Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-22
AMERICA TO THE FRONT
OUR POSTAL SYSTEM THE BEST
IN THE WORLD.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21.--The Postmas-
ter Generals report is very full and
complete. The following are extracts
from it:
The International Bureau OF the Universal
Po.tal Usl n has recently collected and pub
ished statistics OF postal adm inistration by
most of the civilized counties of tho earth.
Ihese dr not extend to a later period than
the year 1884, since when every feature of our
service has expanded in the rapid ratio Of
our national growth: yet they disclose with
suillcient completeness the interesting fact
that 10 lmmensity and extent of means. OF eX-
pentltures, OF peri FINANCES and results, the
postal machinery of the United states ex-
ceeds-ln some points far eXceeds-that OF any
other nation on the globe.
LENGTH OF RAILWAYS.
The entire length of all railways employed
by me United states nearly equals the COM
blned extent OF those Of all other countries of
the world, while the other post routes more
than quadruple tho total of any single peopla
bealdes; and, BY the latest reports received,
the mileage last year Of our mail transporta-
ton exceeded by more than l25.00,O0o miles
the service rendered to any other govern
ment. or post offices no other n alton has one
third our number; marked feature OF ad-
vantage to our people and Of liberaliy
more money than any other To
maintain postal facilities. and. IL the
postal telegraph service be excluded from the
reckoning, we derive greater revenue. An
the same time, no service Is maintained at
more economy of expenditure for results. No
statistical account ismai tanned In the United
States OF the quantity. in weight or number oe
pieces, OF our domestic mails; but, from the
number OF postal cards. stamps. and pieces OF
stamped paper sold t1 the public, it may ba
unquestIonably affirmed that the mai matter
handled by our postal service greatly out
weighs and outnumDers that of any other
postal system. Trustworthy estimates place
the number of letters mailed during
last year at l0o, 900 more than
flta
leading letter-writlng nation, and near that
number more than were mailed In Germany.
France and Austria combined. Excluding
Germ any, II is thought all other postal uniom
countries do not together carry many
newspapers in their mails as did ours last
year. OF all pieces OF matter mailed, tho
proportion Co each inhabitant Of the United
state, is estimated at 66, OF Great Britain at
81, of Germany at 10.
NUMBER OF POST OFFICES.
On Oct. ! the total number Of
post offices mad become a. l57. OF which 5i,SGa
were OF the fourth class ami 2,29l Presidentlal3
the latter standing IS in the first, 400 in the
second. an l,S d in the third class. Adding
the stations, the total number was 54,654. On
the same date the number Of money order
Offices and eta ions reached 1888.
PosTMAsTERS AND LETTER CARRIERS.
The appointments of postmas ers during tina
last hsca year numbered altogether 22,747, OF
which 9,1l2 were M made To Oil vaca sie Occa i
stoned by resignatous or expired commits
~ 80
on the establishing n Of new offices and 9,56d
upon removals.
OF carriers there was an increase of 4s3.
giving total number of 4,s4l. Their COST
rose by the amount OF s826 1854 IS. or S.lS per
cent, to q total suIn OF $4,8l2,306 20.
The number OF pieces OF mail matter, count
ing collections and deliveries, handled by tha
carriers during the year was l,g49 $40 500. an
increase over the previous year OF 2O4 0S3, 1856,
or ll.75 per cent, while the carriers increased
but II 0s per cent. In number.
The amount OF postage on local m after Is
reported at S6,sG9.2i2 81, an increase Of
S55S,5l9 n, or 10 81 per cent. on the previouz
year; while the excess of such postage over
the cost OF the fcvice was 3l.526.e36 27. a gain
OF 1892, 1855 70, or 1893 per cent.
Az only nineteen Offices the receipts for
local postage exceeded the cost OF this SER,
vice; but at tho e the excess was sufficient to-
overbalance the deficiency of all the rest bY
the amount stated.
MONEY ORDERS.
