Evening journal., 1888-11-15
cosr OF THE POSTAL SERVICE.


The animal report of the Third Assis-
tant Postmaster General shows that the
total cost of the postal service for the
last fiscal year. inclusive of amount
earned by thu subsidized Pacific railroad
companies for mail transportation, was
SOS, APPS. 004 The postal and money order
receipts amounted to $50, 695. 176 leav-
ing deficiency of S5.430, e2S This de-
ficiency is owing mainly. it is said, to the
great extension Of the free.delivery ser
vice under modification OF the old law
and the increase OF the railway mail
transportation. The special delivery sys-
tenn has grown considerably since the re-
port Of the previous year; so has the reg
istry business. The total number of
pieces Of registered matter transmitted
during the year was 10, 667 1852 Of special
delivery matter the number Of pieces
transmitted was 434. 400. The total
number Of articles Of the various kinds
of stamped paper emitted was 3 700, $685.
40 representing $50 636, 32l
Statistics are given showing that in
the cheapness of postage the number Of
post Offices, extent of mail routes, miles
OF mail service performed, postal revenue
and postal expenditure. and number of
letters and ether pieces of mail matter
transmitted in tho mails, the United
States is now conspicuously ahead OF
every other nation in the world The
statistics Of letters, etc. transmitted
during the year, which are the first accu-
rate statistics Of the character ever pub
lished by the department. are as follows
Letters mailed /, 100. 500, 900 postal cards
mailed 372, 200, 600; newspapers and
periodicals mailed ,0S3. 100, 600: pieces
of third and fourth-class matter mailed
BIZ 900, 000 total, 3.57s. 600, 600. The
number Of pieces mailed per capita, upon
the basis Of population shown BY the last
census, is IL
The third assistant postmaster general
makes, among others, the following
recommendations That in some of the
larger cities the pneumatic tube or some
equivalent underground system Of trans
porting the mails be adopted that the
present contract for lettersheet
envelopes be rsscinded that all postage
stamps, stamped envelopes and other
stamped paper issued by the department
be manufactured by the bureau Of en-
Craving and printing; that as a substi-
tute for the franklng privilege members
of Congress have an annual allowance
in money for the purchase Of postage
stamps with which to pay postage on
speeches and other official matter sent
in the mails, and that If the rate of post
age on letters be reduced to one cent. as
has already heen proposed in Congress,
there be only two classes Of mail matter
recognized, namely, letters and all other
matter comprshended in the third and
fourth classes, postage on which shall be
uniform At one cent for every two ounces,
and newspapers and periodicals at the
rate now fixed-one cent pound
The annual report of DR.. c. f. Mac
donald, superintendent of the money
order system, Postoflice Department.
shows that $3.50, POI domestic money
orders were issued during the year, rep
resenting $li9 $40. 064-.an increase for
the year OF per cent The fees collected
on the same amounted to $94G 96l. The
represented by postal notes issued $l2.-
IA. 459--an increase of 3 per cent The
number Of international money orders
issued was $50, 636 representing $ll 293.-
oI0--an increase Of nearly % per cent
The number Of international orders re-
ceiyed and paid was 236, 992, representing
III, 1863, $50 The net profit on the bnsi
ness Of the Office OF the year was Sl3. DIG
The recommendation is made that legs.
lation be requested increasing the maxi
mum amount of single international
money order from 500 to 800, in order
to produce uniformity in respect Of the
maximum amount between domestic and
International orders, and TO reduce ex.
penses by making one order take the
place Of two.