The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-12-09
THE PCSTGEFTCES

GRATIFYING IMPROVEMENT.
The affairs Of the postal service snow marked
and gratifying i1Irr1v e1nant during the past
year. particular account Of its transactions
ard condition is given IL tie report nf the post
master general, which Will be laid before you
The reduction . the rae OF letter postage in
1855 rendering he postal revenues Inadequate
- eHlssaIn the expenditures aud business det res
SION also eonsrihutlnG resulted IA an excess OF
c; Tor the fiscal year e. Ing June 50. lSS5, II
eight and one-tilrd millions Of dollars. An ad-
dItlonal cheek upon receipts by doubling the
measure CT weight IN ing sealed correspond
ence tGd diminishing OG1-half the charge TOR
newspaper carriage MAS imposed ~ legislation.
which took effect with the beginning OF The past
fiscal YEAR, while the constant demand OF our
territorial Developments and growing population
for the extension AM increase Of mail facilities
and machinery necessltate a steady annual ad-
vance in outlay: and the careful es innate Of the
year upon the rates Of expenditure then existing
concentrated the unavoidable auginen alton OF
the d hciencS IL the last fiscal year by nearly
TWO iGlllons OF dollars, the anticipated reVe-
nue. Tor ne las. year failed OF realization by
about SCI, coo, bat proper measures or economy
ASye SO SatlStaetorily limited the sr with
i'll tac, fell below tn2E of 1889.
and at this time the increase II revenue is in
gaming ratio over the increase OF cost, demon
stratlng tie su1iclen"Y OF tile present rates o /
postage ultimately 10 sustain the service. This
Is the mGrd pressing because cur people enjoy
now both cheaper rostaga proportiouately to
distances, and vaster ana more costly service.
tiian 2ny other upon the elobe. RetrSnchmen5
has been effected i'll the cost of supplies: some
expenditures uuwarrSuted by Ian have ceased
and the outlaws for mail carriage have been sub
Jected TO beneficial scrutiny. At the close OF the,
last fiscal year the expense OF transportation on
star rouses stood at an annual rate Of cost less
cyoVer $4,000 than at the close OF the previous
wear. aud steamboat and mail service at nearly
&2Gr,0Go less. The service has been in the lnea1-
time enlarged and extended by the establish
nlent % aeW Caiees, Increase OF routes OF carri-
2Se, EXPANSION ct carrier delivery onycniences.
and additions TO the railway mail facilities in
accordance with he growing eXigencies OF the
country and the long established policy of the
government. The postn master general calls at
tention 10 the existing law for compromising
! railroads, and Expresses the opinion that a
method may be devised which will prove more
just 10 the carriers and beneficial to the gov
eTnment. and the subject appears worthy of
your early consideration.
THE OCEAN SERVICE.
The differences which arose during the year
with certain Of the ocean steamship companies
have terminated by the acQuiescenGe of ali i'll
the policy OF the government apr we'd by con-
gress in the postal appropriation at its last ses-
sion: and the department now enjoys the ut
most service aforded by all vessels which sail
from our ports upon either ocean. A sery-
ice generally adequate to the needs eft
our Intercourse Petitions have. however,
been presented to the department. by nu-
/ merous merchants and manufacturers for
the establishment of a direct service to
the ArSentine Republic, and for eml-monthly
dispatches to the empire OF Brazil: aud the OBJ
1ect Is comnlen,sod 10 Your consideration. 1t is
an obvious duty to provide the means of postal
communication which our commerce requires,
and, with prudent forecast of results. the wise
extension of 1t NAV lead to stimulated inter
course and become the harhinger of profitable
traffic which will open new avenues
tor the disposition of the products
of our industry. The circumstances of the
countries at the far south of continent arc
such as to invite our enterprise and afford the
promise of sufficient advantages to justify an
unusual EFFORT TO bring about the closer relations
which greater freedom of commuuicat ion would
. tena 10 establish. l suggest that as dstir-
guished from u grant Or subsidy FOR the mere
benefit of any line OF trade or travel, whatever
OUTLAY may be required to secure additional
postal services necessary aud proper, and not
otherwise attaiuable sholld, be regarded as
within the limit OF legitimate ccrupensaliGn for
such service. The extension of the free delivery
service, AS suggested by the POSTMASTER general
has heretofore received my sanction, and it is
to be hoped u suitable enactment may soon be
sGreed upon. The request for an appropriation
sufficient TO enaoie The general inspection of
four;h-ciasa oshces has my appreciation. 1 re-
new nay approval Of the Recommendation of the
postmaster general that another assistant be-