During the past year there were issued
7.940,802 domestic money orders, amounting
to nearly $Il4, 100000; $685. postal notes,
amounting 10 $tl71S,0O0, and 498,423 inter-
national ordsrs, aggiegatiug s ,l7s.7s6 FL.
besides the payment OF foreign orders, reach-
ing a total OF almost 81, ,000. 600. The entIra
amount OF fees received was$ ,506 3S, less
by 81, So9 90 than the previous year.
IL Is a gratifying proof OF the efficieucy
which characterlzes the management of this.
business that but lfty-two money orders, or4
In the tatiO of one 10 l52,5ls were reported
OF these part proved on examination to have
been properly paid, and for part the ind
spectors recovered the money.
MAIL TRANSPORTATION AND THE CUBAN
SERVICE.
The cost for mail transportation for last
year was y2e. 073, ,225 50. There ought to be n
still further re iuction in the lime between
Washing and Tampa, 30 that ARRIVAL Au
tie latter place OF the mail train should nOg
occur later than O'Clock IN the afternoon OF
the second day from Sew York. enabling tho
mali steamer to reach Havana before runse0
of the following dav. 1t 10 believed this may
be soon Effected Unless II shall be. continue
ance Of this appropriation Is OF questionable
eXpediencY.
A contract has been made for service be-
tween Tampa. Key West and Havana by the
new steamer MascOtte. aud n con OrI OF equal
excellence, from aug. /, 1886, To june 30, 1887.
TO be rendered three times week between
". and April 30. and twice week during
the residue Of the year, on schedules TO be
liked by the department, carrying all mAila
both ways for sG,4j0.
STAR ROUTES.
On July /, 1886. here were 1896 star routes,
aggrogating la total lengtp 2Si VI miles. ad
the annual rate OF charge or bus $500 ,225 28.
At the close OF the fscal year there wer0
S7l lines OF railway post offices. an increase Of
l3; OF clerks in the service, 1913, an increase
OF 1884: of cars and apartment. 9, 20t, an in
crease OF 90 The to al daily distance run by
clerks was l23.7i5 miles, an Increase Of 24l6.
upon ilO,G72 miles Of railroad, an increase OF
.. Ibg, aud the entire NUMBER or mles OF SER
vice performed during ne year by the clerks
was 100, 80 $40, gain OF ,B22, ITO as compared
with the preceding year. The number OF
pieces OF dinary ma handled by these
clerks rose by 38l,4 075 to the large dgures
Of 6,32 J,52l.4I5.
WEIGHT or FOREIGN MAILS.
The gross weight OF the mails sent out by
sea was l.3005ol.1l grams, or 2SB7,7SI
pounds; OF which the letter ana post card
mail as s28 "a 1893 grams, or 500, 1913 pounds,
and OF prints M other matter l,0i3,73 733,77d
grams. or 1891. 58] pounds. The increase in
tine total weight Of m Ills 30 carried. con-
trAsted with the previous year was 73.65l,9s4
grams. or about i62, 400 pounds, a gain of over
per cent
POST OFFICE EXPENDITURES.
OF the total appr ppristlons for the year.
amounting 10 So, lsj. .84z IL, the entire outlay
aetualiy made and estimated 10 be ma 10, IL
but tjO,s39,Bs0 iB. leaving a balance TO be
eventually covered into the Treasury OF
1884. .30l IS.
DEAD LETTERS.
The total number, bO87 8. Of pieces Of NAH
m after treated ia The dead letter Office during
the year; IA Increase since tue previous year
OF per cent.
Letters and parcels were delivered 20 tho
proper parties unopened 20 tue nun per %
lSB, ,li3; aud 353379 foreign pieces we're re-
turned % the country Of origin.
or the letters opened. about oue-half were
destroyed az undsllEerabic aud yalae ess.and
the residue delivered 0r hied 10 await reciA-
nation. Letters 10 the numDer OF ~. 49,. con-
thlning money agKfesatinf fzi.732 besidsa