The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-12-09
THE POSTAL SYSTEM.
A Good Showing Made by Postmaster



The report of the postmaster general shows a
most gratifying increase and NJ most efficient
and progressive management - the great bust
ness of that department. The remarkable in
crease in revenues, in the number Of postoffices,
and in the miles of mail interchange furnishes
further evidehce Of the high state of prosperity
which our people are enjoying. New offices
mean new hamlets, new routes mean the ex.
tension of our border settlements and increased
revenues mean an active commerce The post
master general reviews the whole period Of his
administration of the office and brings some of
his statistics down to the month of November
last The postal revenues have increased dur
for the year ending June 30, 1892, is Ss4s,3H less
than the deficiency of the preceding year. The
deficiency of the present fiscal year it is estim;
ated, will be reduced to Sl,5j2,423 which will
not only be extinguished during the next fiscal
year, but a surplus of nearly one mil ion
dollars should then be shown. In these
calculations Ga ion the payments to be made
have not been included. There have been ad-
ded 1880 new mail routes during the year with
a mileage of $3.50 miles, and the total number
of new miles and all trips added during the
year is nearly seventeen millions. The num-
Der of miles of mail journeys added during the
last four years is about seventy-six mill ons,
this addition being twenty-one millions of
miles more than were in operation in the whole
coun ny in 1861
The humber of postofiices has been increased
by 2,7U during tue year; and during the past
four years and up to Oct. 20 last the total in
crease in the number of Offices has been nearly
nine thousand. The number OF free delivery
offices has been nearly doub ed in the past four
years, and tie number of money order offices
mUre than doubled within that time
For the three years ending June 30, 1892, the
postal revenue amOuntedto Slg7,144,39, which
was an increase OF S52283, $50 over the revenu
for the three years ending June 30, 1888 the ia
crease during the last three years
being more than three and q half
times as great the increase during the
three years ending June 30, 1883. No such in
crease as that shown for these three years has
ever previously appeared in the revenues of
the department The postmaster general has
extended to the post Offices in the larger cities
the merit system of promotion, introduced by
my direction into the departments here and it
has resulted there, as i'll the departments, in a
large volume Of work and that a bettered
work.
The president tells how the country is pay
ing heavy tribute to other nations fer the
want of an adequate merchant marine.
No subject, think, more nearly touches the
pride, the power and the prosperity of our
country than this of the development of our
merchant marine upon the sea. II we could
enter into conference with other competitors
and all would agree to withhold government
aid we could perhaps take our chances with the
rest, but our great competitors have established
and maintained their lines by government sub
sid IS until now they have practically excluded
us from participation. In my opiuion no choice
is left to us but to pursue, moderately at least,
tho m lines