letters containing drafts,
checks or other instruments for the pay
ment of money of the total face value of
81, 121, 154 "a, were delivered to the owners.
The revenue derived from dead letters
which could not be restored to owners, and
from auction sale of unclaimed parcels,
amounted to SS,879.29.
Post-ofices were reported robbed to the
number of 4S7 and 1863 were burned: &c
postal cars were burned or wrecked, q
mail stages and mail passengers were
robbed, 81 pouches were lost, and 127 re-
ported stolen or injured The records of
the inspectors show the following facts:
''For violation of postal laws 600 persons were
arrested of whom 243 were in the service and
All were not; 10 were postmasters, assistants
or clerks, IA railway postal clerks, "a letter
carriers, % mai-carriers, and II of various en-
ployment. Seventy-nine burglars and 81 former
postmasters are included among the arrests
outside of the service. The State courts took
jurisdiction of 81 cases and the Federal courts
of Cos. OF the latter, convictions followed in
214 acquittals in g. trial waits in 295 and the
residue were dismissed or failed of Indictment
FrightfuI Result of the Late Storm.
CtHTCACn Nov % Tho cfaaTnpT Mania