Passaic City record., 1892-12-10
PosTOrFICE AFFAIRS.
Postmaster General Wanamaker
Files His Annual Report.

Ds.uaster General Wanamaker
Files His Annual Report.
Postmaster General Wanamaker summa
rixes the results achieved by his department.
as follows:
Five million dollars added to the gross re-
.vo,,,,a the deficit reduced nearly million,
money order offices increased two-tnlrds or
from 10 O7O to 16 $50; eightv-two clues sup
nlied with free delivery: 27y) new omces es
fahlished. 1853 offices advanced TO the fres-
idential grade 16, 775, 600 miles OF addiuonai
eervico 1890 new mail routes established,
ss.,hroc;,,r $500 miles of new service; ocean
mail service extended. and pneumatic tube
service introduced.
In the last four years 5O51 new mail routes
have been established, traversing 29s69o
miles: the number OF Postoffices has grown
by over $500, the number OF money order
offices over 500, and tne n9moer OF nee me-
delivery Offices has almost doubled. The
new foreign mails service contracted for
applies to eleven lines, comprising, when
conpleted. forty-one ships, necessary TO
make the service contracted for frequent
enough and quick enough to comply with
the terms agreed upon
or his proposition to divide the country
into postal districts. Mr.. Wanamaker says
its adoption can only be a question OF time.
Each district would be put in charge OF
postal supervisor or director, and the reg
mar inspectors of the department should
assist these supervisors, as they might be
needed. Then all detail matters relat-
ing to the establishment and dlscon-
tinuance of postofices, the establish
ment Of stations appointments and remov-
ais. the best utilization of and changes
in routes, the putting on and the taking on
of service. the right Interpretation OF the
regulations, irregularities. and in general,
the whole business conduct of the service,
would be superintended personally by the
the regular inspectors of all the postmastsrs
in the district, who would feel, as never be-
fore that their efforts on behalf of adequate
facilities and economical and enterprising
management would find appreciation.
The district supervisors could act under
rules without reference to the department
at Washington, and without useless delay.
They would be the counselors of the de,
partment, the general means Of commune
cation with it; and the First Assistant Post
master-General should be constituted the
Comptroller or Actuary, to whom the su-
pervisors should report.
New buildings and pneumatic or an
electrical servics Of some kind is sstrenuously
advocated for New York and Chicago and
other large cities, and it is pointed out that
there can be no adequate relief without the
application Of these methods. The postal
telegraph and postal telephone are, OF
course, strenuously advocated as formerly
On the one-cent postage question Mr..
Wanamaker says: The present letter rate
pays actually double the cost, and by this
overpay serves as protective rata to the
department to cover the underpay from
doing an express business for periodicals
and books and carrying advertising sheets
at one cent per pound. that in point OF fact
are nothing more than business circulars
that load the mails enormously. All such
mail is not only carried at a loss OF six cents
a pound, but it interferes materially with
the business of the express and railroad
companies, which are properly carriers of
heavy packages and freight.
Something to take the place OF fractional
currency for the remittance Of small sums.
he says, is very desirable. he urges the
issue of a money postal card OF denomina-
tions of ten cents twenty-five cents, fifty
cents and one dollar, and of the form of the
present small card and exactly similar to
the ordinary postal card on the address side,
and on the reverse side an order on the POST
master of the city addressed for fixed
sum. payable on the signature of the payee
named in the address.