Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-25

WASHINGTON, November 24.-The an
nual report of First Assistant Postmaster
General Clarkson shows that 2,77O fourth
class postofices were established during the
last fiscal year, as against 1894 established
during the previous year. One thousand
one hundred and forty-seVen postofices were
discontinued during the same time, making
the total number of postofices in operation
on July 1, 1889, $3.50, of which number
1858 were Presidential Offices.
The increase in the whole number of post
Offices in operation at the end of the fiscal
year was 1923 in excess of the previous
year. The whole number of appointments
of postmasters for the year is shown to have
been q, O,O3o, of which 1854 were on resigna-
tions and commissions expired, 1858 on re-
movals, 553 on death of poStmasters, 2,770
on establishment of postofices.
SOME STATISTICS.
Bv the annual adjustment of the salaries
of postmasters, which took effect July 1,
1889, 46 offices of the third class were re-
duced to the fourth class, and 15 Offices of
the fourth class were raised to the third
class, leaving 1862 Presidential offices in
operation on July 1, 1889. The number of
money order Offices IN operation at the close
of the fiscal year was 1858, an increase of
472 for the year. The, number of money
order stations in operation July 1, 1889, was
IA, an increase of IA over the previous
year. The number of postal note offices
in operation at the end of the year was
557.
.rLa ,ovo,1 ,horra &hnk an Tnnn On 1000
there were 401 free delivery postoffices in
operation, an increase of 43 for the year.
In about 45 other Offices the free delivery
service has been established since June 80,
1889. The number of carriers in the service
on July 1, 1889, was 8,257, an increase of
1911 over the previous year. This large in
crease, it is said, is mainly due to the en-
actment of the law limiting the labor of car.
riers to eight hours day. The number of
pieces of mail matter handled by carriers
during the year was 3,0S5, ,sO5, $40, an in
crease of nearly 455, 200, ,O0e pieces. The
amount received for local postage was over
So, 500, 900, an increase for the year Of nearly
$4,000, ,000.E The excess of postage on local
matter over the total cost Of the service was
81, 57S, ,979, an increase over the previous
year of Sj279, SAT.
COST OF FREE DELIVERY.
Frora the date of the establishment of the
free delivery system, July 1, 1868, until
June 80, 1874. the cost of the service is shown
to hive exceeded the receipts from local
postage. Since the latter date, the balance
on the credit side has steadily increased
from year to year. Colonel J. F. Bates
th's Superintendent of the free delivery sys-
telm, has recommended General Clarkson the
extension of thesservice to all places which
have population of 5000, the postofice of
which produces gross revenue for the
previous fiscal year Of at least 5000; the
separation, as far as possible of the delivery
and collection service, and that class to be
known as collectors" be created to perform
collection service only; that carriers who
have become disabled in line of duty be paid
their legal salary for a stated period after
the incurrence of their disability, out of the
regular appropriation for the service.
The gross receipts of the 1888 Presidential
Offices for the year was $41, 754, ,090, which is
an increase of 8.5 per cent for the year. The
aggregate of the salaries of Presidential
postmasters for the year was 81, ,429, 100,
representing an increase of 5.5 per cent. The
aggregate OF the estimates for compensation
OF postmasters, clerks in postofices, rents,
light. fuel, etc.. for Presidential Offices is
$22, ,967, 500, an increase of 81, 1,237, APO as
compared with the previous year.