Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-11-25
Foreign Mail Service.


WASHINGTON, Oct 29.-The Hon, Nicho-
las M. Bell, superintendent of foreign
mails has submitted his report to the
postmaster general showing the opera
tlons of that Office during the last fiscal
year. In the report the superintendent
says that the year has been characterized
by great deal of discussion relative to
compromising American steamship COM
pan-es for the conveyance of United
states mails to foreign countries. The
american steamship companies de-
chnsd to convey the mails after
the lst of August, 1885. for the
"noie amounS of the sea and inland
postage upon the grounds of inadequate
| compensation, but Congress, having fail
co 10 increase the rate of pay, the com
panles have all rendered their ships and
such oi them as can be used to advantage
Tor expedlting the mails have been ac-
cepted. The total weight of letters dis
patched to foreign countries by sea was
ooo,I9o pounds, and of paper 1857. 5S3
pounds. The estimated total number of
letters sent to foreign countries was 81
oO2,S93, and 3O,405,S47 were received >
47,o49,064 newspapers were sent and
26,70O, $50 were received.
The cost of the sea transportation ser
vice during the year was 1857 ,443. as
against S35l,9O3 last year. The estimates
Tor the service next year are as follows;
The transportation of mails. calculated
on the oasis of paying the full sea and
lnlano postage Tor conveyance of United
otates mails transported by United States
vessels, S365,O00: balances due foreign
countries, 100000; total. S465 600 Dnr-
ing the year the kingdom of Siam. the
tot o.
public of Bolivia were admitted to the
universal postage union. The report pre-
sents some interesting statistics. compar-
ing the postal service of the different
countries included in the union.
Com pairing the area of the country with
the number of postofflces 1t appears that
Switzerland stands first with one post
Office to every ga square miles. while the
! United States takes twelfth place with
one office to every 7O.2 miles. On the
basis of population, Canada heads the
list with one office to every 633 inhabit-
ants, Switzerland second with one to
every 964 and the United States third
with one to every 1902 inhabitants. The
| United States ranks first in the length of
railway service with III, $40 miles, and
Germany second with 22,111 miles. The
| United States heads the list of countries
In length of postal routes other than over
railways; the percentage Of railway routes
as compared with other routes, the num-
| Der of miles Of annual railway transpor-
tatlon and the number of miles of trans
portation on all other routes. The Unit
ed States spent more for salaries of post
| office employees than any other country,
but exhibits a larger deficiency
in revenue as compared with expen-
ditures. A careful estimate of the
mail matter of all kinds exchang-
ed throughout the world IN one day
places the total at IL 100000, or about
five pieces for every human being. The
total number of packages and articles of
value conveyed throughout the globe in
1884 was about 41O,OOO,0OO and the total
value of money orders and other declared
articles of value was S11, 594 ,646. Super
intendeRt Bell recommends that the com
pensation to mail carrying steamers to
Great Britain be regulated in accordance
with their speed.