The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-11-29
ON BUSINESS PRINCIPLES.
Annual Report Of Postmaste,
General Wanamaker.
THE MAGNIFICENT SHOWING.
Millions of Dollars Saved tho Gov.
crnmcnt last Year by Having n
Practical business Man ut tho
Head Of tho Department.

- SSsaaosSs ~'SAtA"'t ~ iito AZ
port, reviews the legislation OF Congress
for the improvement of the postal gel
vice and dwells at some length uponth
changes for the lstter during the pas
year In the administrative efforts Of tn
Department. In connection with th
last named subject he says: "Over tw,
hundred thousand dollars has beef
saved on the contract for postal cards
which, though they were properly criti
cized at first, were quickly brought VI
to the required standard by the con
tractors. Four hundred thousand dol
lars has been saved on the contract 10,
stamped envelopes. Twohundred thou
sand dollars or more has been sayet
on certain lettings Of contracts for chr
rying the mails and ut the same time The
mail routes have extended over almos
100000 miles OF railway and steam
boat and stage lines. The same number
OF inspectors have treated S7,73G caset
during the year against GG,364 treated
last year, or IN average 1913 per man
this year against 03S last year. The
total number OF cases on hand July /
1890, was 2l,GS7 against 2S,040 on hand
July l, 1890, This means an increase OF
50 per cent in the cases treated and de.
crease OF % per cent in cases on hand.
The anti.lottery legislation has entailed
much extra labor upon the inspector
force but on the other hand the tempta
ton to thieving among employees OF the
department has been much diminished
by the same means. The pnst year has
been made very disagreeable to the
'green goods swindlers."
REVENUES AND INCREASED FACILITIES.
Negotiations with the German author.
tiles looking to tho establishment OF sea
postoilces have been successful. The
gross revenue is nearly S5,0O0,0O0 larger
than it ever was before. Almost 5000
new post0iiices more than in any one
year before have been established upon
the petitions Of communities which have
needed them. A decreasing limit for the
extension Of the free delivery has per-
mitted the employment Of letter carriers
in over fifty towns. Three times as many
sub.stations and stamp agencies, which
soon pay for themselves, were estab-
lished as during the previous year. Over
5000 miles Of railway postoilice service
so.called (where travelling postoflices dis.
tribute the mails for instant dispatch)
have been put on. The 5000 trans.
portation schedules have been ex.
amined and adjusted or extended
where it has been possible. Thirty.six
per cent more of city mails have been
distributed on the trains for instant
dispatch than during the previous year.
The star route mileage has increased
over 100000 miles and the railroad
mileage over 100000. The railway
postal clerks have reduced the number
Of pieces usually sent to the Dead Let
ter Office by 100000. By encouraging
postmasters in free delivery cities to
prepare supplementary directories, and
by general suggestions to the public
through the newspapers to take greater
care in the direction Of matter, the
Dead Letter Office expects a reduction
of its labors by at least one.third. The
Postmaster General says the swiftest
mail ia not lest enough in these days fol
all the nssds .of commerce and social
correspondence.
POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
The conviction steadily grows upon
me that the postoflice should do more
than employ iastmails and stage coaches
and that the electric wires should carry
letters; that the people who pay In
postal rates the cost OF the postal system
have right TO the use Of the posta
plants as u means Of reducing the eos
photographic correspondence and for th'
;nstant transmission OF postal money or
ders.
The postal service has proved itsel
able to manage successfully the tel
egraph business in connection with thu
postal system, and as part OF it. Ii
one form or another the public impera
lively demands cheaper teicgraphy, ant
the Postoiiice Department can supply i
at less cost than any corporation. Th
plan proposed for 9 postal telegraph ii
familiar to the public. ....
SAVINGS BANKS.
The report further says: recommen
that the Postotlice Department be all
thorized to establish postal savings bank
under regulationg formulated by th
Postmaster G eneral. The next question
cons,dered is rs to ''lotter;es and mails,
the report says: The new act OF Congres
concerning lotteries accords with the re
commentators OF my last tannual report
The postal service is the Government
kind hand, protecting and promoting
the correspondence Of its people ant
communication by telegraph.
1tappeara from the report that l4,oI
postmas.ers were removed during tn
past two years and 2G.GS0 appointed il
the same time. The appointments 70
tho past year number II l6S and the re
movals G,274. y
The number Of post Offices at the clos
OF the fiscal year, June 30, 1880, wa
G2,I0l. The number OF new olliceD es
tablished in 1890 wns 1926. The mum
ber of offices enlarged to free delivery II
1890 was IS. -.
The Postmaster General hopes to Sc
the pneumatic tubes in general use. Fl
iavore, wherever practicable, one'story
inexpensive buildings for postotlices
and says to move out OF 5000 rente
room, eaie and ample for tho posta
business into $4,000 building wher
the janitor alone gets more salary tina
the whole OF the rent i'll the forme
place cannot be justified on any busines
principles.
REDUCED POSTAGE.
III the postal revenue arising tror
letter postage could DO set aside for it
proper uses, the millions OF letter wrl1
ers OF this country might quickly be pei
mittcd tocnjoy a reduced taxation O.
letter writing. In point Of fact. there /
clear gain Of nearly $4,000, 900 froI
letter postage. This large profit wit
the annual deficit (Which last yea
amounted 10 $5,7Gs. .S00) appropriate
out ofthe general treasury isall swallow
cd up by the losses on other classes
mail matter carried at less than the COZ
Of distribution and handling. III
amount received from letter postage lat
year was something over SIS. .0QO, ,0N
This sum would be cut exactly in half
one cent postage we're adopted and v
Al