The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-12-04
PosToFFICE DEPARTMENT.

The report of the Postm aster General
shows a marked increase of business III
every branch of the postal service. The
number of postof6ces on July 1, 1888,
was 81 376, an Increase of 6,l24 in the
| three years and of 2 2l9 for the last
| fiscal year. The latter mentioned in
crease is classified as follows: New
England States, 5; Middle States, $50;
Southern States and Indian Territory,
| 406; the States and Territories of the
Pacific Coast, 100; the ten States and
Territories of the west and northwest,
435; District CT Columbia, 2; total 2, 219.
The free delivery offices have increased
from 189 in the fiscal year ended June
30, 1887, to 358 in the ended June 3d.
1888. In the railway mail service, there
has been an increase in one year of 1853
routes, and in the number of miles
travelled per annum, an increase of
100. 715 OH, Ali The estimated increase
of railroad service for the year is 600
miles, but the amount of new railroad
service actually put on was 1,275, 450
miles. The volume of business in the
money order division, including transac-
tons in postal notes. reached the sum
of upwards of S143 600, 0C0 for the year.
During the past year parcel post con-
ventions have been concluded with
Barbados, the Bohamas, British Hon
duras and Mexico, and fare now
under negotiation with all the
States. The increase of correspondence
with foreign countries during the past
three years is gratifying, and is espeoi-
ally notable and exceptional with Cen
trail and South American States. and
Movioo ha ~ ~
mail matter exchanged with those
countries Is commercial in its charac-
ter, this increase is evidence of the i'm
proved business relations with them.
The practical operation of the parce
post conventions, so far as negotiated,
has served to fulfil the most favorable
predictions as to their benefits. In Janu-
airy last a general post convention
was negotiated with the Dominion
of Canada, which went into operation
on March LIST, and which practically
makes one postal territory of the
United States and Canada. Cnder it,
merchandise parcels may now be trans
mittedIthrough the mails at fourth-class
rates of postage. tits not possible here
to touch even the leading heads of the
great postal establishment, to illustrate
the enormous and rapid growth of its
business and the needs for legislative
readjustment of much of its machinery
that it has outgrown. For these aud
valuable recommendations of the
Postmaster General, attention is
earnestly invited to his report.
a department whose revenues have in
creased from $40, 772 600, in 1870 to $751;
700, 900 in 1888, despite the reductions of
postage which have enormously re
duoed the rates of revenue while greatly
increasing its business. demands the
careful consideration of the Congress,
as to all matters suggested by those
familiar with its operations, and which
are calculated to increase its efficiency
and usefulness. A bill proposed by the
Postmaster was introduced at
the last session of Congress, by which
a uniform standard in the amount of
gross receipts would Tx the right of
community to a public building to be
erected by the government for post
office purposes. 1t was demonstrated
that aside from the public convenience
and the promotion of harmony among