Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-10
THIRTY.SIX YEARS AGO.
An Interesting Comparison Made With
Some Old City Post Office Accounts.

In overhauling some old papers at the city
post Office few days ago Mr.. Seymour W. Tul-
lock. the cashier, came across some OF the old
postal accounts, among them one for the quar-
ter ending March 81, 1854, when Mr.. ]. G. Ber-
ret was postmaster. The account for the cor
responding quarter of this year has just been
rendered and the two show some very interest
ing comparisons.
Thus the postal revenues from January 1 to
March 81 1890, amounted to ellis, 1885, O3; postal
revenues from January to March 81. 1854, &c.
935. "a, showing an increase for 1890 of 996
per cent Sale OF stamps, &C., January l to
March 81, 1880. Sll8, 073. so; from January to
March 81, 1854, S3,S33.02; increase, 1850
per cent; unpaid postage collected jan
uary ! to March 81, 1854, S4l2579; pos
tage due stamps sold January / to March
81, 1890, GASP; decrease unpaid postage, S3,-
673.79. Postage on drop letters January / to
March 81, 1890, S2l, 742 IA; from January l to
March 81, 1854, Sl4. II increase, - 953 per cent
Paid for advertising letters, January to March
81, 1890, $500; January to March 81, 1854,
S596l; increase, S27.59. Number of free let
tiers mailed January to March 81, 1854. 708, OIL.
Clerk hire, January ! to March 81. 1890. S47,
5000; January to March 81, 1854, S7,496 So
increase, 53l per cent Miscellaneous expenses,
January to March 81, 1890, %, 1872 Is; January
l to March 81, 1854, s91S75; increase, 2,2l3. 40
24l per cent Postmaster's salary, January
to March 81, 1890, O., $50; January / to March
81, 1854, $500; increase, $780, $50 per cent.
In his letter to the postmaster reporting the
| find OF these old documents and inclosing
the above figures Mr.. Tullock says: From this
il will be that while the postal reve nue. has
increased 996 per cent, sales of stamps z, $50
per cent, postage on drop letters Is, $50 pei
cent, the clerk hire has increased only 53I per
cent, the postmaster's salary $50 per cent and
| the miscellaneous expenses 24l per cent.
The unpaid postage shows a very marked
| decrease, owing to matter now being required
| TO be mostly prepaid, except from foreign coun-
| tries. The advertised list shows but little in
crease, Notwithstanding the enormous increase
| in matter received and the increase OF floating
population.
| in 1854 the clerk hire consumed IS per cent
| OF the postal revenue; for the last quarter onl,
| 39 per cent, and this notwithstanding the de-
| crease in the rates OF postage and the enormous
| increase OF free matter consequent upon the
extension of government postal business which
| is required to be handled by this office while
adding nothing to its revenues.
The ratio Of postmaster's salary to revenu,
| IN 1854 was ~ per cent, at present hardly
| per cent. We're the same ratio Of clerk hire
| now In force the amount available for that pur
pose would have been about Isl, 500 for the
last quarter. instead OF e47, $50, and the post
masters salary would be about S21, 500 pei
snnum, instead of 900, as at present.
| In the account before me the postmaster
reserved q commission varying from 30 PEI
cent to Is per cent upon the revenues OF tn
ONCE and from this commission retained
compensation limited to $500 for the quarter
and from the balance paid his clerks and offic
| expenses. He also received commission o
| 1 per cent upon each free letter..