The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-12-12
ANNUAL POSTAL REPORT.
Various Recommendation Are Made by
the Postmast General.

Various Recommendations Are Made by
the Postmaster General.
WAsHINCToN. Dec. 4.-The postmaster
generals annual report, made public to-
day, shows that the postal deficit of six
millions of dollars is surely disappearing,
Notwithstanding enormous losses by a re-
duction of the postage receipts due to a
discontinuance of the lottery business,
and that the service will probably be self
sustaining on July l, 1893.
The sea postoffice service has become
one of the most important postal depart
ures of the year, realizing the highest ex-
pectations of it's utility and suggesting
still larger possibilities of practical value.
Indemnity for Lost Registered Mail.
There is one measure which would go
far to popularize the registry system, and
that is, to afford a limited indemnity to
senders for lost registered matter. De-
spite the almost absolute security Of the
registry system, there is some hesitation
among the public to patronize it, because
the government assumes no responsibility
for the safe carriage of matter, and fails
TO afford any indemnity for losses.
Postal Telegraph and Telephone.
The postmaster general recommends
this year the adaptation of the telephone,
as well as the telegraph, to the postal sys-
TEN, showing that it is not only a con-
stitutional privilege, but a duty of con-
gress to utilize all the modes of modern
science for quickening the transmission of
intelligence.
At the close of the fiscal year there were
1000 money order offices, and increase of
5SS over last year.
The total number of pCstofiices of all
classes is GA ,329, an increase of 1923; of
this number Z, 9l2 are presidential, an in
crease of 204, and I'll, 3S1 are fourth-class,
an increase of 1, 724.
The casualties in the railway mail SER
vice during the past year have been
greater than usual. TIL total number of
railway postoffice car wrecks was 3l9. In
these there were killed thirteen clerks;
severely injured, sixty-eight; slightly in
jured, eighty-four.
Mr.. Wauamaker describes the pneu-
matic-tube systems of Berlin and London,
and strongly recommends their adoption
in this country.
FREQ Delivery.
The rural free-delivery experiment is on
trial in forty-siX communities. A total in
crease is shown of gross receipts in thirty
nine of the ~forty-six experimental free
delivery offices, amounting to So, 213. 40, and
n total decrease of gross receipts in seven
of the offices amounting to $707. 80. This
leaves u balance of 8 $500. 10 of gross
receipts. This total of excess of gross
receipts over expenditures is divided into
what is due to natural growth and what is
attributable to the free delivery service.
The excess of receipts due to natural
growth is obtained by comparing the gross
4a;.f - 1890 Yyith Ah4ea 90 12nl R4, thn
same period; and the balance, $3.50. so, over
entirely an abnormal increase, is to be at
tributed to the free delivery.
The passage OF a bill is recommended to
entitle all towns of a population between
5000 and not exceeding IL, 1000 to the privi-
lege of free delivery.
The combination of free delivery with
star contract service is capable of great
development through an enlargement Of
the custom that already prevails to some
extent, especially in the far West, where
the distances between settlements are
great.
Postal DsposIto-ies.
The postmaster general argues strenu-
ously for places of deposit for the peoples
savings. In establishing these deposit
cries, due care should be taken to provide
first for the states without savings banks
and for the communities with but few IA
cilities. The department now handles
over one hundred millions annually OF The
peoples money in the money order trans
fers and is thoroughly equipped to tai
charge Of small savings.
Boxes Free at Certain Posto ffices.
He says: II am in favor of free delivery
wherever it can be put into operation ;
but until that is provided for by law ]
would meet the justiflable complaints Of
patrons in the rural districts, who charge
the government with discrimination, by
assigning to each head of u family living
outside Of the free delivery of the office q
free box; and this, in my opinion, will not
require more than 300 boxes as an average
for second and third class offices. At
offices where there is no free delivery l
propose to abolish box rents altogether
One Cent Postage.
To reduce letter postage to a uniform
rate OF l cent means exactly that the de-
partment will lose one-half of this amount
Of receipts. One-half would be $50, 7l6,
084. rs. We nave to face in this problem,
assuming that 1t Is ripe for solution by
1893, a clear loss to the revenue OF not less
than S2l 900, 0J0 under present conditions,
which, if the department were to receive
it's dues in regard to the credits belonging
to it, would be reduced to u deficit of from
$40, coo, GOD to 81 ZOO, 900. One cent post,
age will be successfully demanded in time.
That time is not far off, but it ought not to
be asked for until many improvements
and extensions of the service are provided
for.
More Small Public Buildings.
The postal and business reasons why
some departure In the matter of quarters
for postoffices are necessary are too
many to enumerate. 1t is hard to find con.
venient places for rent; buildings are moi
fire-proof; they have to be rearranged and
furnished oftentimes at the expense OF
the postmaster. The need is small build
ings. wholly for postal use, and erected
under the direction of the postoffice de
partment and left in the custody Of it.
The CIeVelands 60 to Lakewood.
New YORK. Dec. The Cleveland