The McCook tribune., 1892-12-09
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
Gratifying Reports.

The report of the postmaster-general
shows a most gratifying increase and a
most efficient and progressive manage
ment of the great business of that depart
ment. The remarkable increase in rev.
enues, in the number of postofficeS and In
the miles of mail interchange, furnishes
another evidence of the high state Of
prosperity which our people are enjoying.
New offices mean new hamlets and towns,
new routes mean the extension of our bor-
der settlements, and increased revenues
mean active commerce. The postmaster
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 during the last year nearly
June so, 1892, is ss4s, 81 less than the de-
ficiency of the preceding year. The de-
fciency of the present fiscal year, it is
estimated, will be reduced to 81, 752, ,423,
which will not only be extinguished dur
ing the next fiscal year, but surplus of
nearly 81, 900, 900 should then be shown.
The number of postoffices has been in
creased by 2,7eo during the, year; and dur,
ing the past four years and up to Oct: 90
last, the total increase in the number of Of
fees has been nearly 1000 The number
Of free delivery Offices has been nearly
doubled in the past four years and the
number Of money order Offices more than
doubled in that time.
For three years ending June 30, 1892. the
postage revenues amounted to slW, ~. 359,
which was an increase of$52, ,263, $50 over the
revenue for the three years ending June
80, 1885, the increase during the last three
years being more than three and half
times great as the increase during the
year ending June 80, 1888.
The postmaster general has extended to
the postofhces in the larger cities, the
merit system Of promotion, introduced by
my direction, into the departments here,
nnents, in 9 large volume Of work, and
that better done.
Our Merchant Marine.
An, increasing torrent Of American
travel to Europe has contributed vast
sum annually to the dividends of foreign
ship owners. The balance of trade shown
by the books Of our custom houses has
been largely reduced, and in many years,
altogether extinguished by this
constant drain. In the year 1892
only 1913 per cent of our imports
were brought in American ships. A
prosss anaass @ Re9y tod
hagun by the law Of Maroh 8, 1891. Under
this law contracts have been made by the
postmaster general for eleven mail
routes, the expenditure involved by these
contracts for tho next fiscal year
opportunities s954. 1888. AS one of the
good results reached sixteen American
ipi II 4 % ,aa. an aggsssgase II tanpags aDa ogB
be built in American shipyards.
Tho estimated tohrage 81 all steamships
required under existing contracts is 1885,
S0a, and when the suil service required by
these contracts Is established there will be
tdpsy-one mail steamers under the Amer
ioan flag, with the probability OF further
Argentine service The contracts recently
let for transatlantic service will result
IN the construction of five ships of 10000
tons each, costing SO, 600, 900 or $4,000, 900,
end will add, with the City of New York
and the City Of Paris, to which the treas
ury department was authorized by legisla-
tion at the last session to give American
registry, seven of the swiftest vessels upon
the sea to our naval reserve.
The commissioner of navigation states
that a very large per cent. of our imports
from Asia are now brought to US by Eng
lish steamships and their connecting rail-
ways in Canada With view of promot-
ing this trade, especially in tea, Canada
has imposed discriminating duty of 10
per cent. on tea ana cOHee brought into
the dominion from the United States. If
this unequal contest between American
lines without subsidy, OF with diminished
subsidies, and the English Canadian line
to which have referred, is to continue, 1
fhink we should at least see that the
facilities for customs entry and transpor-
tation across our territory are not such as
to make the Canadian route a favored one,
and that the discrimination as to duties
xo1 SoI, T rofa ic w lyc
discrimination as to the importation OF
ithaca ola from, Canada