St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-07
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
Marked and Gratifying Improve.

-
ment Noted During the Past Year.
The affairs of the postal service show a
marked and gratifying Improvement during
the past year. A particular account of its
transactions and condition is given in the
report of the poStmaster-general, which will
be laid before you. Tue reduction of the
rate of letter postage in 1888 rendering the
postal revenues inadequate to sustain the
expenditure, and business depression con-
rributing, resulted in an excess of cost for
the fiscal year ended June 80, 1885, of eight
and rd millions of dollars; an additional
check upon receipts by doubling the measure
of weight in rating sealed correspondence,
and diminishing one-haf the charge for news
paper carriage was imposed by legislation,
which took effect with the beginning of the
past fiscal year; while the constant demand
Of our terri torial development and growing
population for the extension and Increase of
mail facilities and machinery, neceSstateS
steady annual advance in OUTLAY, and the
careful estimate of the year upon the rates of
expenditure then existing, contemplated the
unavoidable augmentation of the def ;iency
in the last fiscal year by nearly $4,000, 900.
THE ANTICIPATED REVENUE
for the last year failed of realization by about
S64, 900, but proper measures of economy
have so satisf tctorily limited the growth of
expenditure that the total deficiency, in fact,
fell below that of 1855, and at this time the
Increase of revenue is in gaining ration
over the increase of cost, demonstrating the
suficieucy of the present rates of postage
ultimately to sustain the service. Tls is the
more pleasing because our people enjoy now
both cheaper postage, proportionatelv to dis
lance, and vaster and more costly service
than any other upon the globe Retrench-
ment has been effected in the cost of sup
plies, some expenditures unwarranted by law
have ceased. aud the OUTLAWS for mail carriage
bo1y ipa cd fn al al
At the close OF the last fiscal year the expense
of tranSpo tation on star routes stood at an
nual rate of cost less by over S56j, 200 than at
the close OF the previous year, AMI steamboat
and mail messenger service at nearly $780,
700 less. Tie service has been in tae mean
time enlarged and extended by the establish
ment of new Offices increase of routes of
carriage expansion of carrier delivery con-
veuienceS and additions TO the railway mail
facilities in accordance with the growing ext
gences of the country. and the long estab-
ished policy of the government. The post
master general calls attention to the existing
law for
CoMPENsATING RAILROADS
and expresses the opinion that a method may
be devised which will prove more Just to the
carriers aud beneficial to the governments
and the subject appears worthy OF your early
consideration. The differences which arose
during the ear with certain of the ocean
steamship companies have terminated by the
acouiesccnce OF all in the policy Of the gov
eminent, approved by congress in the postal
appropriation at its last session; and the
department now enjoys the utmost service
afforded by all vessels which sail from our
ports UPON either ocean-a service generally
ADEQUATE to the needs of our intercourse.
Petitions have, however, been presented to
the department by numerous merchants and
manufacturers for the establishment of q
direct service to the Argentine rep Iolic. and
for semi-monthy dispatches to the empire of
Brazil; and the object is commended 70 your
consideration. 1t is an obvious duty to pro-
vide the means of postal communication
which our commerce requires, and with pru-
dent forecast Of results, the wise extension
Of it may lead to stimulate intercourse and
become the harbinger of prOhteble traffic,
which will open new avenues for the dspo-
sirion Of the products OF our Industry. The
circumstances of the countries at the far
south OF our continent are 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 communication would
tend to establish. / suggest that. as distin-
guished from grant or subsidy for the mere
benefit Ct any line of trade or travel what
ever outlay may be required to secure addf-
tional postal service necessary and proper
and not otherwise attaiuable, should be re-
garded as within the limit OF legitimate COM