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


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 lsid before you
The reduction Of the rate OF letter postage in
1883 rendering the postal revenues inadequate
70 sustain the expenditures aud business delsres-
sion also contributing resulted Ii excess OF
ccsS for the fiscal year ending June so, 1885, of
eight and one-thrd millions of dollars. An ad-
dltlonal cheek upon receipts by doubling the
measure OF 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
fiscal year; while the CONSTANT demand of our
territorial development and growing population
for the extension and increase of mail facilities
and machinery necessitate steady annual ad-
vance IN outlay; snd the careful es innate of tho
year upon the rates of expenditure then existing
the deticiercy il the last fiscal year by nearly
two millions Of dollars, the anticipated reve-
nue. for the last year failed of realization by
about S64, 900. but proper measures of economy
have so satisfactorily limited the growth
OF expenditure that the total deficiency,
IN fact. fell below thas of 1855.
gaining ratio over the increase Of cost, demon
strating the suficienc9 of the present rates of
postage ultimately to sustain the service. This
is the mors pleasing because our people enjoy
now both cheaper postage proportionately to
distances, and vaster and more costly service.
than any other upon the globe. RetrenchmenS
expenditures unwarranted by law have ceased,
and the outlaws for mail carriage have been sub
lected to beneficial scrutiny At the close of the
last hscai year the expense OF transportation on
star routes stood at an annual rate of cost less
by over Sa00 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 meaa-
time enlarged and extended by the establish
ment OF new eaices, Increase of routes OF Carri-
age, expansion Of carrier delivery convenieuces,
/ and additions to the railway mail facilities in
! accordance with the growing exigencies of the
! country and the long established policy of the
governments a me master general calls at
railroads, and. expresses the opinion that q
method may be devised which will prove more
just to the carriers and beneficial TO the gov
/ ernment; 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 acquiescence of ali in
the policy Of the government appr we'd by con-
gress in the postal appropriation at it's last ses-
sion; 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-
merous merchants and manufacturers for
the Argentine Republic, and for seml-monthly
dispatches to the empire OF Brazil: and the OBJ
1ect is commended to 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
+; for the disposition Of the products
/ OF our industry. The circumstances of the
/ countries at the far south of our continent are
1 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 70 establish. / suggest that as distil-
guished from 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 and proper, and not
otherwise attainable should be recafded as
within the limit of legitimate compensation for
such seSvice. The extension OF the free delivery
service rs suggested by the postmaster aeneral
has heretofore received my sanction, and it il
2 to be hoped y suitable enactment may soon "a
} ecreed upon. The request for an Approximation
sufficient to enable The Renegxl inspection.Cf
fourth -class ofhces has my appreciation. I re-
new my approval OF the recommendation of the
postmaster general that another assistant be-